2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid vs 2023 Volvo XC90

The 2023 Volvo XC90 represented a significant departure from Volvo's past design language, which was often described as boxy and utilitarian. The XC90 showcased a purposeful yet understated aesthetic, with a stout front end and an assertive grille that avoided being overly flashy. The "Thor’s Hammer" headlights added a modern touch, and the overall design leaned towards rectilinear without resembling the toasters of yesteryear. The Platinum Gray paint with brown undertones added richness, while the interior featured elegant materials like two-tone leather, metal Bowers and Wilkins speaker covers, and luxurious Nappa leather upholstery. The minimalist design was complemented by wood deco inlays, creating a clean and beautiful cabin environment.

In contrast, the 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid sported a more conservative styling with a technical face that resembled an angry robot. The Canyon River Blue paint and blacked-out exterior trim gave it a sporty look, but the SUV carried too much visual weight over its front wheels. The best viewing angle was from the rear quarter, where the tidy design and Volvo-adjacent taillights provided an upscale appearance. Inside, the CR-V Sport Touring Hybrid featured leather seats with orange contrast stitching, a soft-touch upper dashboard pad, and metal mesh hiding the dashboard air vents. The cabin exuded sophistication, with details like knurling for the metallic trim on the knobs and a sense of quality throughout.

The 2023 Volvo XC90 introduced new B5 and B6 engines, replacing the older T5 and T6 powertrains. Both new engines were iterations of the previous 2.0-liter four-cylinder engines but now equipped with mild-hybrid technology. The B5 engine, with a turbocharger and a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, produced 247 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The B6 engine, which added a supercharger, delivered 295 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. The mild-hybrid system improved fuel efficiency and smoothness, though the gains were minimal. The XC90's driving experience was enjoyable, with quick acceleration, a responsive eight-speed automatic transmission, and excellent brakes. The vehicle handled well despite its bulky dimensions, and the fuel-saving auto stop-start technology was almost imperceptible.

The 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid featured a fourth-generation two-motor hybrid drive system, combining a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors. The propulsion motor powered the SUV, while the generator/starter motor recharged the battery. This system delivered 204 horsepower to the front or all four wheels. The CR-V Hybrid's EPA rating was 37 mpg in combined driving, but our test vehicle returned 32.4 mpg on a mountainous testing loop. The CR-V Hybrid provided a compliant ride quality, predictable handling, and impressive grip. The brakes performed well during heavy use, but the steering effort was unusually heavy even in Normal mode. Overall, the CR-V was easy to drive, though it lacked the off-road capability and driving excitement of some competitors.

The 2023 Volvo XC90's interior was peaceful and pleasant, but Scandinavian minimalism led to some space and storage frustrations. There was limited cubby space for smaller items, and the USB port for phone charging was inconveniently located in the small center console bin. The second row was comfortable and spacious, but adjusting the seats was challenging. The XC90 offered a standard second-row bench seat for seven-passenger seating, with an option for captain’s chairs at an additional cost. Accessing the third row was difficult, and the available space was limited. The XC90 provided 12.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the third row in position, 41.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 65.5 cubic feet with all rear seats folded, falling short of some competitors.

The 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid excelled in form and function, with quality materials, intuitive controls, and comfortable seats. The 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat offered excellent support, while the front passenger seat had a similar design but less adjustment range. The CR-V's back seat was roomy and comfortable, with a high bottom cushion for leg support and adjustable backrest angle. The wide rear doors made it easy to install child safety seats, and the test vehicle featured air conditioning vents and USB-C charging ports. The CR-V provided ample storage, though the glove compartment was smaller than expected. The Sport Touring's hands-free power rear liftgate revealed a 34.7 cubic foot cargo area, with a maximum of 76.5 cubic feet with the back seat folded down, making it one of the most spacious in its class.

The 2023 Volvo XC90 featured a 9-inch vertically positioned touchscreen infotainment display running Google OS, the first standard infotainment system of its kind. Google OS integrated Google Maps, Spotify, NPR, and Google Assistant, enhancing the user experience with natural-language recognition. Owners could also issue commands via Google Home devices. However, many key functions were buried within the touchscreen interface, leading to frustration. The minimalist design meant fewer physical buttons, requiring users to interact with the screen for tasks like adjusting the heated steering wheel or driver’s seat position. While these quirks might fade with daily use, they could be annoying during a test drive.

The 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid came with a 7-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, with an available 9-inch display. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless smartphone charging, and a decent sound system were reserved for higher trims. The Sport Touring trim included navigation and a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system. Pairing an iPhone to the Bluetooth was quick and easy, and the voice recognition system worked reasonably well with basic commands. The CR-V Hybrid also featured a walk-away automatic locking system, providing peace of mind by locking the doors as you walked away with the key fob.

The 2023 Volvo XC90 was renowned for its safety, carrying a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a Top Safety Pick+ award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in 2022. The XC90 came standard with advanced driver safety tech, including adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and Pilot Assist technology, which helped maintain distance and lane position. These features made the XC90 one of the safest vehicles on the road.

The 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid included Honda Sensing, a suite of advanced driving assistance systems. Standard features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, adaptive cruise control, traffic jam assist, and a driver monitoring system. The Sport-L and Sport Touring trims added front and rear parking sensors and low-speed automatic braking control. The CR-V Hybrid performed well in safety tests, earning a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS for the 2023 calendar year. However, the NHTSA had not yet rated the 2024 model.