2023 Ford Escape vs 2024 Volvo XC90

The 2023 Ford Escape presented a departure from its earlier, more rugged design, embracing a European-inspired aesthetic. The refresh introduced a more traditional front end, replacing the previous grille with a Ford blue oval logo and a stylish LED light bar. The ST-Line Elite trim, which we tested, featured 19-inch wheels and body-color mirror caps, giving it an upscale appearance akin to a Mazda CX-5. Inside, the Escape boasted diamond-stitched leather upholstery, though it felt somewhat hard and plasticky. Despite this, the seats were comfortable, and the 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat allowed for easy customization. However, the interior was dominated by plastic materials, some of which felt scratchy and poorly reinforced.

In contrast, the 2024 Volvo XC90 exuded luxury with its subdued and earthy exterior paint palette, complemented by various appealing wheel designs. The Ultimate trim, which we tested, featured a high-end Bowers & Wilkins audio system, massaging front seats, and a premium headliner. The interior design, though dated, was adorned with rich materials like wool-blend upholstery and natural wood trim. The Orrefors crystal shift knob added a touch of class, and Volvo offered buyers the flexibility to mix and match paint, wheels, and upholstery. The XC90's interior was a testament to Volvo's mastery of color and materials, providing a luxurious and practical environment.

The 2023 Ford Escape offered multiple powertrain options, including a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 180 horsepower and 199 lb-ft of torque. This engine could be paired with either FWD or AWD, making it competitive within its segment. The ST-Line Select, Platinum, and ST-Line Elite trims featured a more powerful 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 250 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque, exclusively with AWD. Despite its impressive output, the Escape was not a performance crossover, as its suspension remained soft and compliant, and the transmission lacked performance tuning. The brakes provided predictable stopping power, and the steering was well-weighted, avoiding the twitchiness seen in some competitors.

The 2024 Volvo XC90 Recharge T8 combined a supercharged and turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with an 18.8-kilowatt-hour battery and a 107-kilowatt electric motor, producing a total of 455 horsepower and 523 lb-ft of torque. This setup allowed for 32 miles of electric-only driving and an estimated 27 mpg in hybrid mode. The XC90 could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in five seconds in Power mode. Recharging was straightforward, with options for standard household outlets or faster 240-volt outlets. The XC90 offered various driving modes, including Pure, Power, Hybrid, and Off-Road, providing versatility for different driving conditions. However, the XC90's handling was not particularly thrilling, and the ride quality was firm on irregular pavement, with some cabin noise and structural shimmy.

The 2023 Ford Escape provided a comfortable driving experience with soft and supportive seats and excellent ergonomics. The steering wheel felt great to hold, and the armrests were well-positioned. However, the Escape fell short in cargo space, offering up to 37.5 cubic feet behind the second row and 65.4 cubic feet with the second row folded. Passenger space was also slightly less than some competitors, though the back seat offered good headroom and soft padding on the front-seat backs.

The 2024 Volvo XC90 Recharge T8, even in Core trim, was well-equipped with power-adjustable and heated front seats, leather upholstery, and a four-zone climate control system. The panoramic glass roof added natural light, and higher trims offered additional features like a heated steering wheel and ventilated front seats with massage. The XC90 seated seven, with a comfortable bench seat in the second row and adequate third-row space. Interior storage was adequate, and with the third-row seat folded, the XC90 provided up to 65.5 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 85.7 cubic feet with the second row down.

The 2023 Ford Escape featured the Sync 4 infotainment system, with an 8-inch touchscreen on lower trims and a 13.2-inch screen on higher trims like the ST-Line Elite. The larger screen enhanced the cabin's look and offered a well-organized interface with tiles for navigation, music, and Bluetooth pairing. While Sync 4 was easy to use, it was occasionally slow to respond, and the volume knob's placement was inconvenient.

The 2024 Volvo XC90's 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system used Google Built-in technology, offering Google Maps, Google Play, and Google Assistant. Apple CarPlay and SiriusXM satellite radio were also standard. The system was intuitive, despite its smaller size, and included a stereo volume knob and radio tuning buttons. The XC90 also featured a 12-inch digital instrumentation panel and an available head-up display, enhancing the driving experience.

The 2023 Ford Escape received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with five stars in frontal- and side-crash tests and four stars in the rollover test. The IIHS did not award it a Top Safety Pick designation due to a Marginal score in the updated side-impact test. The Escape came standard with Ford's Co-Pilot360 suite of ADAS, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring. The optional Co-Pilot360 2.0 added adaptive cruise control and lane-centering technology.

The 2024 Volvo XC90 was synonymous with safety, earning a five-star rating from the NHTSA in all but the rollover resistance test, where it received four stars. The IIHS named it a Top Safety Pick+ in 2023. While the XC90's ADAS features were not groundbreaking, it included Pilot Assist, which combined adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assist. However, Pilot Assist occasionally struggled with certain driving conditions, leading to a loss of confidence in the system.