Volvo XC60 vs XC90 – which is best?

So, if you're stuck between two of its most popular family options – the XC60 and XC90 – which should you pick? As you'd expect, the smaller XC60 is more affordable but is it worth paying for the XC90's extra space?

We'll compare these two cars here to help you choose. Once you've made your pick, shop used Volvo XC60 and used Volvo XC90 cars for sale at Motorpoint.

Volvo XC60 vs XC90 compared

Styling and design

Volvo's family 'look' is all about understated sophistication. Its cars don't have the brash, overly aggressive image popular among German SUVs, allowing you to make a graceful entrance rather than a dramatic one. Both the XC60 and XC90 have clean, fuss-free styling lines and the brand's distinctive wide, rectangular front grille. You'll spot a sideways 'T' shape in both cars' LED running lights – a Volvo hallmark dubbed 'Thor's hammer'.

As for differences, there are vanishingly few. Viewed from the front, it might be hard to actually tell these two apart such is the family resemblance. The side profile makes this more obvious, however, with the XC60 having bodywork that very slightly tapers down towards the back, giving the car a fractionally more athletic stance.

Conversely, the XC90 is more brutish and square, with a long, flat roofline that extends all the way to the back of the car to unlock more cabin space. Its blockier shape and larger body make the XC90 seem more imposing in person, towering over lesser family crossovers.

Interior and practicality

We'll avoid playing spot the difference between the XC60 and XC90 because there's basically nothing to split the two. The layout is effectively identical – there's a portrait-orientated centre screen flanked by art deco-style air vents. Below this is a small row of physical controls for the stereo volume and windscreen defoggers. Then a centre console containing the gear selector, engine starter and a little storage.

As for differences, there's a slightly different shape of aluminium detail trim along the underside of the dashboard, and slightly different driver and passenger-side air vents. You'll also find different upholsteries and surfaces depending on what trim level you choose.

The most important difference between these two cars is the seating layout. You get five seats across two rows in the XC60, and seven seats across three rows in the XC90. Both cars offer ample room in the first two rows, even for tall adults. The third row exclusive to the XC90 will be handy if you regularly carry lots of passengers, but you'll struggle to get tall adults in there for anything other than short hops.

Putting both cars in comparable five-seat mode, the XC60 has 483 litres of boot space versus the XC90's 680 litres. In practice, both will be plenty for most families, but you might want to consider the larger XC90 if you have bulky hobbies or a big dog to carry.

Size and dimensions

The XC60 is already quite large by UK standards, but the XC90's extra bulk makes it feel noticeably bigger on the road. That makes it a little harder to drive and park in tight city streets.

Engines and performance

Volvo has slimmed down the engine choices for both models. Both cars share the same entry-level engine – a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol unit with mild-hybrid technology. With 250hp, performance is acceptable but hardly scintillating, and your fuel economy will struggle to reach the mid-30s.

Next up are the plug-in-hybrid options. There are two for the XC60 – a 350hp T6 or a seriously quick 455hp T8 version. The XC90 PHEV now only comes in 455hp T8 form. Both are capable of three-figure economy numbers if you can recharge their batteries often.

Volvo is planning to launch an electric version of the XC60 in the near future but, for now, the XC90 is the only one of these two offered as an EV. That model is called the EX90 and is currently the most expensive and luxurious model the Swedish brand makes.

Driving

Despite the muscular performance available in high-end XC60 and XC90 models, neither car is particularly focused on sporty driving. This is no bad thing considering we're talking about premium family SUVs, with both cars having a calming, relaxing driving experience. Volvo doesn't bombard the driver with drive modes and adjustable settings. Instead, you just slot the car into 'D' and gracefully waft to your destination.

As a result, neither car is particularly fun to throw down a twisty country lane. There's plenty of body roll, and very little feedback through the controls letting you know how the car is responding to the road. The XC60 is smaller, lighter and a little less wayward, so you rarely notice its ungainliness unless you're driving like a hooligan. Meanwhile, the XC90 is heavier and taller, so gets thrown about a bit more on the road, especially if you start sawing at the steering wheel.

Value and reliability

As brand-new cars there's a hefty price difference between these two cars. The XC60 costs a little less than £49,000 while the XC90 is just under £66,000 – broadly in line with comparable models from BMW and Audi. That gap is significant and likely to be the main deciding factor for you between these cars.

Interestingly, by the time these cars reach the used market, quite a lot of that gap gets wiped out. This brings used XC90 prices much closer to used XC60 prices, and might just bring the larger car into your budget if you're happy buying one that's a few plates old.

Volvos tends to earn mid-table results in reliability surveys. While there aren't many problems reported with key mechanical items, there have been occasional faults reported with electronic and infotainment systems. This performance is broadly in line with Volvo's premium German rivals.

Which is best?

There are two main factors that will influence your decision between the XC60 and the XC90. The first is how many seats you need in your family SUV, with the second being the budget available to you.

For bigger families, the XC90 is the better bet thanks to its better passenger and cargo-carrying capacity. However, the XC60 offers a very similar user experience – plus a marginally better driving experience – for less money.

Huge savings on used Volvos

Browse a wide choice of nearly new and used Volvo cars for sale at Motorpoint. For more inspiration, check out our list of the best family SUVs on sale.