2020 Honda CR-V vs 2021 Volvo XC90

The 2020 Honda CR-V, part of Honda's fifth-generation compact crossover lineup, had a design that was both familiar and enjoyable. Its exterior styling was characterized by soft, curvy lines that gave it a car-like appearance, reminiscent of Honda's sedan lineup. The CR-V's design leaned more towards a station wagon than an SUV, making it a modern choice for family transportation. However, the interior told a different story, with a mix of textures and materials. While higher trims featured upscale touches like wood-look trim and leather upholstery, these clashed with the lower-quality plastics, reminding drivers that even the pricier CR-V models were still upgrades of a commodity car rather than true premium products.

In contrast, the 2021 Volvo XC90 successfully reshaped Volvo's image with its design, maintaining a recognizable Volvo look while adding character. The XC90 retained traditional styling features like a boxy profile and a blunt front end with a rectangular grille, but with softer lines and more chrome. The LED headlights with "Thor's Hammer" daytime running lights were a distinctive touch. The Inscription trim, with extra chrome and optional 21-inch alloy wheels, was the flashiest, while the R-Design had a sportier look. The XC90's interior embraced Swedish minimalism, offering thoughtfully arranged, high-quality materials like matte-finish wood trim and even a wool upholstery option. The Orrefors crystal shifter added a high-end touch to the otherwise restrained interior.

The 2020 Honda CR-V came equipped with a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine across all trims, producing 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque. Paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), this powertrain was well-suited to the CR-V. Despite the reputation of some CVTs for sluggishness, Honda's engineers managed to create a responsive and fuel-efficient system. The CR-V's road manners were excellent, with nimble handling and a firm yet comfortable chassis. Its low curb weight, ranging from 1,521 kg for the FWD LX model to 1,641 kg for the AWD Touring and Black Edition models, contributed to its agility and fuel efficiency. The CR-V achieved impressive fuel economy ratings, with FWD models rated at 7.7 litres per 100 kilometres combined and AWD models at 8.1.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 offered three powertrains, all based on a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base T5 engine was turbocharged, delivering 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The T6 engine added supercharging, increasing output to 316 hp and 295 lb-ft. The T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid, or Recharge, combined the T6 engine with electric assist, producing 400 hp and 472 lb-ft. All models in Canada came with standard all-wheel drive. While the XC90's power was impressive, the small engine struggled to provide flexibility compared to competitors' larger engines. The XC90 offered three drive modes—Pure, Hybrid, and Power—but Pure mode was limited to low speeds. Despite this, the XC90 excelled in ride quality, thanks to an optional air-suspension system, and maintained a quiet cabin. It also had a respectable towing capacity of 2,250 kg.

The 2020 Honda CR-V was known for its masterful packaging, offering a spacious cabin comparable to the Volkswagen Tiguan without feeling oversized. The CR-V provided excellent head- and legroom for both the driver and passengers, thanks to its well-designed seating position and low cowl. The cargo compartment was roomy, matching the Tiguan in volume despite being shorter. Clever storage solutions, like the deep centre console and two-position load floor, added to its practicality. The CR-V offered 1,065 litres of cargo space in the Touring and Black Edition trims and 1,110 litres in other grades. Even the door pockets were spacious, making it easy to live with the CR-V.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 was available in six-seat or seven-seat configurations, with second-row captain's chairs or a bench seat. While headroom and legroom were average for the segment, the third-row space was tight for adults, and the seats lacked support. An optional power sunroof and standard four-zone climate control added to the interior's spacious feel. The Inscription trim featured 10-way power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats with backrest massage, but the steering wheel was not power-adjustable. Storage space was limited, with a shallow centre console bin. Cargo space for the T8 Recharge model was near the bottom of the segment, with 317 litres with all seats in place, 965 litres with the rear seats folded, and 1,815 litres with the second and third rows folded.

The 2020 Honda CR-V's infotainment system showed its age, with a standard 7-inch touchscreen and Bluetooth. It lacked the sophistication of competitors like the Volkswagen Tiguan, which offered an optional 8-inch screen and Digital Cockpit. The CR-V's system was challenging to operate, with few hard buttons and a reliance on multiple taps. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard but felt tacked on. However, the CR-V did offer plenty of USB ports, with two in the front and two high-powered ones in the backseat. The Touring and Black Edition trims included a wireless phone charger.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 featured the Sensus infotainment system, which prioritized simplicity. It came standard with a 9-inch touchscreen, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, and Bluetooth. The portrait-oriented touchscreen was easy to use, with a tablet-like interface. A 19-speaker Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system and head-up display were available. However, the text and typeface made reading menus difficult while driving. The wireless charging pad added for 2021 was too small for most phones, and the XC90 only had second-row USB-C ports.

The 2020 Honda CR-V included the "Honda Sensing" suite of safety features as standard, offering forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Automatic high beams were standard, while blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic monitoring were available on higher trims. The CR-V earned a five-star safety rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS, with caveats for trims below Touring due to headlight performance. A safety recall affected a small number of vehicles for a rear subframe issue.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 received the highest "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS for non-hybrid models, with top scores in crash tests and front-crash prevention. The NHTSA awarded all XC90 models a five-star overall safety rating. The XC90 offered a comprehensive list of standard safety features, including lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control.