2021 Volvo XC90 vs 2022 Cadillac Escalade

The 2021 Volvo XC90 marked a significant shift in Volvo's design philosophy, maintaining its traditional styling while adding a touch of modern flair. The XC90 retained Volvo's signature boxy profile and rectangular grille, but introduced softer lines, more chrome, and distinctive LED headlights with "Thor's Hammer" daytime running lights. The Inscription trim, with its extra chrome and optional 21-inch alloy wheels, was the most eye-catching, while the R-Design and Momentum trims offered sportier and more understated looks, respectively. The XC90's interior embraced Swedish minimalism, featuring high-quality materials like matte-finish wood trim and optional wool upholstery, creating a refined yet understated cabin environment.

In contrast, the 2022 Cadillac Escalade made a bold statement with its unapologetically massive presence. Its design elements, such as the oversized grille and LED lights, emphasized its bulk, while the tall hood and locomotive-like front end set it apart from other GM full-size SUVs. The Escalade offered different trim pieces for "sport" and "luxury" models, with the Luxury and Premium Luxury trims featuring bright exterior trim, and the Sport trim showcasing darkened accents. Inside, the Escalade's cabin was spacious and luxurious, though it lacked a cohesive design theme. While it boasted leather upholstery, wood trim, and a panoramic sunroof, some materials appeared less premium, and the overall design didn't match the distinctiveness of competitors like the Lincoln Navigator.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 offered three powertrains, all based on a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base T5 model featured a turbocharged engine producing 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The T6 variant added a supercharger, increasing output to 316 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid, or Recharge, combined the T6 engine with electric motors, delivering a total of 400 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque. Despite the impressive power figures, the XC90's small engine struggled with flexibility compared to competitors' six-cylinder or V8 engines. The XC90's ride quality was excellent, thanks to an optional air-suspension system, and it offered a respectable towing capacity of 2,250 kilograms.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade provided two powertrain options: a standard 6.2-litre gasoline V8 with 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, and a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six diesel engine producing 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission and featured a standard four-wheel-drive system in Canada. The diesel engine impressed with its smooth power delivery and low torque peak, making it ideal for city driving. The Escalade's maximum towing capacity was 3,629 kilograms with the gasoline engine, slightly less than the Lincoln Navigator. However, the Escalade's ride was less refined, with its body-on-frame construction and 22-inch wheels contributing to an unsettled ride, especially compared to unibody SUVs like the BMW X7 and Mercedes-Benz GLS.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 offered a choice between six-seat and 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 was tight for adults, and the seats lacked support. The XC90's interior felt spacious, thanks to an optional power sunroof and upright roof profile. Up front, the Inscription trim featured 10-way power-adjustable heated and ventilated seats with massage, but lacked a power-adjustable steering wheel. Cargo space was limited, 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 2022 Cadillac Escalade, sharing its platform with other GM full-size SUVs, boasted a cavernous cabin. It offered the most first-row and third-row legroom among full-size luxury SUVs, with standard second-row captain's chairs and a power split-folding third-row bench seat. The Escalade excelled in cargo space, providing 722 litres with all seats in place, 2,064 litres with the third-row seats folded, and 3,426 litres with all rear seats folded. However, the raised centre console limited storage space, and while the front seats offered massage and lumbar support, they felt similar to those in GM's other SUVs. Cadillac did include useful features like dedicated buttons for seat heating and ventilation.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 featured the Sensus infotainment system, which prioritized simplicity and functionality. 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 intuitive to use, though the text and typeface could be challenging to read while driving. A 19-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system and head-up display were available, but the wireless charging pad was too small for most phones, and only second-row USB-C ports were provided.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade boasted a 38-inch curved OLED display, comprising three screens: a 14.2-inch digital instrument cluster, a 16.9-inch touchscreen, and a 7.2-inch trip-computer screen. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, and a Wi-Fi hotspot were standard. The display integrated seamlessly into the dashboard, with functional icons and physical toggles for climate control. However, the carousel format for radio stations and the rotary controller were less user-friendly. The Escalade's OLED screens offered excellent resolution for the 360-degree camera system, and additional features included night vision, augmented-reality navigation, and a 19-speaker AKG Studio sound system.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 received the highest "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS for non-hybrid models, with top "Good" scores in all crash tests and a "Superior" rating for front-crash prevention in vehicle-to-vehicle testing. The NHTSA awarded all XC90 models a five-star overall safety rating. The XC90 offered a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including lane-keep assist, lane departure warning, driver-attention monitor, traffic-sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade came with standard driver-assistance features like cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keep assist. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and trailer blind-spot monitoring. Super Cruise, a sophisticated driver-assist system, was available on most trims, offering hands-free driving on pre-mapped highways. While the Escalade's safety features were impressive, it lacked crash test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA.