Compare the2025 Toyota Grand HighlanderVS 2025 Volvo XC90

With its standard Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, the Toyota Grand Highlander is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Volvo XC90, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

The Toyota Grand Highlander’s rear backup camera has a standard washer for maintaining a clear view under various conditions. In contrast, the Volvo XC90 does not offer a rear camera washer, meaning its effectiveness relies on manual cleaning by the user when necessary.

Both the Grand Highlander 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, 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, 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 Toyota Grand Highlander 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 Grand Highlander is safer than the XC90:

Toyota’s powertrain warranty covers the Grand Highlander 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 Grand Highlander’s warranty.

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’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota third in overall reliability. Volvo is ranked 15th.

As tested in Car and Driver the Grand Highlander Hybrid Max 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the XC90 B6 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder hybrid:

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

The Grand Highlander 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 Grand Highlander offers an available 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 Grand Highlander 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 Grand Highlander’s turning circle is 1.6 feet tighter than the XC90’s (38.1 feet vs. 39.7 feet).

The Toyota Grand Highlander may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 400 pounds less than the Volvo XC90.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Grand Highlander Platinum AWD is quieter than the XC90 B6 Core:

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

The Grand Highlander has 49.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the XC90 (153.3 vs. 103.8).

The Grand Highlander has 2.6 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more front legroom, .5 inches more front hip room, 2.5 inches more front shoulder room, 1.7 inches more rear headroom, 2.5 inches more rear legroom, .5 inches more rear hip room, 2.3 inches more rear shoulder room, .9 inches more third row headroom, 1.6 inches more third row legroom, .8 inches more third row hip room and 10.6 inches more third row shoulder room than the XC90.

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

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

The Grand Highlander has a much higher standard payload capacity than the XC90 (1575 vs. 1210 lbs.).

The Grand Highlander has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the XC90 (1710 vs. 1210 lbs.).

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

The Grand Highlander Limited/Platinum/Nightshade has standard front air conditioned seats and the Grand Highlander Platinum 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 Grand Highlander is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The XC90 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Toyota Grand Highlander and the Volvo XC90, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Grand Highlander was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2024. The XC90 has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

The Toyota Grand Highlander outsold the Volvo XC90 by 74% during 2024.