2020 Jeep Renegade vs 2021 Volvo XC90

The 2020 Jeep Renegade was easily recognizable with its signature Jeep round headlights, 7-slot grille, and trapezoidal wheel arches. It offered a purposeful yet expressive design, with primary trim levels including Sport, Latitude, Limited, and Trailhawk. Special editions ranged from the affordable Jeepster to the pricey High Altitude. The base Renegade Sport trim level started at $25,210, while the High Altitude test car, loaded with extras, had an MSRP of $36,515. This version featured extra-cost paint, dark gray 19-inch wheels, and a dual-pane panoramic glass roof, giving it a surprisingly grown-up look. However, the interior, dominated by hard plastic and an all-black color scheme, looked inexpensive despite the fancy details.

The 2021 Volvo XC90, on the other hand, successfully reshaped Volvo’s image with its design. It retained traditional Volvo styling features like a boxy profile and a blunt front end with a rectangular grille, but added softer lines, more chrome, and distinctive LED headlights with “Thor’s Hammer” daytime running lights. The Inscription test car, with extra chrome trim and optional 21-inch alloy wheels, was the flashiest of the XC90 trim levels. The interior embraced Swedish minimalism with nice-looking materials and thoughtfully arranged features. Matte-finish wood trim and optional wool upholstery added to the natural and restrained interior, although the Orrefors crystal shifter seemed a bit out of place.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade offered two engine options: a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque, and a turbocharged 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine with 177 horsepower and 210 lb-ft of torque. The test vehicle had the turbocharged engine, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and the Active Drive AWD system. Despite the turbocharged engine’s peak torque arriving at just 1,750 rpm, turbo lag and a transmission calibrated for fuel economy resulted in a lack of responsiveness. The Renegade averaged 23.6 mpg, below the EPA estimate of 26 mpg, and had a small 12.7-gallon fuel tank. The driving dynamics were less than ideal, with a flinty ride, sloppy steering, and a loud cabin, making highway driving a chore.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 featured three powertrains based on a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base T5 engine was turbocharged, producing 250 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. The T6 engine was both turbocharged and supercharged, delivering 316 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. The T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid combined the T6 engine with electric assist, producing 400 horsepower and 472 lb-ft of torque. The XC90 offered a choice between FWD and AWD, with the latter standard on the T6 and T8. Despite the impressive power, the small engine struggled to accelerate away from stops on electric power alone. The XC90 excelled in ride quality and old-school luxury, with an optional air-suspension system and a quiet cabin. It also had a respectable 5,000-pound towing capacity.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade’s interior felt larger than many of its competitors due to its boxy design and panoramic glass roof. The eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat made it easy to get comfortable, but the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment. Rear seat space was cramped, and there were few practical interior storage spots. Cargo volume measured 18.5 cubic feet behind the back seat and 50.8 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 offered six-seat or seven-seat configurations, with headroom and legroom in all three rows being about average for the segment. The third row was tight for adults, and the seats in both the third and second rows lacked support. The optional power moonroof and upright roof profile gave the interior a spacious feel. The Inscription test car featured 10-way power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats with backrest massage, but lacked a power-adjustable steering wheel. Storage space was limited, with a shallow center console storage bin. Cargo space for the T8 Recharge model was 11.2 cubic feet with all seats in place, 34.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, and 64.1 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade impressed with its technology, featuring the Chrysler Uconnect infotainment system with an 8.4-inch touchscreen display. The system included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa integration, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The new Kenwood premium audio system offered good sound, and the Renegade also had a comprehensive driver information center and a parking assist system.

The 2021 Volvo XC90’s Sensus infotainment system featured a 9-inch touchscreen, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, Bluetooth, and a built-in WiFi hotspot. The portrait-oriented touchscreen was easy to use, and the lack of analog controls was not an issue. However, the amount of text and typeface made reading some menus difficult while driving. The wireless charging pad added for 2021 was too small for most phones, and the XC90 only had second-row USB-C ports.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade offered a range of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, full-speed forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Safety and Security Group added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic warning. The Renegade earned a 4-star overall rating from the NHTSA and commendable scores in most IIHS tests, but did not carry forward its Top Safety Pick rating from 2019.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 received the highest “Top Safety Pick+” rating from the IIHS for non-hybrid models and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA. It offered more standard safety features than most competitors, including lane-keep assist, a driver-attention monitor, traffic-sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency braking, and Volvo’s Pilot Assist driver aid. Pilot Assist remained one of the best systems of its kind, although it was still limited and not meant to replace an attentive human driver.