Compare the2025 Genesis GV80VS 2025 Volvo XC90

The GV80 has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The XC90 doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Genesis GV80 achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Volvo XC90 has not been tested.

Both the GV80 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, 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, 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 Genesis GV80 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 Genesis GV80 is safer than the XC90:

The GV80 comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes free 24-hour roadside assistance. The XC90’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Genesis’ powertrain warranty covers the GV80 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.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the GV80 third among upper midsize premium 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 Genesis vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Genesis above average in initial quality. With 58 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 Genesis vehicles are more reliable than Volvo With 45 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Genesis higher than Volvo.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Genesis vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Genesis 1 place higher in reliability than Volvo.

The GV80 has more powerful engines than the XC90:

As tested in Motor Trend the GV80 2.5T 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the XC90 B6 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder hybrid:

Both the GV80 and the XC90 have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All GV80s have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The XC90 T8 doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

The GV80 has 2.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the XC90 (21.1 vs. 18.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The GV80 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.

For better stopping power the GV80’s brake rotors are larger than those on the XC90:

The GV80 stops much shorter than the XC90:

The GV80 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 GV80 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 GV80’s optional drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The XC90 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The GV80 Prestige handles at .86 G’s, while the XC90 B6 Core pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The GV80 Prestige executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the XC90 B6 Ultra (26.9 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 27.4 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

The front grille of the GV80 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 GV80 Prestige uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The XC90 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

As tested by Car and Driver while cruising at 70 MPH, the interior of the GV80 Prestige is quieter than the XC90 B6 Core (64 vs. 65 dB).

The GV80 has 36.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the XC90 (140 vs. 103.8).

The GV80 has 1.3 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more front legroom, 2.5 inches more front shoulder room, 1.7 inches more rear legroom, 1.7 inches more rear shoulder room and 6.3 inches more third row shoulder room than the XC90.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the GV80’s middle and third row seats recline. The XC90’s third row seats don’t recline.

Pressing a button automatically lowers the GV80’s second and third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The XC90 doesn’t offer automatic folding second row seats.

The GV80’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the XC90’s (6000 vs. 5000 pounds).

The engine in the GV80 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.

The GV80’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.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the GV80 has standard extendable sun visors. The XC90 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The GV80 has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the XC90.

Both the Genesis GV80 and the Volvo XC90 have a standard Qi wireless phone charging system in the front seat. To easily keep personal devices charged in the second row seat, without cables tangling and wearing out, the GV80 also offers an optional wireless charging system in the second row seat. The XC90 does not.

The GV80 Advanced/Prestige’s Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The XC90 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Genesis GV80 and the Volvo XC90, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The GV80 was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2021. The XC90 has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.