2021 Subaru Forester vs 2022 Volvo XC90

The 2021 Subaru Forester, despite its 2019 redesign, retained a somewhat dated appearance, largely carrying over from its previous generation. The most noticeable change was the distinctive cross-shaped taillights. Subaru seemed to follow the adage, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it," maintaining the boxy, upright shape that appealed to many SUV shoppers. The Base trim level appeared plain with 17-inch steel wheels, but the Forester's clean and unpretentious look stood out among compact crossovers. The Sport model added orange striping, a rear spoiler, and black 18-inch alloy wheels, which made a significant visual impact, especially with a complementary paint color like Dark Blue Pearl. The Forester rode on the Subaru Global Platform, shared with other Subaru models, and its interior featured durable materials, with the Sport trim adding orange accents. Cloth upholstery was standard on Base, Premium, and Sport models, while Limited and Touring trims offered leather upholstery.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 showcased a significant evolution from Volvo's boxy past, embracing a more upscale, luxury-oriented image. The XC90, launched as a 2016 model, rode on the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform and served as Volvo's flagship SUV. The 2022 model had a poised stance, sleek roofline, and pronounced wheel arches, exuding athleticism. The interior was a blend of "Scandinavian Modern" and "Swedish Luxury," featuring natural wood and metal trim, a sliding wood tambor cover, and a clear crystal gear selector handle. Volvo's commitment to going leather-free by 2030 was evident, with options for Nappa leather or a tailored wool blend upholstery. The XC90's interior was spacious and airy, enhanced by a standard laminated panoramic moonroof, and the air-conditioning system performed admirably during a heatwave.

The 2021 Subaru Forester was powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The engine's boxer configuration provided a lower center of gravity, contributing to stability. The Forester had a 1,500-pound towing capacity and standard Trailer Stability Assist. While the power felt adequate for most situations, it lacked the thrust needed for highway merging or overtaking. The suspension tuning prioritized comfort over handling, resulting in noticeable body roll in corners and a bouncy ride on uneven pavement. All-wheel drive (AWD) was standard, with X-Mode and Dual X-Mode available for different surfaces. The Forester had 8.7 inches of ground clearance, making it capable of handling mud and dirt better than many compact crossovers.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 offered three powertrain options. The T5 model featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter gasoline four-cylinder engine with 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The T6 model added a supercharger, boosting output to 316 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The T8 plug-in hybrid combined the supercharged/turbocharged engine with an electric motor, delivering a combined 455 horsepower and 523 pound-feet of torque. The T5 was available with front-wheel drive (FWD) or AWD, while the T6 and T8 were AWD only. All models used an eight-speed automatic transmission. The T8 had an 18-mile electric-only range and a combined 55 MPGe rating. The XC90 handled like a smaller vehicle, with minimal body roll and smooth power delivery, especially in the T8 Inscription extended range model, which provided spirited acceleration and a fun driving experience.

The 2021 Subaru Forester offered generous headroom and legroom in both rows, thanks to its tall, flat roofline. This design also provided excellent outward visibility and a roomy feeling. The Forester had 35.4 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 76.1 cubic feet with the seats folded. While it lacked a sliding second-row bench, a power liftgate was available on higher trims. The Forester's interior featured decently sized cupholders and a reasonably sized center console, but the phone-storage cubby was too small for an average-size phone, and wireless charging was not available. The large knobs for audio and climate control were user-friendly, but the numerous buttons on the steering wheel could be confusing.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 was available in six-passenger and seven-passenger configurations, with easy access to the third row via a one-handed slide and fold of the second row. The third row was suitable for children but lacked legroom and thigh support for adults. The XC90 offered 15.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 41.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 85.7 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded. It could tow between 4,000 and 5,000 pounds, depending on the configuration. The XC90's interior featured ample storage space, comfortable seating, and a spacious cabin, enhanced by a standard panoramic moonroof. The air-conditioning system performed well during a heatwave, providing a comfortable environment.

The 2021 Subaru Forester came with the Subaru Starlink infotainment system, featuring a 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, and front-row USB ports. Sport models added an 8-inch touchscreen and Harman Kardon audio system, while Limited and Touring models included navigation and rear USB ports. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with well-designed graphics and backup analog controls, but the screen was slow to boot up. The Forester also had a secondary screen in the center of the dashboard and a small screen in the instrument cluster, displaying secondary information like fuel economy and tire pressure.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 featured the Sensus infotainment system, with a nine-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen and familiar smartphone gestures. However, the system was occasionally glitchy and slow to respond. Apple CarPlay worked better, and the XC90 also supported Android Auto. The touchscreen was positioned close to the driver's line of sight, minimizing distraction. A 12.3-inch digital instrument panel offered easy customization, and the $1,650 Advanced package included a head-up display and a 360-degree camera system. The XC90 came with standard Harman Kardon Premium Sound, with an optional $3,200 Bowers & Wilkins upgrade. The SUV had two front USB-A ports, two rear USB-C ports, a WiFi hotspot, and the Volvo Care smartphone app for remote vehicle controls.

The 2021 Subaru Forester excelled in safety, earning the highest "Top Safety Pick+" award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Forester came standard with Subaru's EyeSight suite, including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lead-vehicle start alert. The driver-monitoring system, DriverFocus, checked for signs of distraction. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and reverse automatic braking.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 continued Volvo's legacy of safety, with a long list of features including blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, parking assist, rain-sensing wipers, lane-keeping aid, adaptive cruise control, and road-sign recognition. Volvo's Pilot Assist system combined several safety features for highway driving with minimal driver intervention. The XC90 received the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ designation and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.