2021 Volvo XC90 vs 2021 Chevrolet Traverse

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse was a nod to the past, with Chevy using styling details to give each trim level its own identity. The exterior was a typical SUV design with a tall roof, chunky wheel arches, and a big grille, which appealed to many buyers. However, it lacked the personality of the Ford Explorer and Kia Telluride, and the streamlined appearance of the Mazda CX-9. The Traverse's restrained styling highlighted the cosmetic elements of different trims, such as blacked-out trim on the RS model and chrome on the High Country. The base Traverse L came with 18-inch wheels, while higher trims offered 20-inch wheels. Sharing a platform with the Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia, and Cadillac XT6, the Traverse aimed for a more blue-collar feel and featured car-like unibody construction, unlike the body-on-frame Chevy Tahoe.

Inside, the Traverse continued its restrained styling, with the standout feature being an optional Dual SkyScape two-panel sunroof. The materials in the higher-level RS model were decent but not quite up to the $50,000 MSRP. This was a common issue among midsize three-row crossovers, which tend to get expensive with options. The Traverse offered a comfortable and quiet ride, thanks to its active noise cancellation and bump-absorbing suspension, but it lacked the agility of some competitors on twisty roads.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 successfully reshaped Volvo's image with its design, adding character while retaining traditional styling features like a boxy profile and blunt front end. The details made the difference, with softer lines, more chrome, and distinctive LED headlights with "Thor’s Hammer" daytime running lights. The Inscription test car was the flashiest trim, with extra chrome and optional 21-inch alloy wheels. The midlevel R-Design had a sportier look, while the base Momentum was more understated. The XC90 shared Volvo's Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform with other "90" and "60" series models.

The XC90's interior embodied Swedish minimalism, with nice-looking materials and thoughtful arrangement. The matte-finish wood trim had a natural appearance, and the wool upholstery option was unique. The Orrefors crystal shifter in the Inscription model added a high-end touch. The XC90's ride quality was excellent, even with 21-inch wheels, thanks to the optional air-suspension system. The cabin was impressively quiet, and the XC90 offered a respectable 5,000-pound towing capacity, although the Lincoln Aviator could tow up to 6,700 pounds.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse was powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. While the V6 didn't feel particularly strong off the line, it provided enough power for highway merging and overtaking. The nine-speed automatic performed well overall, though it occasionally had rough shifts. The Traverse excelled in highway road manners, offering a quiet cabin and comfortable ride, but it lacked agility on twistier roads. The AWD system, which had to be manually activated, could send up to 50% of torque to either front wheel or 85% to either rear wheel, but its impact on handling was not noticeable. The Traverse had a 5,000-pound maximum towing capacity, which was average for the segment.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 offered 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 pound-feet of torque. The T6 engine was both turbocharged and supercharged, increasing output to 316 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid combined the T6 engine with electric assist, producing 400 hp and 472 lb-ft. The T5 came standard with FWD, while AWD was optional on the T5 and standard on the T6 and T8. Despite the power, the small engine struggled to accelerate away from stops on electric power alone, and the gasoline engine often had to assist. The XC90 offered three drive modes—Pure, Hybrid, and Power—but Pure mode was only usable at low speeds. The XC90 excelled in ride quality and cabin quietness, with an optional air-suspension system. Most XC90 models had a 5,000-pound towing capacity, but the Lincoln Aviator could tow up to 6,700 pounds.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse offered seating for seven or eight, depending on the second-row configuration. Headroom and legroom in all three rows were above average but not segment-leading. Heated front seats were standard on the RS model, with ventilated front seats and heated outboard rear seats available on higher trims. The Traverse excelled in cargo space, offering 23.0 cubic feet with all seats in place, 57.8 cubic feet with the third row stowed, and 98.2 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. A power liftgate was optional on the LT Cloth trim and standard on higher trims, with a gesture-activated liftgate available on the Premier and High Country models. However, interior storage options were limited, typical of midsize three-row crossovers.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 was available in six-seat or seven-seat configurations. Headroom and legroom in all three rows were average for the segment, with the third row being tight for adults. The seats in the second and third rows felt hard and lacked support. An optional power moonroof extended across the first two rows, giving the interior a spacious feel. Standard four-zone climate control could be augmented with a filtration system. The Inscription model featured 10-way power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats with backrest massage, but a power-adjustable steering wheel was not available. Storage space was limited, with a shallow center console storage bin. Cargo space 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, which was near the bottom of the segment.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and Bluetooth. Higher trims offered an 8-inch touchscreen, navigation, 4G-LTE WiFi hotspot, and a Bose 10-speaker audio system. The 8-inch screen in the RS model was easy to use, with large smartphone-like icons. The Traverse retained analog controls for audio volume and climate control, which was appreciated. The analog instruments, supplemented by a small LCD screen, were functional but might seem dated to tech-savvy buyers. The Traverse also offered a rearview camera mirror and an optional HD surround-view camera system. Two USB ports per row were standard, but wireless phone charging was only available on the Premier and High Country models.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 featured the Sensus infotainment system with a 9-inch touchscreen, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, Bluetooth, and a built-in WiFi hotspot. Standard USB ports included two front USB-A ports and two rear USB-C ports. A 19-speaker Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system and head-up display were available. The portrait-oriented touchscreen was easy to use, with swipeable menus, 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 lack of front USB-C ports could be inconvenient for drivers with newer phones.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse received top "Good" scores in all IIHS crash tests and a "Superior" rating for front-crash prevention tech. However, it received "Acceptable" and "Poor" headlight ratings and an "Acceptable" rating for LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use. The NHTSA gave the Traverse a five-star overall safety rating, with four stars in frontal and rollover crash tests, and five stars in side-impact crash tests. Chevy offered less standard driver-assist tech than competitors, with adaptive cruise control only available on the top High Country trim. Other features like automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert were optional extras.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 received the highest "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS for non-hybrid models, with top "Good" scores in all crash tests and a "Superior" rating for front-crash prevention tech in vehicle-to-vehicle testing. The XC90 received an "Advanced" rating in vehicle-to-pedestrian testing, and "Acceptable" ratings for headlights and LATCH child-seat anchors. The NHTSA gave all XC90 models a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests, and four stars in rollover testing. The XC90 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 combined adaptive cruise control with automated lane centering and was one of the best systems of its kind, although it still required an attentive human driver.