Compare the2026 Toyota HighlanderVS 2026 Volvo XC90

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

The Toyota 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 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, 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 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 is safer than the XC90:

Toyota’s powertrain warranty covers the 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 Highlander’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’s reliability 23 points higher than the XC90.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. With 58 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Toyota higher than Volvo.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 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 fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 80 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volvo is ranked 26th.

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.

The Highlander’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 18 more horsepower (265 vs. 247) and 44 lbs.-ft. more torque (310 vs. 266) than the XC90 B5’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the Highlander gets better fuel mileage than the XC90 T6 running its gasoline engine (21 city/28 hwy vs. 20 city/26 hwy).

Both the Highlander and the XC90 have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Highlanders 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.

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

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

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

The Highlander has 38 cubic feet more passenger volume than the XC90 (141.8 vs. 103.8).

The Highlander 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’s middle and third row seats recline. The XC90’s third row seats don’t recline.

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

The Highlander has a much higher standard payload capacity than the XC90 (1638 vs. 1210 lbs.).

The Highlander has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the XC90 (1715 vs. 1210 lbs.).

The 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.

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

The Highlander is equipped with both FM and AM stereo radios, offering access to more content and better coverage than the XC90, which solely provides FM radio. With AM radio, you can enjoy a wider variety of stations featuring news, talk shows, sports commentary, native language programing, automated traffic guidance, and emergency broadcasts. AM waves travel further and penetrate buildings and obstacles more effectively than FM signals, especially at night. Having both FM and AM stereo radios the Highlander offers a more comprehensive listening experience compared to only FM in the XC90.

HD Radio boasts several benefits over conventional radio: superior sound quality with clearer and consistent FM broadcasts, CD-quality audio, and Multicast Channels offering up to four streams from a single station, adding programming choices. Cars like the Highlander equipped with HD Radio provide an improved in-car entertainment experience. The XC90, devoid of this technology, foregoes these benefits. Selecting the Toyota Highlander empowers drivers to enjoy a more immersive and enjoyable listening experience while on the go.

According to iSeeCars.com the 2025 Toyota Highlander retains 58.21% of its original value after 5 years, significantly more than the 41.32% resale value of the 2025 Volvo XC90 after five years, which can save the Toyota’s owner up to $17041.40858 in depreciation.

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

The Toyota Highlander outsold the Volvo XC90 by over two to one during 2024.