Used car safety, rank #5 of 181
Volvo XC90 4WD Safety Rating (2018-20)
Real IIHS driver death rates for the 2018-20 Volvo XC90 4WD, a midsize luxury SUV, compared with its class and with the current model.
Safest PickThe 2018-20 Volvo XC90 4WD has an IIHS driver death rate of 4 per million registered vehicle years against a midsize luxury SUVs average of 10.9, which is 63% below the class average. That places it #5 of 181 used vehicles with a safety score of 96.3/100, earning our Safest Pick designation, and it typically sells used for $26,000 to $42,000.
What the Volvo XC90 death rate means
At 4 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, the Volvo XC90 4WD beats the midsize luxury SUVs average of 10.9 by 63%. The 95% confidence interval is 0 to 13, so the upper end of the range overlaps the class average and the advantage is not certain.
The other-driver death rate of 49 measures the opposite risk: how many drivers of other vehicles died in crashes with a Volvo XC90. It is higher than the Volvo XC90's own driver death rate, the usual pattern for this class. Remember that death rates describe vehicles and their drivers together: IIHS adjusts for driver age and gender, but not for where or how carefully people drive. Our score weights this model's own rate at 70% and its class at 30%; see how we rank used cars.
Compared with similar used luxury SUVs
The safest midsize luxury SUVs in the IIHS study, by our score, with the Volvo XC90 4WD highlighted. It ranks 3 of the 9 shown; the class leader is the BMW X3 4WD at a death rate of 0.
| Vehicle | Years | Death rate | Score | Reliability | Used price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW X3 4WD | 2019-20 | 0 (0 to 29) | 98.6 | 2.5/5 | $22,000 to $36,000 |
| Audi Q5 4WD | 2018-20 | 2 (0 to 6) | 97.1 | 3.0/5 | $23,000 to $38,000 |
| Volvo XC90 4WD (this page) | 2018-20 | 4 (0 to 13) | 96.3 | 3.5/5 | $26,000 to $42,000 |
| Volvo XC60 4WD | 2018-20 | 5 (0 to 16) | 95.5 | 4.0/5 | $23,000 to $36,000 |
| Lexus RX 350 4WD | 2017-20 | 5 (0 to 10) | 95.5 | 4.0/5 | $26,000 to $40,000 |
| Acura RDX 4WD | 2019-20 | 6 (0 to 18) | 93.6 | 4.5/5 | $22,000 to $34,000 |
| BMW X5 4WD | 2019-20 | 6 (0 to 19) | 93.6 | 2.0/5 | $28,000 to $48,000 |
| Porsche Macan | 2017-20 | 6 (0 to 14) | 93.6 | 1.5/5 | $32,000 to $52,000 |
| Acura MDX 4WD | 2017-20 | 6 (0 to 16) | 93.6 | 4.0/5 | $24,000 to $36,000 |
Class average for midsize luxury SUVs: 10.9 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years.
The new Volvo XC90
Death rates lag the market by several years. For the current Volvo XC90 we score IIHS crash tests instead; here is how the latest model years rate on our new-car scale.
| Model year | Model | IIHS award | New-car score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Volvo XC90 | TSP | 93.6 |
New-car scores use a different scale (crash tests, not death rates) and are not directly comparable with the 96.3 used-car score above.
Reliability and cost of ownership
Reliability: 3.5 out of 5
RepairPal rates the Volvo XC90 3.5/5, 8th out of 14 in its category. Owners spend about $851 a year on repairs and maintenance, visiting the shop 0.6 times a year for unscheduled work, and 11% of those repairs are severe.
RepairPal detailsUsed price: $26,000 to $42,000
Typical asking prices for 2018-20 Volvo XC90 4WD listings. For a model with a death rate of 4, that buys more real-world protection per dollar than most alternatives in the midsize luxury SUVs class.
International crash test results
Euro NCAP (2015)
100% safety assist β the first vehicle to achieve this.
ANCAP (2015)
International test results are for the same-generation model sold in those markets. Body structures are typically identical across regions. Euro NCAP vs IIHS explained.
Safety recalls for the Volvo XC90 4WD
No recalls on record for the 2020 model year.
Volvo XC90 4WD: Common Questions
Is the Volvo XC90 4WD a safe car?
Yes, by the measure that matters most. IIHS recorded a driver death rate of 4 per million registered vehicle years for the 2018-20 Volvo XC90 4WD, 63% below the class average (10.9 for midsize luxury SUVs). That earns a used-car safety score of 96.3 out of 100 and rank #5 of 181 used vehicles, with a Safest Pick designation.
What is the Volvo XC90 4WD driver death rate?
4 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, with a 95% confidence interval of 0 to 13. Drivers of other vehicles that collided with a Volvo XC90 died at a rate of 49 per million. Source: IIHS driver death rates by make and model, covering 2018-20 models.
How does the Volvo XC90 4WD compare with other midsize luxury SUVs?
The midsize luxury SUVs class averages 10.9 driver deaths per million; the Volvo XC90 4WD sits at 4. Among the 9 midsize luxury SUVs compared above it ranks 3 by safety score; the top of that group is the BMW X3 4WD with a death rate of 0.