2021 Chevrolet Suburban vs 2021 Volvo XC90

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban had a polarizing front-end design, borrowing heavily from the Camaro's design language. This resulted in small headlights and large, busy grilles that didn't quite suit its massive frame. Despite the exterior's aggressive styling, the interior remained familiar and functional, with controls in their usual places. The High Country trim, which we tested, featured woodgrain and leather but lacked the soft-touch materials expected in a luxury SUV. It felt more like an upscale pickup than a true luxury vehicle.

In contrast, the 2021 Volvo XC90 successfully reshaped Volvo's image with its design. It retained traditional Volvo styling features like a boxy profile and a blunt front end but added softer lines, more chrome, and distinctive LED headlights with "Thor’s Hammer" daytime running lights. Our Inscription test car, the flashiest of the XC90 trims, sported extra chrome trim and optional 21-inch alloy wheels. The interior embraced "Swedish minimalism," offering thoughtfully arranged, high-quality materials, including matte-finish wood trim and optional wool upholstery.

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban offered three engine options: a standard 5.3-liter V8 with 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque, a 6.2-liter V8 with 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque, and a newly available 3.0-liter Duramax turbodiesel engine producing 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. All engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, with standard rear-wheel drive (RWD) or available four-wheel drive (4WD). The diesel engine provided great pickup and V8-level torque, making it suitable for both city driving and highway speeds. The Suburban's independent rear suspension improved ride quality, but it still exhibited body roll and truck-like tendencies over bumps and in crosswinds.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 featured three powertrains based on a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base T5 engine was turbocharged, producing 250 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The T6 engine was both turbocharged and supercharged, delivering 316 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid combined the T6 engine with electric assist, producing a total of 400 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque. The T5 came standard with front-wheel drive (FWD), while all-wheel drive (AWD) was optional on the T5 and standard on the T6 and T8. The XC90 offered a smooth ride, especially with the optional air-suspension system, but the small engine struggled to provide consistent power, particularly in the all-electric Pure mode.

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban boasted massive cargo space, with 144.7 cubic feet available with the rear seats folded. Even with the second-row seats in use, it offered 93.8 cubic feet of cargo space, and 41.5 cubic feet behind the third row. Passengers enjoyed a commanding view of the road and ample head- and legroom. The second-row captain's chairs were spacious, and the control layout was similar to GM's pickup trucks. However, the button shifter design and power-sliding center console were less intuitive and added complexity.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 was available in six-seat or seven-seat configurations, with headroom and legroom in all three rows being about average for the segment. The third row was tight for adults, and the seats in both the second and third rows lacked support. The interior felt spacious, thanks to the optional power moonroof and upright roof profile. Up front, the Inscription trim featured 10-way power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats with backrest massage, but it lacked a power-adjustable steering wheel. Cargo space was limited, with 11.2 cubic feet with all seats in place, 34.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, and 64.1 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded.

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban came standard with a 10.2-inch touchscreen running GM’s intuitive infotainment system, featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system had crisp graphics and a sensible layout, with a helpful home button below the screen. Optional features included a navigation system, a rear entertainment system with large touchscreens, and a head-up display.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 featured the Sensus infotainment system, which emphasized simplicity and functionality. It came standard with a 9-inch touchscreen, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, Bluetooth, and a built-in WiFi hotspot. The portrait-oriented touchscreen was easy to use, but the amount of text and typeface made reading some menus difficult while driving. The wireless charging pad added for 2021 was too small for most phones, and the lack of front USB-C ports was a drawback.

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban was equipped with automatic emergency braking, forward-collision avoidance with pedestrian detection, automatic high beams, and rear parking sensors. Optional safety features included adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic assist, front parking sensors, and a surround-view camera system. Unique options included the rear-view camera mirror and the Safety Alert Seat, which vibrated for alerts.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 received the highest “Top Safety Pick+” rating from the IIHS for non-hybrid models and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA. It offered more standard safety features than most competitors, including lane-keep assist, a driver-attention monitor, traffic-sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency braking, and Volvo’s Pilot Assist driver aid. Pilot Assist combined adaptive cruise control with automated lane centering, providing smooth and quick reactions to other vehicles.