2027 Ford Explorer vs 2027 Volvo XC90
The Ford Explorer wins clearly, 96.2 to 86.2, on safety, performance, fuel & range. The Volvo XC90 is ahead on space & cargo.
2027 Ford Explorer
The 2027 Ford Explorer is sold in the U.S. as a gas large SUV with 8 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Explorer AWD, is EPA-rated at 23 …
2027 Volvo XC90
The 2027 Volvo XC90 is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid large SUV with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the XC90 B5 AWD, is EPA-rated at 25 m…
2027 Ford Explorer
Clear winThe Ford Explorer wins clearly, 96.2 to 86.2, on safety, performance, fuel & range. The Volvo XC90 is ahead on space & cargo.
| Category · weight | 2027 Volvo XC90overall 86.2 | 2027 Ford Exploreroverall 96.2 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricenot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 91.9 | 97.3 | |||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | |||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 76.3 | 91.8 | |||||||||
NHTSA 5-Star rating, WhichTrim Safety Signal (open recalls by severity), owner complaints, standard driver-assist features (from the press kit, or from what the manufacturer filed with NHTSA where there is none). Open park-outside / do-not-drive advisories cost 25 points. | |||||||||||
| Space & cargow 2 | 100 | 99.7 | |||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | |||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 83.5 | 100 | |||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | |||||||||||
| Tech & comfortnot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||
| Overall | 86.2 | 96.2 | |||||||||
Trim vs trim · 4 of 7 categories compared
Volvo XC90: base trim B5 AWD AWD · Ford Explorer: base trim Explorer Active RWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2027 Ford Explorer wins
- It lists 19 standard driver-assist features against 1.
- It costs $400 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($2,900 against $3,300).
- It makes 300 hp against 247.
Where the 2027 Volvo XC90 answers
- It has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 100 against 89).
- It is rated 25 combined against 23 (EPA mpg or MPGe).
Ranked by how far apart the two score on each measure, so a price gap and a horsepower gap are compared on the same scale. Every figure is on this page.
Specifications side by side
42 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Volvo XC90B5 AWD AWD | Ford ExplorerExplorer Active RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | — | $38,465 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | twin turbo | twin turbo |
| Cylinder count | 4 | 4 |
| Engine displacement | — | 2,300 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | In-line 4-cyl. turbocharged | 2.3L EcoBoost I-4 with Auto Start-Stop Technology |
| Fuel injection system | gdi mpi | gdi mpi |
| Valve configuration | 4 valves/cylinder, 2 camshafts | — |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 247 hp | 300 hp |
| Torque | 266 lb-ft | 310 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 23 mpg | — |
| MPG (combined) | 25 mpg | — |
| MPG (highway) | 29 mpg | — |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 3.329 | 3.58 |
| Transmission speeds | 8 | 10 |
| Transmission type | automatic hybrid | automatic |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | — | 7.6 in |
| Overall height | — | 69.6 in |
| Overall length | 195 in | 199 in |
| Overall width | 75.7 in | 78.9 in |
| Wheelbase | 118 in | 119 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 3rd row | — | 16.3 cu-ft |
| Total interior volume | — | 150 cu-ft |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | — | 7 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 41.5 in | 40.7 in |
| Second-row headroom | 39.3 in | 40.5 in |
| Third-row headroom | 36.3 in | 38.9 in |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 40.9 in | 43 in |
| Second-row legroom | 36 in | 37.5 in |
| Third-row legroom | 31.9 in | 31.8 in |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | Double Wishbone Suspension, Coil Springs, Hydraulic Shock Absorbers, Stabilizer Bar | — |
| Rear suspension type | Integral Axle with Transverse Composite Leaf Spring, Hydraulic Shock Absorbers, Stabilizer Bar | — |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Electric Power Assisted Rack and Pinion Steering | — |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | — | 18 in |
| Wheel material | — | aluminum |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | — | P255/65R18 |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 18.8 gal | — |
| Minimum recommended octane | 95 | — |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | — | FordPass Connect |
| Connected services trial (standard tier) | — | 12 months |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 57.8 in | — |
| Second-row shoulder room | 56.5 in | — |
| Third-row shoulder room | 47 in | — |
Green marks the better value where the direction is unambiguous (more room, more power, lower price). Blank rows are specs the press kit does not publish.
