Volvo XC90 vs Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

When the 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid was redesigned in 2019, it shed its softer and more traditional crossover styling in favor of a more substantial and blocky appearance. Adopting a trapezoidal grille from Toyota's truck line added heft to its look, framed by beveled and angled bodywork that accentuated its headlights. Initially, this redesign was a standout, but over the years, many competitors like the Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-50 adopted similar styling approaches.

The angular design theme continued inside the RAV4 Hybrid with a multi-tiered dashboard that featured beveled cutouts, adding visual interest to an otherwise straightforward surface. The primary layout was common for vehicles at the time, featuring an infotainment touchscreen atop the dash and physical buttons and knobs for essential controls.

While the materials used were average for its class and price, with plenty of hard plastics, the surfaces frequently touched by passengers were lightly padded. Both the base model and the new Woodland trim curiously excluded a leather-wrapped steering wheel, opting instead for a downmarket urethane wheel and center armrest that felt rubbery and cheap. Fortunately, other trims provided a leather-covered steering wheel, and despite the material shortcomings, the RAV4's build quality was impressive, with no creaks or squeaks over rough pavement.

The 2024 Volvo XC90, sold in B5, B6, and Recharge T8 model series, was available in Core, Plus, and Ultimate trim levels. The car ranged in price from $56,000 to $79,600, excluding the destination charge. Our Recharge T8 test vehicle arrived in Ultimate trim, featuring amenities like massaging front seats, an active air suspension, and a high-end Bowers & Wilkins audio system.

Volvo emphasized color and materials, with a subdued, earthy exterior paint palette ideal for a luxury SUV leaning toward practicality, safety, and sustainability. Customers could choose between various appealing 21-inch wheel designs, with many SUVs showcasing a Bright theme with chrome and polished metal, diverging from the conventional blacked-out trend.

Inside, the XC90's dated design was compensated with rich materials, especially in the Ultimate trim. Options included wool-blend upholstery, ventilated Nappa leather, an Orrefors crystal shift knob, and natural wood trim. Volvo excelled in allowing buyers to mix and match paint, wheels, and upholstery to suit their preferences, enhancing the interior luxury experience.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid utilized a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine combined with an electric motor/generator, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) driving the front wheels. An additional electric motor between the rear axle provided all-wheel drive (AWD), resulting in a combined 219 horsepower. This powertrain enabled the RAV4 Hybrid to accelerate to 60 mph in a respectable 7.5 seconds, positioning it about half a second quicker than the standard RAV4. Meanwhile, the plug-in hybrid RAV4 Prime managed an impressive 5.5-second 0-60 mph time. Within the compact hybrid SUV class, the Kia Sportage Hybrid was marginally quicker, while the Honda CR-V Hybrid achieved 60 mph in approximately 8 seconds, placing the competitors on an even playing field.

The RAV4 Hybrid's brakes operated like any other vehicle, thanks to regenerative braking. The suspension offered a balanced ride, smoothing out moderate bumps and potholes while ensuring confident cornering, although it wasn't particularly sporty. The driving dynamics were calm and effortless, fitting the primary expectations of its target audience.

For the 2024 Volvo XC90 Recharge T8, Volvo added an 18.8-kilowatt-hour battery and a 107-kilowatt electric motor to the B6 model’s supercharged and turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. This combination produced 455 horsepower and 523 lb-ft of torque, delivered to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The battery, paired with the electric motor and Pure driving mode, offered an estimated 32 miles of electric-only range. As a hybrid, the XC90 Recharge T8 targeted 27 mpg in combined driving, and in Power mode, it could sprint from 0-60 mph in an estimated five seconds.

Recharging was straightforward: 12 hours using a standard outlet, reduced to around 5 hours with a 240-volt outlet. On the road, Charge mode allowed battery recharging, while Pure mode was ideal for electric-only drives. Other driving modes included Hybrid, which automatically switched between electric and gas propulsion, Constant AWD for balanced power delivery, and Off-Road mode with up to 9.9 inches of ground clearance. Additional battery modes like Hold preserved the battery for later use, and Auto used available power to enhance efficiency.

During testing in high Southern California temperatures, the XC90 Recharge T8 traveled 28 miles in Pure mode, slightly below the indicated 33 miles. Fuel economy averaged 24.5 mpg instead of the EPA's estimated 27 mpg. Weekly suburban use, however, allowed almost pure electric drives for short trips.

When the gas engine activated, the XC90 Recharge T8 delivered impressive power, though its handling lacked the thrilling dynamics of performance SUVs. The suspension allowed more roll, pitch, and dive than was ideal, and the steering lacked sharpness and communication. Additionally, the ride quality suffered on irregular pavement, with cabin shake and higher-than-expected noise levels detracting from its luxury feel.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid’s front seats offered ample space for larger passengers, while the rear seats comfortably accommodated average-sized adults. Although it provided slightly more rear headroom than competitors like the Honda CR-V or Kia Sportage, it offered marginally less legroom. Practically, these differences were negligible, but recliners with rear-facing infant seats might have needed to scoot the front seat forward. Tall passengers might have found the rear seat cushions a bit low, lacking thigh support on extended trips.

