Compare the2026 Mercedes GLSVS 2026 Volvo XC90

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages

Safety

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Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The GLS has Car-to-X Communication, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The XC90 doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure or other vehicles.

Both the GLS and the XC90 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, plastic fuel tanks, 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 driver alert monitors.

The Mercedes GLS weighs 470 to 1778 pounds more than the Volvo XC90. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

Warranty

There are over 36 percent more Mercedes dealers than there are Volvo dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the GLS’ warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates rated the GLS third among large premium suvs in their 2025 Initial Quality Study. The XC90 isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. With 48 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mercedes higher than Volvo.

Engine

The GLS has more powerful engines than the XC90:

	Horsepower	Torque
GLS 450 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid	375 HP	369 lbs.-ft.
GLS 580 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid	510 HP	538 lbs.-ft.
Maybach GLS 600 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid	550 HP	538 lbs.-ft.
XC90 B5 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid	247 HP	266 lbs.-ft.
XC90 B6 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder hybrid	295 HP	310 lbs.-ft.
XC90 T8 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder hybrid	455 HP	523 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Car and Driver the GLS 450 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid is faster than the XC90 B6 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder hybrid:

	GLS	XC90
Zero to 60 MPH	5.5 sec	6.8 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	14.4 sec	18.4 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	6.2 sec	7.4 sec
Passing 50 to 70 MPH	4.5 sec	4.9 sec
Quarter Mile	14.1 sec	15.2 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	99 MPH	92 MPH
Top Speed	129 MPH	114 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

Both the GLS and the XC90 have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All GLSs have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The XC90 T8 doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

The GLS has 5 gallons more fuel capacity than the XC90 (23.8 vs. 18.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The GLS has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the XC90. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

Transmission

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Mercedes GLS, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the XC90.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the GLS’ brake rotors are larger than those on the XC90:

	GLS	XC90 B5/B6	XC90 T8
Front Rotors	14.8 inches	13.6 inches	14.4 inches
Rear Rotors	13.6 inches	12.6 inches	13.4 inches

The GLS stops much shorter than the XC90:

	GLS	XC90
70 to 0 MPH	154 feet	181 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	107 feet	123 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the GLS’ optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the XC90 (F:285/40R23 & R:325/35R23 vs. 275/45R20).

The GLS’ standard 315/40R21 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the XC90’s standard 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the GLS has standard 21-inch wheels. Smaller 20-inch wheels are standard on the XC90. The GLS’ optional 23-inch wheels are larger than the 22-inch wheels optional on the XC90.

Suspension and Handling

The front and rear suspension of the GLS uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the XC90, which uses coil springs in front and transverse leafs springs in the rear. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The GLS offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Volvo doesn’t offer an active suspension on the XC90.

The GLS’ drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The XC90 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the GLS’ wheelbase is 5.9 inches longer than on the XC90 (123.4 inches vs. 117.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the GLS is 1 inch wider in the front and 1.9 inches wider in the rear than the track on the XC90.

The GLS 450 handles at .92 G’s, while the XC90 T8 Ultra pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Maybach GLS 600 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the XC90 B6 Ultra (26.5 seconds @ .69 average G’s vs. 27.4 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Maybach GLS 600’s turning circle is 4 feet tighter than the XC90’s (35.7 feet vs. 39.7 feet).

For greater off-road capability the GLS has a 1.3 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the XC90 (10.1 vs. 8.8 inches), allowing the GLS to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The GLS Off-Road Package’s minimum ground clearance is 1.4 inches higher than on the XC90 w/Air Suspension (11.3 vs. 9.9 inches).

Cargo Capacity

The GLS’ cargo area provides more volume than the XC90.

	GLS	XC90
Behind Third Seat	17.4 cubic feet	12.6 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	42.7 cubic feet	35.6 cubic feet

Pressing a switch automatically lowers or raises the GLS’ second and third row seats, to make changing between cargo and passengers easier. The XC90 doesn’t offer automatic folding second row seats.

Towing

The GLS’ standard towing capacity is much higher than the XC90’s (7700 vs. 5000 pounds).

Servicing Ease

The engine in the GLS is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the XC90. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

The GLS’ front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The XC90’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

Heated windshield washer fluid is optional on the GLS to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. The XC90 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid. Its optional heated washer nozzles will defrost the washer fluid but not the windshield.

To better shield the driver and front passenger’s vision, the GLS has standard dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The XC90 doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the GLS has standard extendable sun visors. The XC90 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The GLS has standard heated front and optional heated second and third row seats, which keep the driver and passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Volvo doesn’t offer heated seats in the third row of the XC90.

The GLS has standard front air conditioned seats and offers them optionally in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The XC90 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

The GLS offers an optional center folding armrest for the third row rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and can provide a barrier between children. The XC90 doesn’t offer a third row rear seat center armrest.

Both the GLS and the XC90 offer available massaging front seats. The GLS also offers optional massaging second row seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging second row seats aren’t available in the XC90.

The GLS is equipped with both FM and AM stereo radios, offering access to more content and better coverage than the XC90, which solely provides FM radio. With AM radio, you can enjoy a wider variety of stations featuring news, talk shows, sports commentary, native language programing, automated traffic guidance, and emergency broadcasts. AM waves travel further and penetrate buildings and obstacles more effectively than FM signals, especially at night. Having both FM and AM stereo radios the GLS offers a more comprehensive listening experience compared to only FM in the XC90.

HD Radio boasts several benefits over conventional radio: superior sound quality with clearer and consistent FM broadcasts, CD-quality audio, and Multicast Channels offering up to four streams from a single station, adding programming choices. Cars like the GLS equipped with HD Radio provide an improved in-car entertainment experience. The XC90, devoid of this technology, foregoes these benefits. Selecting the Mercedes GLS empowers drivers to enjoy a more immersive and enjoyable listening experience while on the go.

Both the Mercedes GLS and the Volvo XC90 have a standard Qi wireless phone charging system in the front seat. To easily keep personal devices charged in the second row seat, without cables tangling and wearing out, the GLS also offers an optional wireless charging system in the second row seat. The XC90 does not.

The GLS’ Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The XC90 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the GLS is less expensive to operate than the XC90 because typical repairs cost less on the GLS than the XC90, including $170 less for a water pump, $153 less for a fuel pump and $162 less for a timing belt/chain.

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