Toyota RAV4 vs Volvo XC90
A detailed look at how two of Australia's most popular SUVs compare on price, running costs, safety, and everyday livability.
Toyota RAV4 scores higher, 73 vs 67
Prices are RRP before on-road costs unless stated otherwise. Always confirm with the manufacturer or dealer before purchasing.
Data checked: specs 28 Aug 2026, price 6 Sep 2026
Toyota RAV4
15 of 27 standard · no option data · 7 not offered · 5 no dataFrom
$45,990
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Hybrid
- Engine
- Petrol Hybrid
- Power
- 143kW
- Economy
- 4.5 L/100km
- Safety
- Not rated by ANCAP
- Boot (seats up)
- 705L
Top CarSorted Score, 73 vs 67
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Volvo XC90
22 of 27 standard · no option data · 5 no dataFrom
$97,990
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Petrol
- Engine
- 2.0L 4-cyl turbocharged 48V mild hybrid B5
- Power
- 183kW
- Economy
- 8.1 L/100km
- Safety
- Not rated by ANCAP
- Boot (seats up)
- 301L
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
$45,990RRP
- cannot be matched: 360-Degree Camera, Rain-Sensing Wipers, Wireless Phone Charging and 4 more not offered
$97,990RRP
- no option data for this car
Printed option prices only. A pack is counted once and makes the figure a floor when it carries no printed price. Nothing is inferred from the other car.
Price and cost per week
Toyota RAV4 GX Hybrid 2WD
$45,990
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 6 Sept 2026
$50,872 drive-away in VIC, as published by Toyota Australia Toyota Australia's price page
About $212 a week in repayments ($50,872 drive-away; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
Volvo XC90 Plus B5 Bright
$97,990
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 24 June 2026
No published drive-away price on our record.
About $430 a week in repayments ($97,990 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
The Toyota RAV4 starts $52,000 lower on RRP.
On-road costs (stamp duty, registration, CTP and dealer delivery) depend on your state and the dealer; ask for a written drive-away price before you sign.
CarSorted
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Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$212/wk(≈$919/mo)
Estimate on the Toyota RAV4 at $50,872 drive-away; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Paid from pre-tax salary with the running costs inside the lease. What it comes to depends on your salary and the term.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the Toyota RAV4Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Safety Rundown
ANCAP's published record does not give the Toyota RAV4 a rating. ANCAP's published record does not give the Volvo XC90 a rating. With no pair of ratings to compare, the active-safety features in the spec table above are the fairer comparison.
Driver assistance, as the manufacturer lists it
Driver assistance, system by system. We can confirm 7 of 10 key systems on the Toyota RAV4 and 6 on the Volvo XC90.
Swipe across. Tap a feature to see what it does and each car's source.
StandardOptional: printed price, +pack or NCO (no-cost)No, not offeredNo dataCounts beside each car use the same colours; ? is no option data.
From each manufacturer's Australian equipment list. No data means that car's document does not say. The drawings are our own illustrations of how each kind of system works.
Recalls on our record
Toyota RAV4
- REC-006390 · published 22 Jul 2025Due to a software programming issue, a memory device in the Combination Meter may deteriorate over time.Year range on the notice: 2022 - 2025
- REC-005409 · published 26 Apr 2022Due to a software issue, if the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system is turned off, it may not default to the ON setting the next time the vehicle is started.Year range on the notice: 2020 - 2022
- REC-001312 · published 9 Jun 2020Small cracks may form in the front lower suspension arms and with rapid acceleration and deceleration over the parts' lifetime, these cracks could spread and the suspension arm can eventually separate from the front wheel assembly.Year range on the notice: 2019 - 2020
- 6 more on the model page.
Volvo XC90
- REC-006368 · published 23 Jun 2025Due to a software issue, there is a risk that the vehicle’s braking performance may be temporarily disabled if the car has been coasting downhill for at least 1 minute and 30 seconds in ‘B’ mode (in the plug-in hybrid cars) or One Pedal Drive (in the pure electric cars).Year range on the notice: 2022 - 2025
- REC-006319 · published 2 Apr 2025Due to a manufacturing defect, the cell modules installed in the high voltage battery may be defective.Year range on the notice: 2019 - 2021
- REC-006168 · published 8 Nov 2024Due to a manufacturing defect, the brake pedal rod may not have been fastened to the specified torque and could detach.Year range on the notice: 2020
- 19 more on the model page.
A recall covers the builds its notice lists, not every car of a model. Check your VIN at vehiclerecalls.gov.au.
Feature Showdown
The Toyota RAV4 features a 10.5-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital dash, while the Volvo XC90 gets a 11.2-inch display and 12.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.
The Volvo XC90 counters with head-up display, wireless charging, panoramic roof, heated front seats, power tailgate and Bowers & Wilkins audio. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.
