Compare the2024 Toyota Rav4 PrimeVS 2024 Volvo XC60

With its standard Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, the Toyota Rav4 Prime is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Volvo XC60, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

Both the Rav4 Prime and the XC60 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Toyota Rav4 Prime is safer than the XC60:

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Rav4 Prime is 1.4% to 2.2% less likely to roll over than the XC60.

Toyota’s powertrain warranty covers the Rav4 Prime 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Volvo covers the XC60. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the XC60 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 4 times as many Toyota dealers as there are Volvo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Rav4 Prime’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Rav4 Prime’s reliability 51 points higher than the Volvo XC60 and 63 points higher than the Volvo XC60 T8.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. With 56 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Toyota higher than Volvo.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in long-term dependability. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Volvo is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in overall reliability. Volvo is ranked 25th.

The Rav4 Prime’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 55 more horsepower (302 vs. 247) than the XC60 B5’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Toyota Rav4 Prime is faster than the XC60 B5 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder:

On the EPA test cycle the Rav4 Prime running on electricity gets better mileage than the XC60 T8 Extended Range running on electricity (105 city/84 hwy vs. 66 city/60 hwy MPGe).

On the EPA test cycle the Rav4 Prime running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the XC60 running its gasoline engine:

The Rav4 Prime can travel with zero emissions on electricity, only, on a full charge for 42 miles. The XC60 T8 Extended Range has to start its internal combustion engine after only 35 miles.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Rav4 Prime uses regular unleaded gasoline. The XC60 requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Toyota Rav4 Prime higher (7 out of 10) than the Volvo XC60 (5 to 7). This means the Rav4 Prime produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the XC60 every 15,000 miles.

The Rav4 Prime has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The XC60 doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Rav4 Prime stops shorter than the XC60:

The front and rear suspension of the Rav4 Prime uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the XC60, which uses transverse leafs springs in the rear. Coil springs compress more progressively and offer more suspension travel for a smoother ride with less bottoming out.

The Rav4 Prime XSE handles at .83 G’s, while the XC60 Recharge Core pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Rav4 Prime SE’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the XC60’s (36.1 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

The Rav4 Prime is 4.5 inches shorter than the XC60, making the Rav4 Prime easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Rav4 Prime is 5.7 inches narrower than the XC60, making the Rav4 Prime easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

The front grille of the Rav4 Prime uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The XC60 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Rav4 Prime has 1.5 inches more rear headroom and .1 inches more rear shoulder room than the XC60.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Rav4 Prime’s rear seats recline. The XC60’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Rav4 Prime has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the XC60 with its rear seat up (33.5 vs. 24.4 cubic feet). The Rav4 Prime has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the XC60 with its rear seat folded (69.8 vs. 63.3 cubic feet).

The Rav4 Prime’s cargo area is larger than the XC60’s in almost every dimension:

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Rav4 Prime’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the XC60’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Rav4 Prime has standard extendable sun visors. The XC60 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Rav4 Prime XSE offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet in the cargo area, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The XC60 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Insurance will cost less for the Rav4 Prime owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Rav4 Prime will cost $520 to $3400 less than the XC60 over a five-year period.

The Rav4 Prime will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Rav4 Prime will retain 59.06% to 59.32% of its original price after five years, while the XC60 only retains 47.41% to 49.36%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Toyota Rav4 Prime will be $10797 to $29610 less than for the Volvo XC60.

Consumer Reports® chose the Toyota Rav4 Prime as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Volvo XC60 isn't recommended.

The Toyota Rav4 outsold the Volvo XC60 by almost 11 to one during 2023.