Compare the2025 Toyota Highlander HybridVS 2025 Volvo XC90

With its standard Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Volvo XC90, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

Both the Highlander Hybrid 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, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, 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.

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 Toyota Highlander Hybrid 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 Toyota Highlander Hybrid is safer than the XC90:

Toyota’s powertrain warranty covers the Highlander Hybrid 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Volvo covers the XC90. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the XC90 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 4 times as many Toyota dealers as there are Volvo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Highlander Hybrid’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 Highlander Hybrid’s reliability 36 points higher than the XC90.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in initial quality. With 50 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volvo is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota second in reliability, above the industry average. With 98 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volvo is ranked 24th.

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

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

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

The Highlander Hybrid 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.

The Highlander Hybrid 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.

The front and rear suspension of the Highlander Hybrid 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 maneuverability, the Highlander Hybrid’s turning circle is 2.3 feet tighter than the XC90’s (37.4 feet vs. 39.7 feet).

The front grille of the Highlander Hybrid uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The XC90 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Highlander Hybrid offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the XC90 can only carry 7.

The Highlander Hybrid has 35.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the XC90 (139.5 vs. 103.8).

The Highlander Hybrid has .7 inches more front headroom, 1.1 inches more front legroom, 1.2 inches more front hip room, 1.3 inches more front shoulder room, .9 inches more rear headroom, 1.7 inches more rear legroom, .5 inches more rear hip room, 1.9 inches more rear shoulder room, .7 inches more third row hip room and 8.1 inches more third row shoulder room than the XC90.

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

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

The Highlander Hybrid has a much higher standard payload capacity than the XC90 (1485 vs. 1210 lbs.).

The Highlander Hybrid’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 Highlander Hybrid’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” 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 Highlander Hybrid has standard extendable sun visors. The XC90 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Insurance will cost less for the Highlander Hybrid owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Highlander Hybrid will cost $1835 to $5110 less than the XC90 over a five-year period.

The Highlander Hybrid will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Highlander Hybrid will retain 55.94% to 57.42% of its original price after five years, while the XC90 only retains 49.37% to 51.75%.

Consumer Reports® chose the Toyota Highlander Hybrid as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Volvo XC90 isn't recommended.

The Toyota Highlander outsold the Volvo XC90 by over four to one during 2023.