Interior trim differs: the Toyota RAV4 gets cloth upholstery while the Volvo XC90 offers leather. Climate control is 2-zone in the Toyota RAV4 and 4-zone in the Volvo XC90.
Equipment few rivals have, on either carShowHide
Drivetrain
The Toyota RAV4 uses a Petrol Hybrid producing 143kW, sent through a cvt (e-cvt) to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 8.4 seconds.
The Volvo XC90 responds with a 2.0L 4-cyl turbocharged 48V mild hybrid B5 making 183kW and 350Nm, paired to a automatic driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 7.7 seconds.
The Volvo XC90 has the clear power advantage at 183kW vs 143kW. In the 0-100 sprint (manufacturer-claimed), the Volvo XC90 is 0.7s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Space & Comfort
The Toyota RAV4 measures 4,600mm long on a 2,690mm wheelbase, 353mm shorter than the Volvo XC90 at 4,953mm (2,984mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Volvo XC90 generally means more rear legroom.
Boot space is 705L in the Toyota RAV4 and 301L in the Volvo XC90, giving the Toyota RAV4 a 404L advantage. The Volvo XC90 seats 7 vs 5.
For towing, the Volvo XC90 leads with a 2,400kg braked capacity vs 800kg. That 1,600kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.
Neither U-turns in one sweep on a 7 m local street (both need a three-point turn); the Toyota RAV4's turning circle is 0.6 m tighter, 11.4 m against 12.0 m kerb to kerb. The street estimate is indicative, worked from the published turning circles.
Cost to own
At 15,000 km a year, fuel for the Toyota RAV4 costs about $1,283 a year (4.5 L/100km) and fuel for the Volvo XC90 about $2,309 a year (8.1 L/100km), at $1.90 a litre and 32c a kWh. That is $1,026 a year less for the Toyota RAV4.
Warranty: 5 years / Unlimited (Toyota RAV4) and 5 years / Unlimited (Volvo XC90). Capped-price servicing: no data (Toyota RAV4), 5 years (Volvo XC90).
Where each one leads
The Toyota RAV4: the lower starting price ($45,990 against $97,990), the bigger boot with the seats up (705L against 301L) and lower fuel or energy costs on our assumptions ($1,283 a year against $2,309).
The Volvo XC90: more power (183kW against 143kW) and the higher braked towing limit (2,400kg against 800kg).
The Verdict
Toyota RAV4 scores higher, 73 vs 67
The Toyota RAV4 scores 73 to the Volvo XC90's 67 on the CarSorted Score, and leads 3 of the 6 spec rows that separate them, at the lower price. The biggest gaps: fuel economy (Toyota RAV4 ahead by 32 points), technology (Volvo XC90 ahead by 25 points), value (Toyota RAV4 ahead by 24 points). At 15,000 km a year, fuel for the Toyota RAV4 costs about $1,026 less (4.5 L/100km against 8.1 L/100km, at $1.90 a litre). Boot space with the seats up: 705L in the Toyota RAV4, 301L in the Volvo XC90.
Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$212/wk(≈$919/mo)
Estimate on the Toyota RAV4 at $50,872 drive-away; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Paid from pre-tax salary with the running costs inside the lease. What it comes to depends on your salary and the term.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the Toyota RAV4Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Common questions
Which is cheapest, Toyota RAV4 and Volvo XC90?
The Toyota RAV4 is the cheapest at $45,990 before on-road costs. That undercuts the Volvo XC90 by $52,000.
Which is the most fuel-efficient?
The Toyota RAV4 uses the least fuel at 4.5L/100km on the combined cycle.
What are the ANCAP safety ratings?
ANCAP's published record does not give a rating to Toyota RAV4 and Volvo XC90, so there is no crash result to compare.
Which has the most boot space?
The Toyota RAV4 has the largest boot at 705L with the seats up.
Which can tow the most?
The Volvo XC90 has the highest braked towing capacity at 2,400kg.
Which is the most powerful?
The Volvo XC90 makes the most power at 183kW. The Volvo XC90 is quickest to 100km/h in 7.7s.
Track the Toyota RAV4 & Volvo XC90
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How to read this page. Prices, specifications, ANCAP ratings, warranty, the CarSorted Score and the verdict come from our records for the grades shown, sourced from the manufacturers' Australian documents, and change when those records change; the date each was last checked is printed under the headline. Prices are recommended retail prices before on-road costs unless marked drive-away. A plug-in hybrid's fuel figure is labelled with its basis: with a full battery (the certified combined figure) or as a hybrid (battery depleted). Charging and running costs are estimates on the stated assumptions. Always confirm price and specification with the manufacturer or dealer before you buy. CarSorted does not accept payment for recommendations.
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