Compare the2025 Kia TellurideVS 2025 Volvo XC90

With its standard Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, the Kia Telluride is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Volvo XC90, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

Both the Telluride and the XC90 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, 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.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH, results indicate that the Kia Telluride is safer than the Volvo XC90:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

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 Kia Telluride is safer than the XC90:

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Telluride is .4% to 4.8% less likely to roll over than the XC90.

The Kia Telluride has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The XC90 is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2024, though it hasn’t yet been rated in the updated moderate overlap frontal test, a requirement for the “Top Safety Pick Plus” award.

The Telluride comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The XC90’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Telluride 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than Volvo covers the XC90. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the XC90 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 3 times as many Kia dealers as there are Volvo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Telluride’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Telluride’s reliability 15 points higher than the XC90.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Telluride third among upper midsize suvs in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The XC90 isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 79 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volvo is ranked 31st, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia above average in long-term dependability. With 3 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 Kia vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 15 places higher in reliability than Volvo.

The Telluride’s 3.8 DOHC V6 produces 44 more horsepower (291 vs. 247) than the XC90 B5’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Kia Telluride is faster than the XC90 B6 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia Telluride uses regular unleaded gasoline. The XC90 requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Telluride has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. 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.

The Telluride stops much shorter than the XC90:

The Telluride has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The XC90 Ultimate suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The front and rear suspension of the Telluride 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 track (width between the wheels) on the Telluride is 1.6 inches wider in the front and 2 inches wider in the rear than on the XC90.

The Telluride SX 4x4 handles at .81 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 Telluride’s turning circle is .9 feet tighter than the XC90’s (38.8 feet vs. 39.7 feet).

The Kia Telluride may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 to 850 pounds less than the Volvo XC90.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Telluride SX 4x4 is quieter than the XC90 B6 Core:

The Telluride has standard seating for 8 passengers; the XC90 can only carry 7.

The Telluride has 51.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the XC90 (155 vs. 103.8).

The Telluride has 2 inches more front headroom, .5 inches more front legroom, 2.9 inches more front hip room, 3.9 inches more front shoulder room, 1.7 inches more rear headroom, 5.4 inches more rear legroom, 1.5 inches more rear hip room, 4.7 inches more rear shoulder room, 1.8 inches more third row headroom and 8.4 inches more third row shoulder room than the XC90.

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

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

The Telluride has a much higher standard payload capacity than the XC90 (1662 vs. 1210 lbs.).

The Telluride has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the XC90 (1664 vs. 1210 lbs.).

The Telluride’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.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Telluride’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the XC90’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

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

The Telluride EX/SX has standard front air conditioned seats and the Telluride SX Prestige also has them 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 Telluride is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The XC90 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Insurance will cost less for the Telluride owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Telluride will cost $820 to $5025 less than the XC90 over a five-year period.

The Telluride will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Telluride will retain 57.67% to 58.24% of its original price after five years, while the XC90 only retains 49.37% to 51.75%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Telluride is less expensive to operate than the XC90 because typical repairs cost much less on the Telluride than the XC90, including $484 less for a water pump, $218 less for a starter, $33 less for fuel injection, $131 less for a fuel pump and $45 less for front struts.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Kia Telluride will be $17594 to $17810 less than for the Volvo XC90.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Kia Telluride, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Volvo XC90 isn't recommended.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Telluride second among upper midsize suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The XC90 isn’t in the top three.

The Telluride was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2024 and 4 more times in the last 5 years. The XC90 has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

Motor Trend selected the Telluride as their 2020 Sport Utility of the Year. The XC90 was Sport Utility of the Year in 2016.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Telluride as the 2020 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The XC90 was last chosen in 2016.

The Kia Telluride outsold the Volvo XC90 by almost three to one during 2023.