Here's what you're actually buying: a truck that refuses to quit. Owners routinely push 250k-400k miles on original drivetrains, and the only thing that kills the old ones is frame rust, not mechanical failure. But the 5th gen (2010-2024) makes you pay for that immortality with 16 mpg, a ride like a lumber wagon, and an interior that feels frozen in 2005. You're spending $50k-$60k on something bulletproof but outdated, and unless you're actually using the body-on-frame toughness off-road, a Highlander does the daily-driver job better for less. The brand-new 6th gen modernizes with a turbo-4 and hybrid, but it's too green to trust, dealers are tacking $10k markups onto polarizing styling, and they killed the fold-flat rear seats. If you off-road seriously or want a vehicle that outlives your mortgage, grab a clean 4th gen V8 or late 5th gen and accept the compromises. If you're pavement-only, this is an expensive way to burn gas.
Volvo built the XC90 around a safety cage so robust that salvage yards need special equipment to crush it, and that obsessive engineering carries through to the seats (like living room furniture), the crash ratings, and the peace of mind families actually pay for. The tradeoff is European luxury upkeep: maintenance costs run higher than a Lexus or Acura, parts take longer to arrive, and your neighborhood quick-lube will be lost under the hood. The infotainment is the universal complaint, laggy, temperamental, still tethered to a cable for CarPlay. If safety and comfort top your list and you can budget for the care it demands, the XC90 delivers on its promises. If you're stretching to afford it or expect Toyota-level running costs, the Highlander is the honest answer.