Equipment, feature by feature
84 features · differences first, then sharedSafety21 differ · 21 listed
| Feature | Volvo XC90B5 AWD AWD | Ford ExplorerExplorer Active RWD |
|---|---|---|
| First Row Driver and Passenger Dual-Stage Front, Front Seat Side, and Front Knee Airbags | — | std |
| First Row Driver and Passenger Dual-Stage Front, Front Seat Side, and Front Knee Airbags | — | std |
| Lane Keeping System (includes Lane-Keeping Assist, Lane-Keeping Alert and Driver Alert) | — | std |
| Safety Canopy - Side-Curtain with Rollover Sensor Airbags | — | std |
| AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control™ | — | std |
| Antilock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and Electronic Brake Assistance (EBA) | std | — |
| Auto Hold | — | std |
| Battery Saver | — | std |
| First Row Driver and Passenger Dual-Stage Front, Front Seat Side, and Front Knee Airbags | — | std |
| Ford Co-Pilot360™ Assist+ (Active) | — | std |
| Ford Security Package (1-Year Included) | — | std |
| Intelligent 4WD with 6 selectable Drive Modes and Hill Descent Control | — | opt |
| LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tether Anchors for Children) | — | std |
| Perimeter Alarm | — | std |
| Power Door Locks - Auto Lock/Unlock and Child-Safety Rear | — | std |
| Rear Parking Sensors | — | std |
| Rear View Camera with Backup Assist Grid Lines | — | std |
| SOS Post-Crash Alert System™ | — | std |
| Trailer Sway Control | — | std |
| Individual Tire Pressure Monitoring System (ITPMS) | — | std |
| SecuriLock® Passive Anti-Theft System | — | std |
Infotainment11 differ · 11 listed
| Feature | Volvo XC90B5 AWD AWD | Ford ExplorerExplorer Active RWD |
|---|---|---|
| FordPass Connect™ | — | std |
| AM/FM, MP3-Compatible with Six Speakers | — | std |
| Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Wireless Compatibility | — | std |
| Ford app | — | std |
| Ford Connectivity Package (1-Year Included) | — | std |
| Ford Digital Experience with 13.2" Center Display | — | std |
| Instrument Panel with 12.3" Cluster Display | — | std |
| SiriusXM® with 360L (3-Month Prepaid Subscription) | — | std |
| USB Ports, First Row – One (1) "A" and one (1) "C" in the Media Hub, two (2) "C" in center console | — | std |
| USB Ports, Second Row - Two (2) "C" | — | std |
| USB Ports, Third Row - Two (2) "C" | — | std |
Convenience6 differ · 6 listed
| Feature | Volvo XC90B5 AWD AWD | Ford ExplorerExplorer Active RWD |
|---|---|---|
| 4-Door Intelligent Access (Lock/Unlock) with Push-Button Start | — | std |
| Easy Fuel® Capless Fuel Filler | — | std |
| Power Liftgate | — | std |
| Remote Start System (optional) | — | opt |
| SecuriCode® Keyless Entry Keypad | — | opt |
| 12V Powerpoints, 3 total (1 first row, 1 second row and 1 cargo area) | — | std |
Climate3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Volvo XC90B5 AWD AWD | Ford ExplorerExplorer Active RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Tri-zone Electronic Automatic Temperature Control | — | std |
| Cabin Particulate Air Filter | — | std |
| Rear Auxiliary Climate Control | — | opt |
Seating7 differ · 7 listed
| Feature | Volvo XC90B5 AWD AWD | Ford ExplorerExplorer Active RWD |
|---|---|---|
| 10-way Power Driver seat | — | std |
| First-Row Heated Seats | — | std |
| 4-way Manual Passenger seat | — | std |
| Second-row 35/30/35 split-fold-flat Bench Seat | — | opt |
| Second-row Captain's Seats with E-Z Entry and Armrests | — | std |
| Third-row 50/50 split-fold Bench Seat, Manual | — | std |
| Unique Cloth Seats | — | std |
Interior8 differ · 8 listed
| Feature | Volvo XC90B5 AWD AWD | Ford ExplorerExplorer Active RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Heated Steering Wheel | — | opt |
| Active Noise cancellation | — | std |
| Door-Sill Scuff Plates, Front and Rear | — | std |
| First-row center floor console with armrest and storage bin | — | std |
| Grab Handles – Front-Passenger; Second Row – two (2), includes Coat Hooks | — | std |
| Manual Tilt/Telescoping Steering Column | — | std |
| Floor Mats - Black Carpet, Front and Second Rows | — | std |
| Overhead Console with Dome/Map Lights and Sunglasses Holder | — | std |
Exterior16 differ · 16 listed
