2020 Subaru Ascent vs 2021 Volvo XC90

2020 Subaru Ascent
2020 Subaru Ascent
$31,995MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Volvo XC90
2021 Volvo XC90
$49,000MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2020 Subaru Ascent
$31,995MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Volvo XC90
$49,000MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now

Overview

MSRP

$31,995

MSRP

$49,000

Average price

$28,837

Average price

$46,083

Listings

28

Listings

80

Ratings & Reviews

User Reviews
User Reviews

Expert reviews

Expert reviews

7.7 out of 10

2020 Subaru Ascent Reviews Summary

2021 Volvo XC90 Reviews Summary

Volvo may be known for sensible station wagons, but the XC90 SUV is the Swedish automaker’s de facto flagship. The current generation debuted design features, technology, and powertrains that have since found their way into most other Volvo models. Several years into the current-generation model’s lifecycle, the XC90 is no longer a trendsetter, but remains Volvo’s contender in the competitive midsize luxury SUV segment, with the automaker’s typical emphasis on safety features.

The current-generation XC90 launched for the 2016 model year, so most competitors—including the Audi Q7, Acura MDX, BMW X5, and Mercedes-Benz GLE—have been updated or redesigned since then. The Cadillac XT6 and Lincoln Aviator didn’t even exist when this generation of XC90 launched.

A redesigned version is expected to arrive soon, so changes to the 2021 XC90 are minimal. All 2021 Volvo models are now limited to 180 kilometres per hour for safety reasons. The XC90 also gets a handful of newly standard tech features, and some small cosmetic changes.

Volvo offers the XC90 in three trim levels—Momentum, R-Design, and Inscription—with three powertrain options: T5 and T6 gasoline engines, and the T8 plug-in hybrid. Our test car was a range-topping T8 Recharge Inscription, combining the top Inscription trim level with the plug-in hybrid powertrain, which has the highest output of the three.

No video found
No video found

Popular Features & Specs

Engine

2.4L 260 hp H4

Engine

2.0L 250 hp I4

Drive Train

AWD

Drive Train

FWD

Seating Capacity

8

Seating Capacity

7

Horsepower

260 hp @ 5600 rpm

Horsepower

250 hp @ 5500 rpm

MPG City

21

MPG City

21

MPG Highway

27

MPG Highway

30
2020 Subaru Ascent
2020 Subaru Ascent
$31,995MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Volvo XC90
2021 Volvo XC90
$49,000MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2020 Subaru Ascent
$31,995MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Volvo XC90
$49,000MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now

Overview

MSRP
$31,995
$49,000
Average price
$28,837
$46,083
Listings

Ratings & Reviews

User reviews
4.9
4.7
Expert reviews

7.7 out of 10

Read full review
Pros & cons
Summary

Volvo may be known for sensible station wagons, but the XC90 SUV is the Swedish automaker’s de facto flagship. The current generation debuted design features, technology, and powertrains that have since found their way into most other Volvo models. Several years into the current-generation model’s lifecycle, the XC90 is no longer a trendsetter, but remains Volvo’s contender in the competitive midsize luxury SUV segment, with the automaker’s typical emphasis on safety features.

The current-generation XC90 launched for the 2016 model year, so most competitors—including the Audi Q7, Acura MDX, BMW X5, and Mercedes-Benz GLE—have been updated or redesigned since then. The Cadillac XT6 and Lincoln Aviator didn’t even exist when this generation of XC90 launched.

A redesigned version is expected to arrive soon, so changes to the 2021 XC90 are minimal. All 2021 Volvo models are now limited to 180 kilometres per hour for safety reasons. The XC90 also gets a handful of newly standard tech features, and some small cosmetic changes.

Volvo offers the XC90 in three trim levels—Momentum, R-Design, and Inscription—with three powertrain options: T5 and T6 gasoline engines, and the T8 plug-in hybrid. Our test car was a range-topping T8 Recharge Inscription, combining the top Inscription trim level with the plug-in hybrid powertrain, which has the highest output of the three.

Video
No video found
No video found

Popular Features & Specs

Engine
2.4L 260 hp H4
2.0L 250 hp I4
Drive Train
AWD
FWD
Seating Capacity
8
7
Horsepower
260 hp @ 5600 rpm
250 hp @ 5500 rpm
MPG City
21
21
MPG Highway
27
30
CarGurus logo

By: CarGurus + AI

At CarGurus, our team of experienced automotive writers remain at the heart of our content operation, conducting hands-on car tests and writing insightful guides that are backed by years of industry experience. To complement this, we are harnessing AI to make our content offering more diverse and more helpful to shoppers than ever. To achieve this, our AI systems are based exclusively on CarGurus content, ratings and data, so that what we produce is both unique to CarGurus, and uniquely helpful to car shoppers.

