2024 Hyundai Tucson vs 2023 Volvo XC90

The 2023 Volvo XC90 marked a significant departure from Volvo's past boxy designs. It showcased a purposeful yet understated front end, with an assertive grille and modern "Thor’s Hammer" headlights. The Platinum Gray paint added a touch of richness, while the interior boasted elegant materials like two-tone leather, metal Bowers and Wilkins speaker covers, and luxurious Nappa leather upholstery. The minimalist design, complemented by wood deco inlays, created a clean and beautiful look, though it lacked physical controls, giving it a decidedly minimalist feel.

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson, introduced in its current generation in 2022, continued to impress with its sharp, contemporary styling. The headlights seamlessly blended into the grille, creating an athletic presence. The Tucson's design was unique, with each trim level offering distinct features. Inside, the cabin was modern and refined, with a focus on technology. However, some details, like the missing volume dial, were less user-friendly. The Tucson's interior was spacious and well-equipped, making it a comfortable and practical choice for daily driving.

For the 2023 model year, the Volvo XC90 introduced new B5 and B6 engines with mild-hybrid technology, replacing the older T5 and T6 engines. The B5 engine produced 247 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, while the B6 engine, which our test car had, 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 offered a pleasant driving experience with quick acceleration, a responsive eight-speed automatic transmission, and excellent insulation from road and wind noise. The brakes were solid, and the XC90 handled well despite its size. However, it lacked extensive customizable driving dynamics, focusing on simplicity.

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson came with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. While adequate for city driving, it struggled with highway acceleration and passing maneuvers. The Tucson's handling and ride quality were commendable, striking a balance between comfort and cornering prowess. It wasn't as athletic as some competitors but offered a well-rounded driving experience. The Tucson also had hybrid and plug-in hybrid options for those seeking more power and efficiency.

The 2023 Volvo XC90's interior was elegant but had some space and storage limitations. The front seats were comfortable, but there was limited cubby space for smaller items, and the USB port for phone charging was inconveniently located. The second row was reasonably spacious but challenging to adjust, and accessing the third row was difficult with the standard bench seat. Cargo space was decent, with 12.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 41.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 65.5 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. However, it fell short compared to some competitors.

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson offered impressive cargo space, with up to 74.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded and 38.7 cubic feet with the rear seats in use. The hands-free power liftgate, available on higher trims, made loading and unloading more convenient. The Tucson's interior was spacious, with ample headroom and legroom for both rows. It could comfortably accommodate four adults on longer trips. The cabin featured deep cup holders and a center tray with a wireless device charging pad, enhancing practicality.

The 2023 Volvo XC90 featured a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system running Google OS, making it the first vehicle to offer this technology as standard. Google Maps, Spotify, NPR, and Google Assistant were integrated, providing a seamless user experience. However, many key functions were buried within the touchscreen interface, which could be frustrating. The minimalist design meant fewer physical buttons, requiring more interaction with the screen for basic functions.

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims featured a larger 10.25-inch touchscreen and a fully digital instrument panel. However, the larger screen lost wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and had an annoying haptic volume toggle. The Tucson's remote start system was intuitive, allowing drivers to start the vehicle remotely and drive off without pressing the start button.

The 2023 Volvo XC90 was renowned for its safety, earning a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). It 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.

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson also boasted an impressive array of standard driver assistance features, such as automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, and adaptive cruise control. The Limited trim added front and rear parking sensors, a 360-degree parking camera system, and Hyundai's Smart Park remote-parking feature. The Tucson received high safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, making it a reliable choice for safety-conscious buyers.