2022 Volvo XC60 vs 2021 Honda Odyssey

The 2021 Honda Odyssey presented a familiar yet refreshed appearance, with subtle updates to its styling. The new grille and front bumper, along with standard LED headlights across all trims, gave it a modern touch. The addition of a gloss black spear with a chrome insert across the taillights and a new 19-inch wheel design for the Touring trim further enhanced its look. These changes aimed to reduce brightwork and provide a more contemporary feel. Inside, the Odyssey offered perforated leather upholstery with contrast stitching and piping, along with new dashboard ambient lighting, elevating its interior to a more luxurious level. The seating material and design improvements, along with tri-colour floor mats, added to the upscale experience.

In contrast, the 2022 Volvo XC60 underwent subtle styling changes, including a new front fascia with "air blades" for a sportier look and a rear bumper that concealed the tailpipes. The reworked front grille housed sensors for driver-assist systems behind a heated Volvo logo, ensuring functionality in cold weather. The interior remained largely unchanged, maintaining its clean design with a portrait-oriented touchscreen and minimal clutter. The B6 R-Design test car featured aluminum mesh speaker grilles and textured seats, adding flair to an otherwise subdued interior. The Inscription trim level offered Nappa leather upholstery and a leather-wrapped steering wheel, enhancing the luxury feel.

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's variable cylinder management technology helped conserve fuel, achieving an average of 10.8 L/100 km during testing. However, the lack of all-wheel drive put the Odyssey at a disadvantage in snowy conditions. The new electronic brake booster improved brake pedal feel and response, although the brakes showed signs of fade during intense use.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 introduced new B5 and B6 mild-hybrid powertrains, replacing the previous T5 and T6 options. The B5 produced 258 horsepower and 247 lb-ft of torque, while the B6 offered 295 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, both paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive was standard in Canada. The B6 XC60 R-Design impressed with its smooth power delivery and calm driving experience, emphasizing luxury over performance. The XC60 Recharge plug-in hybrid offered 400 horsepower and 472 lb-ft of torque, while the Polestar Engineered version increased output to 415 horsepower and 494 lb-ft, providing a more performance-oriented option.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey offered excellent interior space, with legible instrumentation and logical controls. The 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat provided comfort, while heated front seats and outboard mirrors were standard in Canada. The Magic Slide second-row seat layout allowed for versatile seating configurations, and 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 with the second-row seats removed.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 maintained competitive passenger space, with above-average front-seat headroom but limited rear-seat headroom. Cargo space for mild-hybrid models was 611 litres with the rear seats in place and 1,410 litres with them folded, while plug-in hybrid models offered slightly less. The XC60 provided a commanding driving position with good visibility, despite the somewhat pinched roofline. Large exterior mirrors aided in driving without relying heavily on driver aids.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and more. The EX-L Navi and Touring trims added navigation, while the Touring grade included a CabinWatch interior camera and CabinTalk PA system. The lack of a tuning knob and subpar voice-recognition technology were notable drawbacks. The rear-seat entertainment system included a 10.2-inch screen, Blu-Ray player, and streaming apps, though it lacked a touchscreen interface.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 received a tech overhaul with a 9-inch touchscreen running Android Automotive, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot. Google Assistant provided voice control, and Google Maps handled navigation. The system allowed Android users to sync profiles and access third-party apps. The digital instrument cluster offered a "Calm" setting to minimize distraction, and the infotainment redesign featured a new layout with sideways swiping for menu access.

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, with the exception of a four-star rollover resistance rating. The ADAS worked accurately but could be smoother in operation.

The 2022 Volvo XC60's safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and more. The 2021 model received top safety ratings from both the IIHS and NHTSA, and the 2022 model was expected to perform similarly. Volvo's driver assistance system combined adaptive cruise control and automated lane centring, though it was no longer a standout feature.