2021 Volvo XC90 vs 2022 Lexus RX

The 2021 Volvo XC90 marked a significant shift in Volvo's design philosophy, successfully blending traditional elements with modern flair. While maintaining its signature boxy profile and rectangular grille, the XC90 introduced softer lines and more chrome, enhancing its visual appeal. The LED headlights with "Thor's Hammer" daytime running lights added a distinctive touch, contributing to a design that was both recognizable and refreshed. The Inscription trim, with its optional 21-inch alloy wheels, stood out as the most luxurious, while the R-Design and Momentum trims offered sportier and more understated looks, respectively. Inside, the XC90 embraced Swedish minimalism, featuring high-quality materials like matte-finish wood and optional wool upholstery, creating a serene and sophisticated cabin environment.

In contrast, the 2022 Lexus RX aimed for a more aggressive and sporty exterior design, especially with its F Sport models. The RX's sharp character lines and angular features gave it a modern and eye-catching appearance, even in subtle colours like Nebula Gray Pearl. The F Sport trim added performance-oriented elements such as 20-inch wheels and unique front fascia, enhancing its athletic look. Inside, the RX maintained a luxurious feel, with F Sport models incorporating sporty touches like Scored Aluminum trim and NuLuxe synthetic leather. However, the centre stack felt dated, and the driving position was challenging to perfect. Despite these drawbacks, the RX offered a comfortable and quiet ride, making it a pleasant companion for long journeys.

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, boosting output to 316 hp and 295 lb-ft. The T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid combined the T6 engine with electric motors, delivering a total of 400 hp and 472 lb-ft. While the XC90 provided ample power, the small engine struggled with flexibility compared to competitors' larger engines. The XC90's drive modes—Pure, Hybrid, and Power—offered varying levels of efficiency and performance, but the Pure mode was limited to low-speed use. Despite these limitations, the XC90 excelled in ride quality and cabin quietness, aided by an optional air-suspension system.

The 2022 Lexus RX 350 featured a 3.5-litre V6 engine producing 295 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque, while the RX 450h hybrid added electric motors for a combined 308 hp. All models came with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive in Canada. Despite its sporty appearance, the RX's performance was underwhelming, with a lack of engine growl and sluggish acceleration. The F Sport trim included adaptive variable suspension and a Sport+ drive mode, but the differences in driving dynamics were minimal. The RX excelled in comfort and cabin quietness, absorbing road imperfections with ease. Fuel efficiency varied, with the RX 350 consuming 12.2 L/100 km in the city and 9.0 on the highway, while the RX 450h hybrid offered better efficiency at 7.9 L/100 km combined.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 offered six- or seven-seat configurations, with average headroom and legroom across all rows. The third row was tight for adults, and seats lacked support. The optional power sunroof and upright roof profile enhanced the sense of space. Up front, the Inscription trim featured 10-way power-adjustable seats with massage, but the steering wheel was not power-adjustable. Cargo space was limited, with 317 litres behind the third row, 965 litres with the rear seats folded, and 1,815 litres with all seats down. The hands-free power tailgate was a convenient feature.

The 2022 Lexus RX provided 2,826 litres of passenger volume in the two-row model, comfortably seating four adults. The three-row L models offered limited space, with a 2/3/2 seating configuration. Cargo space in the standard RX was 453 litres behind the second row, expanding to 923 litres with the seats folded. The three-row version offered 210 litres with all seats up, increasing to 1,657 litres with both rows down. The RX featured thoughtful interior elements like a smartphone slot and adjustable-height cup holder, but the rear seats did not fold completely flat, and the load-in height was high.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 featured the Sensus infotainment system with a 9-inch touchscreen, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility. The portrait-oriented touchscreen was user-friendly, though the text was sometimes hard to read while driving. The XC90 also offered a 19-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system and head-up display. However, the wireless charging pad was too small for most phones, and only second-row USB-C ports were available.

The 2022 Lexus RX came with an 8-inch touchscreen, with a 12.3-inch version available. The touchscreen's positioning was ergonomically challenging, and the touchpad was hypersensitive and difficult to use. Despite these issues, the RX offered a range of tech features, including six USB ports, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, wireless charging, and a WiFi hotspot. The Lexus App provided additional personalization options, and the RX featured premium audio systems and climate control options.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 received a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS for non-hybrid models, with top scores in crash tests and front-crash prevention. The NHTSA awarded it a five-star overall safety rating. The XC90 offered a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control.

The 2022 Lexus RX included the Lexus Safety System 2.0+ as standard, featuring adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and a pre-collision system. Additional safety features included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The RX was a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS with optional headlights but missed the "plus" designation. The NHTSA gave it a four-star overall rating, with five stars in side crash tests.