Compare the2024 Volvo XC90VS 2024 Lexus TX

The XC90’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The TX doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

For enhanced safety, the front and middle seat shoulder belts of the Volvo XC90 are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Lexus TX doesn’t offer height-adjustable middle seat belts.

Both the XC90 and TX have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The XC90 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The TX’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The Volvo XC90 offers an optional built in child booster seat. It’s more crash worthy than an added child seat because of its direct attachment to the seat. Lexus doesn’t offer the convenience and security of a built-in child booster seat in the TX. Their owners must carry a heavy booster seat in and out of the vehicle; XC90 owners can just fold their built-in child seat up or down.

The XC90 has a standard Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS), which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the WHIPS allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. At the same time the pretensioning seatbelts fire, removing slack from the belts. The TX doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the XC90. But it costs extra on the TX.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the XC90 has standard Cross Traffic Alert with Braking Intervention, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Only the TX Premium/Luxury offers Parking Support Brake.

Both the XC90 and the TX 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 and available around view monitors.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the XC90 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 67 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The TX has not been tested, yet.

The XC90’s corrosion warranty is 6 years longer than the TX’s (12 vs. 6 years).

Volvo pays for scheduled maintenance on the XC90 for 3 years and 30,000 miles longer than Lexus pays for maintenance for the TX (4/40,000 vs. 1/10,000).

There are over 15 percent more Volvo dealers than there are Lexus dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the XC90’s warranty.

The battery on the XC90 is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the XC90’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The TX’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

The XC90 has more powerful engines than the TX:

As tested in Motor Trend the XC90 B6 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder is faster than the TX 350 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder:

On the EPA test cycle the XC90 running on electricity gets better mileage than the TX running on electricity:

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

The XC90 T8 Extended Range can travel with zero emissions for 33 miles. The TX can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

The XC90 has 4.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the TX 550h+’s standard fuel tank (18.8 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The XC90 has a gallon more fuel capacity than the TX 350’s standard fuel tank (18.8 vs. 17.8 gallons).

The XC90 has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The TX doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

For better stopping power the XC90’s standard front brake rotors are larger than those on the TX:

The XC90 stops much shorter than the TX:

For better traction, the XC90’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the TX (275/45R20 vs. 255/55R20).

The XC90’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the TX’s optional 45 series tires.

The XC90 offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The TX’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The XC90 Ultimate has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The XC90’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The TX doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the XC90’s wheelbase is 1.4 inches longer than on the TX (117.5 inches vs. 116.1 inches).

The XC90’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (51.7% to 48.3%) than the TX’s (53.1% to 46.9%). This gives the XC90 more stable handling and braking.

The XC90 B6 Core handles at .85 G’s, while the TX 350 Luxury 4dr Sport Utility pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The XC90 B6 Core executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the TX 350 Luxury 4dr Sport Utility (26.8 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 27.6 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the XC90 has a 1.1 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the TX 550h+ Luxury 4dr Sport Utility (8.8 vs. 7.7 inches), allowing the XC90 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The XC90 w/Air Suspension’s minimum ground clearance is 1.9 inches higher than on the TX 500h F Sport Performance Premium 4dr Sport Utility (9.9 vs. 8 inches).

The XC90 is 8.1 inches shorter than the TX, making the XC90 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The design of the Volvo XC90 amounts to more than styling. The XC90 has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .33 Cd. That is lower than the TX (.34 to .35) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the XC90 get better fuel mileage.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the TX Premium/Luxury, the XC90 Ultimate has a passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are optional on the XC90 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The TX doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

The TX Luxury/F Sport’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The XC90’s standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

The XC90 Ultimate offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the TX.

The Car Book by Jack Gillis recommends the Volvo XC90, based on economy, maintenance, safety and complaint levels.

Motor Trend selected the XC90 as their 2016 Sport Utility of the Year. The TX has never been chosen.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the XC90 as the 2016 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The TX has never been chosen.

The Volvo XC90 outsold the Lexus TX by almost five to one during 2023.