2021 Volvo XC60 vs 2021 Honda Odyssey

The 2021 Honda Odyssey, with its decade-old styling theme, received subtle updates to modernize its appearance. The new model year introduced a refreshed grille and front bumper, standard LED headlights with automatic high-beam operation across all trims, and a gloss black spear with a chrome insert stretching across the taillights. The Touring trim debuted a new 19-inch wheel design, enhancing the Odyssey's aesthetic appeal. These minor modifications aimed to reduce brightwork and give the Odyssey a more contemporary look. The interior saw improvements with new perforated leather upholstery, contrast stitching, and ambient lighting, elevating the minivan's luxury feel. The Odyssey Touring, with its handsome alloy wheels and toned-down chrome, aspired to be the Acura of minivans.

In contrast, the 2021 Volvo XC60, positioned between the compact XC40 and larger XC90, showcased Volvo's elegant, tailored crossover design. Built on the Scalable Product Architecture platform, the XC60 featured short front and rear overhangs, athletic body sides, and crisp details, emphasizing agility. The upright grille proudly displayed Volvo's iron mark logo, while the LED daytime running lights, shaped like Thor's hammer, added a distinct Swedish touch. The XC60's paint quality, chrome, and trim were meticulously executed, and the large alloy wheels, available up to 22 inches, added a fashionable flair. Inside, the XC60's cabin exuded Scandinavian elegance with clean lines, authentic materials, and a serene atmosphere, complemented by a 9-inch portrait-oriented infotainment touchscreen.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey was powered by a 3.5-litre V6 engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, delivering 280 horsepower to the front wheels. This combination provided smooth and effortless power, with driving modes including Normal, Sport, Eco, and Snow, along with paddle shifters. The engine featured variable cylinder management for improved fuel efficiency, with a combined consumption of 10.6 litres per 100 kilometres, though our testing averaged 10.8 L/100 km. The Odyssey lacked all-wheel drive, a disadvantage in snowy Canadian conditions, but it did include a new electronic brake booster for improved adaptive cruise control and brake pedal feel. While the Odyssey offered enjoyable driving dynamics, the brakes struggled under heavy use, particularly during a heatwave.

The 2021 Volvo XC60 offered a range of powertrains, all featuring a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine and an 8-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive was standard in Canada. The T5 model produced 250 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, while the T6 model delivered 316 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The T8 models, being plug-in hybrids, combined an 87-hp electric motor with the gasoline engine, resulting in 400 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque, with the T8 Polestar Engineered variant reaching 415 hp. The XC60's AWD system and torque vectoring provided confident handling, and the cabin remained quiet and comfortable. Fuel consumption ranged from 11.1 L/100 km city to 9.3 L/100 km combined for the T8 PHEV, with electric-only mode achieving 4.0 Le/100 km.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey offered a well-thought-out interior with legible instrumentation, logical controls, and ample storage. The 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat, standard in all but the base trim, provided comfort with adjustable armrests. Heated front seats and mirrors were standard in Canada, with the EX-L Navi trim adding a heated steering wheel and the Touring grade offering ventilated front seats. The Odyssey's Magic Slide second-row seat layout allowed for versatile seating configurations, while the third-row seats accommodated both children and adults comfortably. Cargo space was generous, with 929 litres behind the third row, expanding to 2,452 litres with the third row folded, and a maximum of 3,984 litres. However, removing the second-row seats for maximum cargo volume was cumbersome.

The 2021 Volvo XC60 excelled in interior design, offering comfort and functionality. The front seats were highly adjustable, and the heating system performed admirably in winter conditions. The XC60's cabin featured smart storage solutions in the centre console, dashboard, and door panels, with intuitive controls for passengers. Cargo space measured 613 litres behind the rear seats, expanding to 1,410 litres with the rear seats folded. The XC60's towing capacity was 1,587 kilograms, making it versatile for various needs.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, satellite radio, and more. Higher trims added navigation, a CabinWatch interior camera, and a CabinTalk PA system. The Touring trim included an 11-speaker premium audio system, wireless smartphone charging, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. However, the lack of a tuning knob and subpar voice-recognition technology were drawbacks. The rear-seat entertainment system, with a 10.2-inch screen and streaming apps, failed to impress tech-savvy children.

The 2021 Volvo XC60's infotainment system, Sensus, used a tablet-style touchpad interface with a portrait orientation. It offered smartphone integration with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Bowers & Wilkins premium sound system in the test vehicle was exceptional. While the Sensus system could be intuitive, it required a learning curve, and adjusting settings while driving was challenging.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey improved its safety features with standard Honda Sensing, which included adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, pedestrian braking, and road-sign recognition. The Odyssey earned top safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, though the adaptive cruise control's braking could be abrupt, and the lane-departure warning system's steering wheel wobble was less effective.

The 2021 Volvo XC60, benefiting from Volvo's safety heritage, received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and five-star ratings from the NHTSA. It featured a comprehensive suite of safety technologies, including blind-spot monitoring, collision avoidance, and Pilot Assist, a semi-autonomous driving system. Volvo's commitment to safety extended to limiting the XC60's top speed to 180 km/h.