Volvo XC60 vs Mazda CX-90

The Volvo XC60 starts from $74,990 before on-road costs, while the Mazda CX-90 opens at $74,385. That makes the Mazda CX-90 the more affordable entry point by $605.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $82,489 and $81,824 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs are nearly identical since both have similar efficiency.

Both the Volvo XC60 and Mazda CX-90 hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 98% for the Volvo XC60 and 91% for the Mazda CX-90.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. Both models are evenly matched with 6 out of 10 key ADAS systems.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 8 in the Volvo XC60 and 6 in the Mazda CX-90. The Volvo XC60 adds a 360-degree camera that the Mazda CX-90 misses.

The Volvo XC60 features a 11.2-inch touchscreen, while the Mazda CX-90 gets a 10.3-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Volvo XC60 stands out with head-up display, panoramic roof, heated front seats and Harman Kardon audio that you will not find on the Mazda CX-90. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The Volvo XC60 uses a 2.0L 4-cyl turbocharged 48V mild hybrid B5 producing 183kW and 350Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 6.7 seconds.

The Mazda CX-90 responds with a Petrol making 254kW and 500Nm, paired to a automatic driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 7.8 seconds.

The Mazda CX-90 has the clear power advantage at 254kW vs 183kW. In the real-world sprint, the Volvo XC60 is 1.1s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Volvo XC60 measures 4,688mm long on a 2,865mm wheelbase, 412mm shorter than the Mazda CX-90 at 5,100mm (3,120mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Mazda CX-90 generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 505L in the Volvo XC60 and 257L in the Mazda CX-90, giving the Volvo XC60 a 248L advantage. The Mazda CX-90 seats 7 vs 5.

For towing, the Volvo XC60 leads with a 2,400kg braked capacity vs 2,000kg. That 400kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $2,166/year for the Volvo XC60 and $2,337/year for the Mazda CX-90. That is a $171 annual difference in favour of the Volvo XC60.

Estimated annual total: $2,166 (Volvo XC60) vs $2,337 (Mazda CX-90). The Volvo XC60 saves you roughly $171 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (Volvo XC60) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Mazda CX-90). Both match on warranty length.