Comparison - BMW X3 xDrive 35i 2015 - vs - Volvo XC90 T6 R-Design 2017

Among three-row luxury SUVs, the 2017 Volvo XC90 has outstanding cargo capacity, style and safety features. The cabin is particularly elegant and offers many options for personalization. Its engine power and ride quality aren’t segment-leading, but this is still a midsize SUV that deserves consideration.

The 2017 Volvo XC90 receives updates to its driver assistance system and more apps for its infotainment system, plus the addition of a range-topping new trim level.

Although Volvo's latest four-cylinder engine has considerable power, the heavy weight of the XC90 makes it feel unimpressive. Its numbers are promising, but in real-world, day-to-day use, acceleration and refinement are lacking. Other rival crossovers feel notably snappier and more responsive when accelerating up to freeway speeds or passing a slow-moving vehicle. We haven't driven the XC90 with the base turbocharged engine, but we expect to find its 250 hp a bit meager for a vehicle of this size.

Pros
Elegant styling inside and out; spacious second- and third-row seating for a midsize SUV; many standard safety technology features; precise handling that inspires confidence; available plug-in hybrid model.

Cons
Overly busy ride quality for a vehicle in its class; comes up short on performance and real-world fuel economy; some of its standard touchscreen controls can be hard to use.

Totally redesigned for the 2016 model year, the Volvo XC90, helped redefine the Volvo brand, now that the Swedish automaker is Chinese-owned.Worries that innovation would be sucked out of the brand leaving an empty shell appear to have been unwarranted as Volvo is continuing to produce cutting-edge vehicles.

The 2017 Volvo XC90 gets some expanded safety options.Also, the 2017 XC90 T5 model is now offered with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.All other XC90 models come standard with all-wheel drive.

Volvo's revived SUV has earned impressive crash-test ratings.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave it five stars overall.Rated Good on each test done by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the XC90 was named a Top Safety Pick.

In keeping with the brand's long-standing reputation for safety, Volvo gives the XC90 the latest safety features and systems, active as well as passive, some optional. Automatic braking at intersections has been added to the standard City Safety package. Pedestrian and cyclist detection now functions day or night.

Volvo's revived SUV has earned impressive crash-test ratings.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave it five stars overall.Rated Good on each test done by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the XC90 was named a Top Safety Pick.

The 2017 Volvo XC90 ranks 10 out of 22 Luxury Midsize SUVs. In a competitive class where esteemed luxury brands duke it out, the 2017 Volvo XC90 lies somewhere in the middle. This Swedish SUV is well-equipped and good on gas, and it seats seven comfortably. However, its standard four-cylinder engine leaves something to be desired, and its reliability rating is lower than most class rivals.

The 2017 Volvo XC90 ranking is based on its score within the Luxury Midsize SUVs category. Currently the Volvo XC90 has a score of 8.6 out of 10 which is based on our evaluation of 25 pieces of research and data elements using various sources.

Among three-row luxury SUVs, the 2017 Volvo XC90 has outstanding cargo capacity, style and safety features. The cabin is particularly elegant and offers many options for personalization. Its engine power and ride quality aren't segment-leading, but this is still a midsize SUV that deserves consideration." -- Edmunds

After launching one of the most ambitious design overhauls in modern memory, Volvo's XC90 crossover SUV for 2017 utterly validates the Swedish automaker's efforts. … Taking direct aim at the BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz GL-Class and Acura MDX, the XC90 offers a fresh design, more intriguing interior toys and a revolutionary drivetrain marking a new beginning in Volvo engineering." -- Kelley Blue Book

"With the redesigned XC90, Volvo is breaking some new ground - ground that will likely influence all of the company's upcoming models. While there are some elements that might throw Volvo's traditional customers (the infotainment controls, mostly), the XC90 not only may lure new customers from other luxury makes, but is also an indication that the long-time Swedish automaker has a very bright future ahead." -- Consumer Guide (2016)

Pros
Luxurious interior design
Excellent cargo and passenger space
High fuel economy
Intuitive infotainment system

Cons
So-so ride quality over rougher roads
Average engine power
Below-average predicted reliability rating