2025 Volvo XC90 Plug-In Hybrid vs. Lexus TX 550h+
Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) offer the best of both worlds: all-electric local driving and efficient hybrid power for longer journeys. However, there aren’t many options for buyers looking at luxury three-row crossovers with a PHEV powertrain. The Volvo XC90 was the pioneer in this category almost a decade ago. The Lexus TX (which shares many components with the Toyota Grand Highlander) entered the market in 2024.
While the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE would ordinarily be logical rivals to the XC90 Plug-In Hybrid, neither of these German crossovers offers PHEV power and three rows of seating (a third row is optional on some GLE trims, but it’s unavailable with the X5). That leaves the XC90 and TX as sole competitors. With this in mind, we’ll see how the 2025 editions of the XC90 Plug-In Hybrid and the Lexus TX 550h+ compare. More specifically, the XC90 is tagged as a 2025.5 edition, reflecting a mid-year refresh. Note that our comparison uses stats for the XC90’s least-expensive trim, the Core. The TX only comes in one trim.
Pricing and Trims
The XC90 Plug-In Hybrid supplies luxury plug-in hybrid capability at a lower price point. With a starting MSRP of $73,000 compared to the TX 550h+'s $77,210, the Volvo is $4,210 less. While the TX 550h+ is offered in a single trim package, the XC90 Plug-In Hybrid is available in three trims – Core, Plus, and Ultra – enabling Volvo shoppers to tailor a version that best meets their preferences and budgets. Volvo adds even more value by including complimentary standard scheduled maintenance for three years or 30,000 miles. Lexus provides similar services for a mere one year or 10,000 miles.
If you select all of the factory options for the TX 550h+, the window sticker will come to $81,045 (before destination charges). The mid-tier Plus with an upgraded sound system costs $76,660. Meanwhile, the top-of-the-range Ultra has an MSRP of $80,200. Adding the Ultra Lounge Package with massaging front seats and an upgraded headliner costs an additional $1,700. Therefore, the XC90 Plug-In Hybrid with all the bells and whistles costs the same as the fully optioned TX 550h+.
On a related note, adding a surround-view monitor to the TX 550h+requires adding the Technology Package, while 360-degree-view capability is standard with the XC90's Plus and Ultra trims. The same applies to a head-up display in the TX 550h+, which is standard with the XC90 Ultra.
Performance
While the TX 550h+ uses a 3.5-liter V6 as the foundation for its PHEV system, it falls short of the Volvo’s 2.0-liter four-cylinder powerplant in several critical benchmarks. With supercharger and turbocharger technology, the Volvo puts out 455 horsepower compared to 404 for the Lexus. Add the XC90’s eight-speed automatic transmission versus a continuously variable transmission (CVT) for the 550h+, and it’s easy to see why the Volvo out-accelerates its rival (5.0 seconds versus 5.9 seconds). Interestingly, both vehicles have the same towing capacity (5,000 pounds) despite the Lexus’s larger engine displacement.
Range
Both vehicles offer up to 33 miles of all-electric driving on a full charge. However, calculating total range, including travel under conventional hybrid power, gives the XC90 an edge. Thanks to its larger gas tank, the Volvo can be driven up to 530 miles without recharging or refueling, while the Lexus has a total range of 450 miles.
Seating
The Lexus 550h+ has only one seating configuration: two seats in each of the three rows. This can be challenging if you need to travel with a seventh passenger. In contrast, the XC90 Plug-In Hybrid comes standard with seven-passenger seating via a middle-row bench seat for three. That said, buyers can opt for a second-row pair of captain’s chairs (a $500 upgrade) in the Plus and Ultra trims.