Behind the rear seats, the RAV4 Hybrid boasted up to 37.5 cubic feet of cargo space, only a tenth of a cubic foot shy of the non-hybrid RAV4. Unlike some hybrids, the battery pack didn't compromise cargo capacity. Comparatively, the Honda CR-V offered 39.5 cubic feet and the Kia Sportage had 39.3 cubic feet, showing no significant advantage between them. The rear seatbacks folded flat with the cargo floor, though shorter owners might have found accessing them challenging.

The RAV4 excelled in interior storage for personal items, featuring a wide shelf for the front passenger, a phone tray in front of the center console, and optional wireless charging (subject to availability). Additionally, it had large cupholders, a sizable center armrest bin, and average-sized door pockets.

The 2024 Volvo XC90 Recharge T8, even in Core trim, was well-equipped with power-adjustable and heated front seats, leather upholstery, wood trim, and a four-zone climate control system with PM2.5 air purification. A panoramic glass roof with a one-touch swipe control provided natural light. As you ascended to Plus and Ultimate trims, added features included a heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, ventilated and massaging front seats, upgraded interior lighting, an integrated booster child seat, and rear door sunshades.

The front seats featured adjustable lower leg support bolsters, which could snag on shorts while entering the vehicle. Once inside, there was a learning curve for the power seat adjustments, but the XC90 was exceptionally comfortable, and the steering wheel felt superb. The high driving position provided excellent sightlines.

In hot conditions, the climate control struggled to cool the cabin in Pure mode until the gas engine activated. The XC90 seated seven, or six with optional captain’s chairs. Access to the third row was tight, but the seats were surprisingly accommodating. Interior storage was adequate but not abundant. With a fully folded third-row seat, the XC90 offered up to 65.5 cubic feet of cargo capacity, expanding to 85.7 cubic feet with the second-row seats down.

In 2023, the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid received a new infotainment system that was a vast improvement over previous versions. The graphic quality was modern and sharp, with logically arranged menus and a screen positioned on top of the dashboard to minimize distractions. Most trims had an 8.0-inch display, while higher trims featured a 10.5-inch touchscreen. The base display's small on-screen buttons required precise tapping, which could be challenging.

All RAV4 models included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, although wireless charging was optional. The system supported over-the-air software updates, and connectivity features included a Wi-Fi hotspot and remote vehicle monitoring and control. The top trim upgraded to a fully digital instrument panel. A six-speaker audio system was standard on most trims, offering decent sound quality, while the Limited trim featured a powerful 11-speaker JBL system.

The 2024 Volvo XC90 utilized a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Google Built-in technology, incorporating Google Maps, Google Play, and Google Assistant voice recognition, free for four years before requiring a subscription. Apple CarPlay and SiriusXM satellite radio were standard, the latter provided free for three months.

Depending on the trim, buyers could choose between a 14-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system or a 19-speaker Bowers & Wilkins high-end audio system. The addition of Google Built-in in 2023 significantly improved the infotainment experience, and although the 9-inch screen seemed small, its proximity to the driver made it manageable. The system was user-friendly, and the minimalist cabin design wisely included essential physical controls.

Voice commands using "Hey Google" generally worked well, though sometimes required different prompts for desired outcomes. The XC90 Recharge T8 also featured a 12-inch digital instrumentation panel, with an available head-up display and surround-view camera supporting the standard front and rear parking sensors.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid was highly rated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), receiving five stars overall and in side crash tests, and four stars in frontal and rollover crash tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded it the highest score of "Good" in most tests, except for moderate overlap frontal and side-impact tests, where it scored a second-best "Acceptable." It also earned the IIHS's Top Safety Pick award.

Standard safety features in all 2023 RAV4 Hybrid models included Toyota's Safety Sense 2.5 with forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, automatic high beams, and a traffic sign reader. The XLE trim added a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alerts, and the top Limited trim added front and rear parking proximity sensors with automatic braking. Optional features included a surround-view camera system and a digital rearview mirror.

During our testing, the safety systems performed flawlessly, with smooth inputs from the adaptive cruise control, even during stops.

The 2024 Volvo XC90 maintained Volvo's reputation for safety, evident in its crash-test ratings. The NHTSA awarded it five stars in all assessments except rollover resistance, where it scored four stars. The IIHS named the 2023 XC90 a Top Safety Pick+.

Although the XC90 included expected safety features such as large-animal detection and a traffic movement alert system, it lacked innovation in advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). Volvo's Pilot Assist combined adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assistance. During testing, it performed smoothly but struggled with PCH's curves, rural road markings, and issued inaccurate lane-departure warnings.

Additionally, Pilot Assist made a significant error when exiting a freeway, which shook our confidence in the system. Despite these shortcomings, the XC90's overall ADAS performance was adequate.