Compare the2024 Lexus TXVS 2024 Volvo XC90

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the TX are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The XC90 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Both the TX and the XC90 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Lexus TX is safer than the XC90:

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the TX 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Volvo covers the XC90. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the XC90 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in initial quality. With 79 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volvo is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in long-term dependability. With 33 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Volvo is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus first in overall reliability. Volvo is ranked 25th.

The TX has more powerful engines than the XC90:

As tested in Car and Driver the TX 500h 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the XC90 B6 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder:

On the EPA test cycle the TX running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the XC90 running its gasoline engine:

The TX 550h+ CVT can travel with zero emissions on electricity, only, on a full charge for 33 miles. The XC90 T8 Extended Range has to start its internal combustion engine after only 32 miles.

Both the TX and the XC90 have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All TXs have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The XC90 Recharge doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

The TX has a standard locking fuel door with a power remote release convenient to the driver. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the XC90. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Lexus TX higher (7 out of 10) than the Volvo XC90 (5 to 7). This means the TX produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the XC90 every 15,000 miles.

The TX 550h+ has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The XC90 doesn’t offer a CVT.

For better stopping power the TX 500h/550h+’s brake rotors are larger than those on the XC90:

The TX stops much shorter than the XC90:

For better traction, the TX has larger tires than the XC90 (255/55R20 vs. 235/55R19).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the TX has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the XC90.

The front and rear suspension of the TX uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the XC90, which uses transverse leafs springs in the rear. Coil springs compress more progressively and offer more suspension travel for a smoother ride with less bottoming out.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the TX is 1.5 inches wider in the front and 2 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the XC90.

The TX 500h F Sport Performance Luxury 4dr Sport Utility handles at .85 G’s, while the XC90 B6 Core pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the TX’s turning circle is 1.7 feet tighter than the XC90’s (38 feet vs. 39.7 feet).

The TX F Sport uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The XC90 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The TX has 49.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the XC90 (153 vs. 103.8).

The TX has 2.5 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more front legroom, .5 inches more front hip room, 2.3 inches more front shoulder room, 1.6 inches more rear headroom, 2.5 inches more rear legroom, .3 inches more rear hip room, 2.4 inches more rear shoulder room, .9 inches more third row headroom, 1.6 inches more third row legroom, .8 inches more third row hip room and 10.5 inches more third row shoulder room than the XC90.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the TX’s middle and third row seats recline. The XC90’s third row seats don’t recline.

The TX’s cargo area provides more volume than the XC90.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Volvo. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With a 43% lower rating, Volvo is ranked 12th.

The TX’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The XC90 has neither an oil pressure gauge nor a temperature gauge.

The TX’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The XC90’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the TX has standard extendable sun visors. The XC90 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The TX Premium/Luxury has standard front air conditioned seats and the TX offers them optionally in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The XC90 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

The TX Premium/Luxury/F Sport’s optional Advanced Park can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Park will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The XC90 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The TX is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The XC90 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.