2026 Volvo XC90 vs Toyota Highlander: We Compared the Data
By the CarWhere Vehicle Data Team · Updated November 8, 2026 · how we score
Our pick: the Highlander — it leads our weighted scorecard 5–1.5 across 5 categories, winning on a lower starting price ($46,270 vs $57,400) and better 5-year value retention (52.7% vs 35.9%). Choose the XC90 if you want the bigger discount off MSRP (5% off MSRP vs 1% off MSRP for verified buyers).
Scorecard: XC90 1.5 pts · Highlander 5 pts across 5 scored categories.
The scorecard
| Category (weight) | 2026 XC90 | 2026 Highlander | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (2) | $57,400 | $46,270 | Highlander |
| NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold (2) | — | 0.39 | No data |
| 5-year value retained (1.5) | 35.9% | 52.7% | Highlander |
| Best EPA combined (1.5) | 27 mpg | 35 mpg | Highlander |
| Most horsepower available (1) | — | 265 hp | No data |
| Max towing (1) | — | 5,000 lb | No data |
| Cargo behind rear seats (1) | — | 16 cu ft | No data |
| Standard seats (1) | — | 7 | No data |
| Median discount verified buyers got (1) | 5% off MSRP | 1% off MSRP | XC90 |
| Recalls, 2023–2025 model years (0.5) | 6 | 10 | XC90 |
| Weighted points | 1.5 | 5 | Highlander |
Which one we'd buy, and for whom
- Commuter. Commuters: the Highlander — 35 mpg vs 27 mpg (best EPA combined).
- Budget. Tight budgets: the Highlander — $46,270 vs $57,400 (starting MSRP). Used, the median asking price is $37,869 for the XC90 vs $27,723 for the Highlander.
- Resale. Resale-minded buyers: the Highlander — 52.7% vs 35.9% (5-year value retained).
Price: sticker and what buyers paid
The XC90 starts at $57,400 and tops out at $66,950; the Highlander runs $46,270 to $55,675 (manufacturer MSRP, before destination). Verified XC90 buyers paid a median 5% off MSRP across 5 deals; the CarWhere Index target is 11.8% off. Verified Highlander buyers paid a median 1% off MSRP across 19 deals; the CarWhere Index target is 3.5% off. Used, the median asking price is $37,869 for the XC90 and $27,723 for the Highlander (all model years, US dealer listings).
Reliability: NHTSA complaints and recalls
- XC90: a complaint rate per 1,000 sold isn't available yet.
- Highlander: 0.39 NHTSA owner complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022 sales years; 67th percentile among the SUVs we track).
- Recall campaigns touching the 2023–2025 model years: XC90 6, Highlander 10.
Latest rated model years on our years-to-avoid pages: Highlander 2016 (solid).
Complaint rates are owner complaints filed with NHTSA divided by vehicles sold — a federal-data signal, not a survey score.
Specs side by side
| 2026 XC90 | 2026 Highlander | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (base trim) | $57,400 | $46,270 |
| Top-trim MSRP | $66,950 | $55,675 |
| Horsepower | — | 243–265 hp |
| Max torque | — | 310 lb-ft |
| EPA combined | 23–27 mpg (hybrid avail.) | 24–35 mpg (hybrid avail.) |
| Max towing | — | 5,000 lb |
| Seats (standard / max) | — | 7 / 8 |
| Cargo behind rear seats | — | 16 cu ft |
Automaker-published figures; EPA ratings from fueleconomy.gov. "—" = not published.
Resale: 5-year value retained
A 5-year-old (2021) XC90 lists for a median $26,891 — 35.9% of today's median new price of $74,832. A 5-year-old (2021) Highlander lists for a median $30,260 — 52.7% of today's median new price of $57,374.
Shop both
Negotiating either one?
CarWhere PRO ($12.99/mo) shows the 75th-percentile target price for your exact trim and zip, comparable nearby deals, and an AI quote analyzer. See PRO → · Checking a specific used one? The $9.99 Full VIN Report covers the federal record + original window sticker.
More on the Volvo XC90
More on the Toyota Highlander
Related head-to-heads
FAQ
Is the XC90 better than the Highlander?
On our data, no — the Highlander comes out ahead. Our pick: the Highlander — it leads our weighted scorecard 5–1.5 across 5 categories, winning on a lower starting price ($46,270 vs $57,400) and better 5-year value retention (52.7% vs 35.9%). Choose the XC90 if you want the bigger discount off MSRP (5% off MSRP vs 1% off MSRP for verified buyers).
Which is more reliable, the XC90 or the Highlander?
We only rank reliability by NHTSA complaints per 1,000 vehicles sold, and that rate isn't available for both models yet. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns touching the 2023–2025 XC90 and 10 for the Highlander.
Which holds its value better, the XC90 or the Highlander?
The Highlander: a 5-year-old example lists for 52.7% of the new price, versus 35.9% for the XC90, based on median used asking prices against today's median new price.
Which is cheaper, the XC90 or the Highlander?
The Highlander starts lower: $46,270 vs $57,400 starting MSRP (before destination). Verified buyers paid a median 5% off MSRP on the XC90 (5 deals) and 1% on the Highlander (19 deals).
Which has better gas mileage, the XC90 or the Highlander?
The Highlander: up to 35 mpg combined vs 27 mpg for the XC90 (best EPA rating across each lineup).
How we score
Each category compares one published number per model and counts only when both models have it. The winner earns the category weight; results inside the tie band earn nothing. Our pick has more weighted points; level points fall back to more category wins, then the reliability winner, then the price winner.
- Starting MSRP: lower wins; tie within 3%.
- NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold: lower wins; tie within 15%.
- 5-year value retained: higher wins; tie within 2 points.
- Best EPA combined: higher wins; tie within 1 mpg (3 MPGe).
- Most horsepower available: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Max towing: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Cargo behind rear seats: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Standard seats: higher wins; tie same count.
- Median discount verified buyers got: higher wins; tie within 0.5 points.
- Recalls, 2023–2025 model years: lower wins; tie within 1.
Towing weighs 2 for pickups and 1 otherwise; seating is only scored between SUVs and minivans, using standard (never optional) seats. Sources: automaker spec pages and order guides; EPA ratings (fueleconomy.gov); NHTSA owner complaints and recall campaigns against published US sales; median used asking prices across active US dealer listings from licensed vehicle-data providers; verified buyer-submitted deal sheets for discounts.
Cite this page: CarWhere, "2026 Volvo XC90 vs Toyota Highlander: We Compared the Data," carwhere.com/compare-cars/volvo-xc90-vs-toyota-highlander, updated November 8, 2026.