Popular vehicle comparisons

2022 Volvo XC90 vs 2022 Honda CR-V2022 Volkswagen Tiguan vs 2023 Volvo XC902022 Volvo XC90 vs 2022 Lexus RX Hybrid2022 Volvo XC40 vs 2022 Volvo XC902022 MINI Countryman vs 2022 Volvo XC902022 Volvo XC90 vs 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport2022 Volvo XC90 vs 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid2022 Lexus GX vs 2023 Volvo XC902022 Volvo XC90 vs 2022 Lexus GX2022 Honda Odyssey vs 2022 Volvo XC902022 Toyota Sienna vs 2023 Volvo XC902022 Lincoln Aviator vs 2023 Volvo XC902022 Buick Encore vs 2022 Volvo XC902022 Volvo XC40 vs 2023 Volvo XC902022 Nissan Rogue vs 2023 Volvo XC902022 Buick Encore vs 2023 Volvo XC902022 Volvo XC90 vs 2022 Nissan Rogue2022 Lexus RX Hybrid vs 2023 Volvo XC902021 Lexus NX vs 2022 Volvo XC902021 Honda CR-V vs 2022 Volvo XC902021 Buick Encore vs 2022 Volvo XC902021 Lexus GX vs 2022 Volvo XC902021 Volvo XC90 vs 2022 Volvo XC902021 Volvo XC90 vs 2021 Subaru Ascent2021 Subaru Ascent vs 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan2021 Lexus RX Hybrid vs 2022 Volvo XC902021 Lincoln Navigator vs 2022 Volvo XC902021 Volvo XC40 vs 2021 Subaru Ascent2021 Subaru Ascent vs 2021 Lexus RX Hybrid2021 Chrysler Pacifica vs 2021 Subaru Ascent2021 MINI Countryman vs 2022 Volvo XC902021 Buick Enclave vs 2022 Subaru Ascent2021 Volkswagen Tiguan vs 2022 Subaru Ascent2021 Subaru Ascent vs 2021 Honda CR-V2021 Lincoln Aviator vs 2022 Volvo XC902021 Honda Passport vs 2022 Subaru Ascent2020 Volvo XC90 vs 2021 Lexus GX2020 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid vs 2021 Subaru Ascent2020 Volvo XC90 vs 2021 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid2020 Volvo XC90 vs 2021 Honda CR-V2020 Buick Enclave vs 2021 Subaru Ascent2020 Volvo XC90 vs 2021 Lincoln Navigator2020 Volvo XC40 vs 2021 Subaru Ascent2020 Volvo XC90 vs 2021 Lincoln Aviator2020 Volvo XC90 vs 2021 MINI Countryman2020 Volvo XC90 vs 2021 Lexus RX Hybrid2020 Chrysler Pacifica vs 2021 Subaru Ascent2020 Dodge Grand Caravan vs 2021 Subaru Ascent2020 Toyota Sienna vs 2021 Subaru Ascent2020 Lexus RX Hybrid vs 2021 Subaru Ascent2020 Volvo XC90 vs 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport2020 Honda Odyssey vs 2021 Subaru Ascent2020 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport vs 2021 Subaru Ascent2020 Volvo XC90 vs 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan2019 Lexus RX Hybrid vs 2020 Volvo XC902019 Volvo XC90 vs 2019 Chrysler Pacifica2019 MINI Countryman vs 2019 Volvo XC902019 Buick Encore vs 2020 Volvo XC902019 Subaru Ascent vs 2020 Chrysler Pacifica2019 Subaru Ascent vs 2020 Toyota Sienna2019 Honda CR-V vs 2020 Volvo XC902019 Volvo XC90 vs 2019 Dodge Grand Caravan2019 Subaru Ascent vs 2020 Lexus NX2019 Subaru Ascent vs 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport2019 Volvo XC90 vs 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan2019 Volvo XC90 vs 2020 Volvo XC902019 MINI Countryman vs 2020 Volvo XC902019 Subaru Ascent vs 2020 Lincoln Navigator2019 Nissan Rogue vs 2020 Volvo XC902019 Honda Odyssey vs 2019 Volvo XC902019 Honda Odyssey vs 2020 Volvo XC902019 Subaru Ascent vs 2020 Buick Enclave