| Feature | Volvo XC90B5 AWD AWD | Ford ExplorerExplorer Active RWD |
|---|---|---|
| 18" Sparkle Silver-Painted Aluminum wheels | — | std |
| 20" Carbonized Gray-painted Aluminum wheels | — | opt |
| 20" Luster Nickel-Painted Aluminum wheels | — | opt |
| Acoustic-Laminate Windows - Front-Row Side | — | std |
| Grille - Black Mesh Insert with Chrome Bars | — | std |
| Headlamps – LED Low & High Beams with Courtesy Delay, Autolamp (Automatic On/Off), Auto High-Beam | — | std |
| LED Fog Lamps | — | opt |
| LED Taillamps | — | std |
| Mirrors, Sideview – Power and Heated Glass | — | std |
| P255/65R18 All-Season BSW Tires | — | std |
| Panoramic Vista Roof® with Power Shade | — | opt |
| Roof-Rack Side Rails - Black | — | std |
| Skid Plate Elements, Front - Silver Painted | — | std |
| Tire Inflator and Sealant Kit | — | std |
| Privacy Glass - Second, Third Row and Liftgate | — | std |
| Body-Color Rear Spoiler | — | std |
Powertrain8 differ · 8 listed
| Feature | Volvo XC90B5 AWD AWD | Ford ExplorerExplorer Active RWD |
|---|---|---|
| All Wheel Drive (AWD) | std | — |
| 10-Speed Automatic Transmission | — | std |
| 2.3L EcoBoost I-4 Engine with Auto Start-Stop Technology | — | std |
| 3.58 Non-Limited-Slip Rear Axle | — | std |
| 8-speed automatic gearbox | std | — |
| Intelligent 4WD with 6 selectable Drive Modes and Hill Descent Control | — | opt |
| Rear-Wheel Drive with 6 selectable Drive Modes | — | std |
| Terrain Management System™ | — | std |
Chassis3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Volvo XC90B5 AWD AWD | Ford ExplorerExplorer Active RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Double Wishbone Suspension, Coil Springs, Hydraulic Shock Absorbers, Stabilizer Bar. Optional Air Suspension (front) | std | — |
| Electric Power Assisted Rack and Pinion Steering | std | — |
| Integral Axle with Transverse Composite Leaf Spring, Hydraulic Shock Absorbers, Stabilizer Bar. Optional Air Suspension (rear) | std | — |
Cargo1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Volvo XC90B5 AWD AWD | Ford ExplorerExplorer Active RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Class III Trailer Tow Package | — | std |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPVolvo XC90
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
Ford Explorer
Top recalls
- moderate Seats 26V470000 · 76,748 vehicles · filed unfixed
- moderate Back Over Prevention 26V415000 · 66,383 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Volvo XC90B5 AWD AWD | Ford ExplorerExplorer Active RWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | — (base trim) | $38,465 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | — 3 trims | $38,465 – $53,660 9 trims |
| Powertrains | HEV | GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | XC90 B5 AWD | Explorer RWD |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 25 | 23 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $3,300 | $2,900 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | — | — |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2027 Volvo XC90 or the 2027 Ford Explorer?
The Ford Explorer wins clearly, 96.2 to 86.2, on safety, performance, fuel & range. The Volvo XC90 is ahead on space & cargo. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2027 Ford Explorer scores 96.2 and the 2027 Volvo XC90 86.2. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which has the better safety record, the 2027 Volvo XC90 or the 2027 Ford Explorer?
2027 Volvo XC90: no NHTSA rating yet, grade A, 0 recalls. 2027 Ford Explorer: no NHTSA rating yet, grade B, 2 recalls (1 filed with no repair available). Crash ratings come from NHTSA's own tests; the grade is WhichTrim's read of the recall record, and the two can disagree.
What are the biggest differences between the 2027 Volvo XC90 and the 2027 Ford Explorer?
Where the 2027 Ford Explorer wins: it lists 19 standard driver-assist features against 1, costs $400 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($2,900 against $3,300), and makes 300 hp against 247. Where the 2027 Volvo XC90 answers: it has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 100 against 89) and is rated 25 combined against 23 (EPA mpg or MPGe).