2025 Volvo XC90 vs 2026 Toyota bZ

The 2025 Volvo XC90 maintained its reputation for timeless elegance with a refresh that subtly modernized its design while preserving its classic elements. The updated "Thor’s Hammer" headlights and the reimagined grille added a contemporary touch without losing the vehicle's established identity. The XC90's interior continued to offer a comfortable and understated space, with notable updates such as a repositioned infotainment screen and a more symmetrical center console. The introduction of new interior materials, including the eco-friendly herringbone weave textile, showcased Volvo's commitment to sustainability and luxury.

In contrast, the 2026 Toyota bZ presented a more expressive design, especially with body-color trim options that improved its overall appearance. The interior featured a cleaner dashboard and center console, enhancing the sense of quality and organization. The larger 14-inch touchscreen integrated climate controls, and the fabric seats offered an upscale pattern. However, the digital driver display's placement and information density were less user-friendly, and the steering wheel could obstruct visibility. Despite these drawbacks, the bZ's interior updates aimed to provide a more refined driving experience.

The 2025 Volvo XC90 offered three powertrains, all with standard AWD and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The B5 mild-hybrid engine delivered 247 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque, providing improved fuel economy and smoother power delivery. The B6 variant added turbo- and e-supercharging, increasing output to 295 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. The T8 plug-in hybrid combined a four-cylinder engine with an electric motor and an 18.8-kWh battery, achieving a total system output of 455 horsepower and 523 lb-ft of torque, with up to 33 miles of pure-electric range. The XC90's suspension updates, including Frequency Selective Damping technology, enhanced ride comfort and stability.

The 2026 Toyota bZ offered a choice between single-motor FWD and dual-motor AWD configurations, with two battery sizes. The XLE FWD with the smaller 57.7-kWh battery provided 165 horsepower and 198 lb-ft of torque, with a range of 236 miles. The larger 74.7-kWh battery increased power to 224 horsepower and extended the range to 314 miles. Dual-motor models produced 338 horsepower, with varying ranges depending on the trim. The bZ's regenerative braking system lacked one-pedal driving capability, and its performance on winding roads was hindered by the tires and steering. However, it offered a comfortable and quiet ride for city driving and highway cruising.

The 2025 Volvo XC90's redesigned center console improved practicality by relocating the wireless charging pad, enhancing small-item storage. The vehicle offered ample space for front and second-row passengers, with 38.9 inches of headroom and 40.9 inches of legroom in the front, and 38.5 inches of headroom and 37 inches of legroom in the second row. The third row, while tighter, provided competitive space with 36.3 inches of headroom and 31.9 inches of legroom. The XC90's panoramic roof and USB-C charge ports added to the overall comfort and convenience.

The 2026 Toyota bZ, built on a skateboard-style EV platform, featured 8.1 inches of ground clearance, making entry and exit easy. The front seats offered eight-way power adjustment, with heated and ventilated options in the Limited trim. The bZ lacked a traditional glove compartment but compensated with ample storage solutions, including a large bin under the center armrest and dual wireless smartphone chargers. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed generous legroom, although foot space was limited. The bZ provided 27.7 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 56.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2025 Volvo XC90's infotainment system featured a larger touchscreen with a new user interface, emphasizing a fewer-taps approach for easier access to key functions. The system, Android-based with Google Built-In, supported Apple CarPlay and offered a seamless experience. The XC90's audio options ranged from a standard 10-speaker system to an optional 19-speaker Bowers & Wilkins High Fidelity audio system, providing exceptional sound quality.

The 2026 Toyota bZ came with a 7-inch digital driver display and a new 14-inch touchscreen infotainment system. While the driver display's placement and data density posed challenges, the infotainment system was generally user-friendly. It supported wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with several connected service plans available. The Drive Connect system powered navigation and voice assistant features, offering reliable performance.

The 2025 Volvo XC90, though not yet crash-tested for 2025, had a strong safety reputation, with the 2024 model earning top marks from the IIHS and NHTSA. The XC90's standard advanced driver-assistance systems, including adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping aid, operated smoothly. However, it lacked a hands-free highway-driving system found in some competitors.

The 2026 Toyota bZ featured Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, including forward-collision warning, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Limited trim added Traffic Jam Assist and other advanced features. While the bZ's safety systems generally performed well, the adaptive cruise control's response was inconsistent. The IIHS rated the bZ's front-crash avoidance tech highly, but its headlights and frontal-impact crash-test ratings were less favorable.