2022 Volvo XC90 vs 2023 Toyota Venza

Volvo had come a long way from its boxy cars and wagons of the past decades. The 2022 XC90, as the company's flagship SUV, showcased a sleek and modern design, riding on the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform. Its stance and profile were impressive, with a long, sleek roofline and pronounced wheel arches that emphasized its athleticism. The interior was a testament to Scandinavian Modern and Swedish Luxury, featuring natural wood and metal trim, a clear crystal gear selector handle, and an option for Nappa leather or tailored wool blend upholstery.

The 2023 Toyota Venza, a midsize crossover SUV, stood out with its sleek and sculpted design, resembling a Lexus more than a typical Toyota. Its contoured body and tapering rear roofline gave it a unique and elegant look. Inside, the Venza borrowed heavily from the Toyota RAV4 but dressed up the cabin with nicer materials and details. The dashboard and center stack were similar, but the Venza featured better-integrated climate control buttons and more soft-touch surfaces, approaching Lexus' level of luxury.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 offered three powertrains: the T5 with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, the T6 with a supercharged and turbocharged version of the same engine delivering 316 hp and 295 lb-ft, and the T8 plug-in hybrid combining a supercharged/turbocharged engine with an electric motor for a total of 455 hp and 523 lb-ft. The T5 models were front-wheel drive with available all-wheel drive, while the T6 and T8 models were AWD only. The T8 had an extended-range variant with an EV range of up to 36 miles. The XC90 handled like a smaller SUV, with minimal body roll and spirited acceleration, especially in the T8 Inscription extended range model.

The 2023 Toyota Venza featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid system paired with electric motor/generators and a 1.6-kilowatt-hour nickel metal hydride battery pack, producing a combined 219 horsepower. A continuously variable transmission (CVT) sent power to the front wheels, while a separate electric motor powered the rear wheels for all-wheel drive. The Venza reached 60 mph in 7.5 seconds and offered a smooth and seamless driving experience. The ride quality was comfortable, favoring ride comfort over sporty handling, with light steering effort and adequate handling for easy and calm transportation.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 came in six-passenger and seven-passenger configurations, with easy access to the third row. The third row was suitable for kids but lacked legroom and thigh support for adults. The XC90 offered 15.9 cubic feet of luggage space behind the third row, 41.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and up to 85.7 cubic feet with both rows folded. It could tow between 4,000 and 5,000 pounds, depending on the configuration. The interior was spacious and airy, with ample storage space and a standard laminated panoramic moonroof. The air-conditioning system performed well even in high temperatures and humidity.

The 2023 Toyota Venza's front seats provided plenty of space for taller drivers and passengers, with large windows and a panoramic sunroof enhancing the feeling of spaciousness. The rear seats were spacious enough for average adults, with ample legroom and foot room. The Venza offered 28.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, which was less than some competitors. It was not rated for towing. The Venza excelled in holding smaller personal items, with a wireless phone charger, well-sized cupholders, a deep center armrest bin, and large door pockets.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 featured the Sensus infotainment system with a nine-inch touchscreen interface, offering familiar smartphone gestures. However, it was sometimes glitchy and slow to respond. The system worked better with Apple CarPlay, and the XC90 also supported Android Auto. A 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and an optional head-up display were available. The XC90 came with a standard Harman Kardon Premium Sound system, with an optional Bowers & Wilkins upgrade. It included two front USB-A ports, two rear USB-C ports, a WiFi hotspot, and the Volvo Care smartphone app.

The 2023 Toyota Venza came with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a wireless charging pad. The base LE trim featured an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, while the XLE trim and above had a 12.3-inch display. The new infotainment system offered sharp graphics, quick responses, and a logical menu structure. A Wi-Fi connection with a 30-day trial and remote vehicle monitoring via a smartphone app were available. The top Limited trim included a one-year trial subscription to Drive Connect services. The base audio system had six speakers, with a nine-speaker JBL premium audio system available on higher trims.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 came with a comprehensive list of safety 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. The XC90 received the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ designation and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.

The 2023 Toyota Venza scored five stars in overall and side crash protection and four stars in frontal and rollover protection from the NHTSA. The IIHS awarded it the highest score of "Good" in most tests and named it a Top Safety Pick. The Venza came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure assist, and more. Higher trims added parking sensors, a surround-view camera system, a head-up display, and a digital rearview mirror.