Compare the2025 Subaru AscentVS 2025 Volvo XC90

With its standard EyeSight, the Subaru Ascent is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Volvo XC90, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

Both the Ascent 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, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available around view monitors and driver alert monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Subaru Ascent is safer than the Volvo XC90:

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

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 and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Subaru Ascent 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 Subaru Ascent is safer than the XC90:

Subaru’s powertrain warranty covers the Ascent 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 2 times as many Subaru dealers as there are Volvo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Ascent’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru above average in initial quality. With 59 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 long-term dependability statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Volvo With 47 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Subaru higher than Volvo.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 19 places higher in reliability than Volvo.

The Ascent’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 13 more horsepower (260 vs. 247) and 11 lbs.-ft. more torque (277 vs. 266) than the XC90 B5’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Ascent lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability without compromising ground clearance. The XC90 doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Subaru Ascent uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The XC90 requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Ascent 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 Ascent 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 Ascent stops shorter than the XC90:

The front and rear suspension of the Ascent 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.

The Ascent Touring handles at .80 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 Ascent’s turning circle is 1.7 feet tighter than the XC90’s (38 feet vs. 39.7 feet).

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Ascent Limited is quieter than the XC90 B6 Core:

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

The Ascent has 49.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the XC90 (153.2 vs. 103.8).

The Ascent has 2.3 inches more front headroom, 1.3 inches more front legroom, 1.8 inches more front hip room, 3.4 inches more front shoulder room, 1.5 inches more rear headroom, 1.6 inches more rear legroom, .7 inches more rear hip room, 3.8 inches more rear shoulder room, 1 inch more third row hip room and 10.1 inches more third row shoulder room than the XC90.

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

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

The engine in the Ascent is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the XC90. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Subaru service is better than Volvo. J.D. Power ranks Subaru 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 28% lower rating, Volvo is ranked 23rd.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Ascent’s exterior PIN entry system. The XC90 doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Volvo On Call can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

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 Ascent’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 Ascent has standard extendable sun visors. The XC90 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Insurance will cost less for the Ascent owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Ascent will cost $2960 to $6150 less than the XC90 over a five-year period.

The Ascent will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Ascent will retain 54.18% to 55.67% 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 Ascent is less expensive to operate than the XC90 because typical repairs cost much less on the Ascent than the XC90, including $530 less for a water pump, $259 less for a muffler, $65 less for front brake pads, $61 less for a starter, $199 less for fuel injection, $261 less for a fuel pump, $254 less for a timing belt/chain and $814 less for a power steering pump.

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

The Subaru Ascent outsold the Volvo XC90 by 52% during 2023.