Compare the2024 Porsche TaycanVS 2024 Volvo S90

The Porsche Taycan has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The S90 doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the Taycan helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The S90 doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the Taycan and the S90 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear 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, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems and around view monitors.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Porsche vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Porsche above average in initial quality. With 83 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 Porsche vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Porsche above average in long-term dependability. With 30 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 Porsche vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Porsche 17 places higher in reliability than Volvo.

The Taycan has more powerful engines than the S90:

As tested in Car and Driver the Taycan Performance Plus electric motor is faster than the S90 B6:

On the EPA test cycle the Taycan Sedan gets better mileage than the S90 running on electricity:

On the EPA test cycle the Taycan Sedan gets better mileage than the S90 running its gasoline engine:

The Taycan can travel with zero emissions on a full charge for 206 to 246 miles. The S90 T8 has to start its internal combustion engine after only 38 miles.

The Taycan’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The S90 doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the Taycan’s brake rotors are larger than those on the S90:

The Taycan offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The S90 doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The Taycan stops much shorter than the S90:

For better traction, the Taycan’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the S90 (F:265/35R21 & R:305/30R21 vs. 255/35R20).

The Taycan’s optional 305/30R21 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 30 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the S90’s optional 35 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Taycan offers optional 21-inch wheels. The S90’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The Taycan offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The S90 doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The front and rear suspension of the Taycan uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the S90, 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.

The Taycan offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Volvo doesn’t offer an active suspension on the S90.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Taycan is 3.4 inches wider in the front and 2.4 inches wider in the rear than the track on the S90.

The Taycan 4S handles at 1.03 G’s, while the S90 pulls only .88 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Taycan Turbo S executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.7 seconds quicker than the S90 (23.6 seconds @ .87 average G’s vs. 26.3 seconds @ .68 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Taycan w/Rear Axle Steering’s turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the S90’s (36.7 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

The Taycan is 4.7 inches shorter than the S90, making the Taycan easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The design of the Porsche Taycan amounts to more than styling. The Taycan offers aerodynamic coefficients of drag from .23 to .28 Cd (depending on bodystyle and options). That is lower than the S90 (.28 to .33) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Taycan get better fuel mileage.

The front grille of the Taycan uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The S90 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Taycan has a much larger trunk than the S90 (17.2 vs. 13.5 cubic feet).

The Taycan has a much larger trunk with its rear seat up than the S90 (18.7 vs. 13.5 cubic feet).

The Taycan’s available rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The S90 Luxury Package doesn’t offer folding rear seats.

A maintenance reminder system is standard on the Taycan to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals based on odometer mileage. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Volvo doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the S90.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Porsche service is better than Volvo. J.D. Power ranks Porsche third in service department satisfaction. With a 25% lower rating, Volvo is ranked 12th.

The Taycan’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The S90 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Taycan’s optional Active Parking Support can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote ParkAssist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The S90 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Porsche Taycan comes in sedan and station wagon bodystyles; the Volvo S90 isn’t available as a station wagon.

The Taycan is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The S90 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Taycan first among upper midsize premium cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The S90 isn’t in the top three in its category.

The Porsche Taycan outsold the Volvo 90 Series by almost four to one during 2023.