2022 Volvo XC60 vs 2021 BMW X5

The 2021 BMW X5 showcased BMW's hallmark high-quality craftsmanship. As part of BMW's true SUV range, the X5 maintained the brand's signature design elements, from the kidney grille to the body shape, ensuring it was unmistakably a BMW. This consistency, while reassuring, also meant the X5 could blend in with other BMW models in a crowded parking lot. The exterior featured full adaptive LED headlights, matte aluminum grilles on standard xLine models, and sporty M Sport styling options with body-color matched trim and high-gloss black accents. Wheel options ranged from 19 to 22 inches, adding to its upscale appearance.

Inside, the X5's interior design was familiar, with many components shared across BMW's lineup. Despite the abundance of black plastic, which easily collected dust, the cabin was filled with leather and soft-touch materials. M Sport models offered unique, aggressive styling with an M sports steering wheel, M-specific pedals, and exclusive interior trim strips. The overall look and feel were luxurious, though not particularly distinctive within the BMW family.

Volvo made subtle styling changes to the 2022 XC60, giving it a sportier appearance with a new front fascia featuring "air blades" and a reworked grille that housed heated sensors for driver-assist systems. The rear bumper was redesigned to hide the tailpipes, and new wheel designs were introduced. The XC60 shared its Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform with other Volvo models, ensuring a solid foundation.

The interior remained largely unchanged, retaining its clean design with a portrait-oriented touchscreen and minimal clutter. The B6 R-Design test car featured aluminum mesh speaker grilles and textured seats, adding some flair, though the overall interior felt subdued compared to other Volvo models. The Inscription trim level offered Nappa leather upholstery and a leather-wrapped steering wheel, enhancing the luxury feel.

The 2021 BMW X5 offered a range of powertrain options, all paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base X5 sDrive40i/xDrive40i featured a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine delivering 335 horsepower and 330 pound-feet of torque. The sDrive referred to rear-wheel drive (RWD), while xDrive indicated all-wheel drive (AWD). The X5 M50i came with a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 producing 523 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque, while the X5 M boasted 600 hp, increasing to 617 hp with the Competition Package. The new X5 xDrive45e plug-in hybrid achieved 389 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque, offering up to 30 miles of all-electric range.

The X5's driving dynamics were mixed. While the xDrive45e's power was capable, the steering struggled to keep up with throttle inputs, leading to a less engaging driving experience. At low speeds, the SUV felt like a full-size truck, and at higher speeds, even in Sport mode, it lacked the connected drive experience BMW was known for. The cabin was quiet, and the suspension absorbed road imperfections well. Charging the plug-in hybrid was convenient, with a five-hour charge time on a Level 2 charger and an EPA-estimated 400-mile range when fully charged. Fuel efficiency varied, with the X5 M achieving 15 mpg combined, the X5 M50i at 18 mpg, the X5 xDrive at 23 mpg, and the X5 xDrive45e rated at 50 MPGe when using both electricity and gas.

For 2022, Volvo introduced new B5 and B6 mild-hybrid powertrains for the XC60, replacing the previous T5 and T6 engines. Both powertrains combined a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a 48-volt electrical system and integrated starter generator, adding 13 horsepower in short bursts. The B6 also included an electric supercharger. The B5 produced 258 hp and 247 lb-ft of torque, while the B6 delivered 295 hp and 310 lb-ft. Both used an eight-speed automatic transmission, with the B5 offering FWD or AWD and the B6 available only with AWD.

The XC60's performance was smooth and refined, with the B6 R-Design feeling quick and responsive. The mild-hybrid system provided seamless power delivery, and the XC60 excelled in providing a quiet cabin and comfortable ride, especially with the optional air suspension. The plug-in hybrid XC60 Recharge offered 400 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque, achieving 0-60 mph in 5 seconds. The Polestar Engineered version increased output to 415 hp and 494 lb-ft, with a 0-60 mph time of 4.9 seconds, and included performance upgrades like Öhlins adjustable dampers and Akebono brakes.

The 2021 BMW X5 made efficient use of space, with front cupholders positioned conveniently and a wireless phone charging pad out of the driver's line of sight. The center console, however, was cluttered with buttons and dials that were hard to differentiate at night. Seating was spacious and comfortable for short trips, though the front seats felt hard after extended periods. Heated seats and armrests worked well, and the rear seats were comfortable for kids and adults. The X5 offered an optional third row, though it wasn't tested. Climate controls were easy to manage, and the split liftgate with power functionality and height adjustment made loading cargo easier. The X5 xDrive45e had slightly less cargo space than the traditional X5, but the difference was minimal.

The 2022 Volvo XC60's interior space remained competitive, with above-average front-seat headroom but limited rear-seat headroom. Legroom was average for the segment. Mild-hybrid models offered 21.6 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 49.8 cubic feet with the seats folded. Plug-in hybrid models had slightly less cargo capacity. The XC60 provided a commanding driving position with good forward and rear visibility, aided by large exterior mirrors.

The 2021 BMW X5 came with a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, a 10-speaker sound system, voice recognition, Bluetooth, five USB ports, navigation, HD Radio, satellite radio, automatic climate control, proximity key, and a panoramic moonroof. Optional features included remote start, a head-up display, quad-zone automatic climate control, a wireless smartphone charger, massaging seats, a Wi-Fi hotspot, a 16-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, a 20-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system, rear sunshades, and a dual-panel panoramic roof. The iDrive system required some acclimation but was user-friendly once familiar.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 received a tech overhaul with a 9-inch touchscreen running the Android Automotive operating system, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Bluetooth, and a built-in WiFi hotspot. Optional features included a head-up display and upgraded audio systems from Harman Kardon or Bowers & Wilkins. The new system integrated Android-specific features like Google Assistant for voice control, Google Maps for navigation, and access to third-party apps via the Google Play Store. The system supported over-the-air updates and promised full iPhone compatibility, though without the added functionality of syncing a Google profile. The new layout with sideways swiping for menus made efficient use of screen space.

The 2021 BMW X5 came with a comprehensive list of standard safety features, including blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, rain-sensing windshield wipers, fatigue and focus alert, lane departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Driving Assistance Professional Package included adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality, but it had issues with reacting to stopped traffic and lane-keeping in sunny conditions. The 2021 X5 received nearly all Good ratings from the IIHS and a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, despite being subject to seven recalls.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA at the time of writing, but the 2021 model received the IIHS's highest "Top Safety Pick+" rating and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, automatic post-collision braking, a driver-attention monitor, traffic-sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. New features for 2022 included Ready to Drive Notification and Emergency Stop Assist. The optional Pilot Assist system combined adaptive cruise control and automated lane centering for highway driving.