2022 Volvo XC60 vs 2021 Ford Escape

In its fourth generation, the 2021 Ford Escape exhibited a style that straddled the line between SUV and hatchback. Its curved snout and sleek roofline made it resemble an engorged Ford Focus at first glance, but it still maintained the tall ride height of a proper SUV. This made the Escape appear less truck-like compared to competitors such as the Honda CR-V, Subaru Forester, or Toyota RAV4, yet its design felt more generic when compared to the latest Hyundai Tucson or Kia Sportage.

Ford introduced new appearance packages for three of the four trim levels in the 2021 Escape: the SE Sport Appearance Package, SEL Stealth AWD Package, and Titanium Elite Package. These packages included notable upgrades like 19-inch alloy wheels for the SE Sport and SEL Stealth, ActiveX upholstery with Miko Suede seat inserts for the SEL Stealth, and leather-wrapped steering wheel and leather trim for the Titanium Elite.

Inside, the Escape’s interior didn’t echo the cohesive theme of its exterior. Odd design choices, such as an angular instrument cluster, seemed out of place. The materials used in the interior were considered to be low-rent, even in the top Escape Titanium model, which didn’t include standard leather upholstery. Standard ambient lighting was a redeeming feature, but otherwise, the interior left a lot to be desired. To get dual-zone automatic climate control, buyers had to upgrade to the SEL trim level.

For the 2022 model year, Volvo made subtle yet impactful styling changes to the XC60. A new front fascia incorporated what Volvo termed “air blades”—vertical elements on either side of the grille that lent the XC60 a sportier look. The rear bumper design included hidden tailpipes, and every model featured new wheel designs. Additionally, the front grille was reworked to house driver-assist sensors behind the centrally-heated Volvo logo for optimal performance in cold weather.

The XC60’s interior largely remained unchanged except for a new digital instrument cluster. This preserved the clean, minimalist design with a portrait-oriented touchscreen. The B6 R-Design variant added flair with aluminum mesh speaker grilles and textured seats, though the overall cabin ambiance felt subdued compared to other Volvo models. The XC60 Inscription trim level, however, offered Nappa leather upholstery and a leather-wrapped steering wheel, contributing to a more luxurious feel.

The 2021 Ford Escape offered diverse powertrain options, including two gasoline engines, as well as hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions. The base powertrain was a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder EcoBoost engine generating 181 horsepower and 191 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It came standard with front-wheel drive (FWD) and optional all-wheel drive (AWD). Additionally, an upgrade option to a 2.0-liter turbo-four EcoBoost engine, outputting 250 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque, was available, though only with AWD.

The hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions utilized a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with electric assist, combining for a total system output of 200 hp. The plug-in hybrid, benefiting from a larger battery pack, could drive significant distances on electric power alone. Both hybrids were available in FWD, with the hybrid also offering AWD.

The three-cylinder engine, despite seeming inadequate for an SUV, performed sufficiently. The transition between electric and gasoline power in the hybrid models was smooth, and the Class 2 Trailer Tow Package available for the 2.0-liter and hybrid models added utility. However, the overall driving experience could be hampered by the Escape's underwhelming suspension and steering quality, which remained unchanged from the previous year.

For the 2022 Volvo XC60, the introduction of new B5 and B6 mild-hybrid powertrains signaled a significant update. These powertrains combined a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a 48-volt electrical system and integrated starter generator, capable of adding 13 hp in bursts. The B6 version also benefited from an electric supercharger. The total output for the B5 was 258 hp and 247 lb-ft of torque, while the B6 offered 295 hp and 310 lb-ft. Both versions used an eight-speed automatic transmission, with the B5 offering both FWD and AWD options, and the B6 exclusively featuring AWD.

Despite the drop in output and slower acceleration times compared to the previous year's model, the XC60 offered commendable performance. The B5 could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds (6.6 seconds with FWD), and the B6 managed it in 5.9 seconds. The mild-hybrid system provided smooth power delivery, and the XC60 demonstrated calm and composed driving characteristics, enhanced by an optional air suspension that ensured a comfortable ride.

The 2022 XC60 also retained a plug-in hybrid option. The XC60 Recharge combined a 2.0-liter engine, turbocharged and supercharged, an integrated starter generator, and a rear electric motor for AWD, boasting 400 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque. This setup accelerated the XC60 to 60 mph in 5 seconds. The Polestar Engineered variant enhanced performance further with 415 hp and 494 lb-ft, achieving a 0-60 mph time of 4.9 seconds and sporting Öhlins adjustable dampers, Akebono brakes, and a front strut bar.

Despite its car-like appearance, the 2021 Ford Escape held its ground well against more conventionally-styled compact SUVs in terms of interior space. It offered impressive headroom and legroom in both rows, and the standard sliding rear seat could be adjusted to optimize legroom or cargo space. With the rear seat pushed back, non-hybrid models had 40.7 inches of rear legroom—second only to the 2022 Hyundai Tucson. However, the placement of the battery packs in the hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions reduced some of that legroom.

The gasoline-powered Escape provided 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seat in its default position. Sliding the rear seat forward expanded this to 37.5 cubic feet, while folding the rear seat offered 65.4 cubic feet. The hybrid and plug-in hybrid models had slightly reduced cargo space, with 30.7 cubic feet when the rear seat was up, 34.4 cubic feet when slid forward, and 60.8 cubic feet when folded. Compared to its rivals, like the Nissan Rogue and Subaru Forester, which offered over 70 cubic feet of cargo space when their rear seats were folded, the Escape fell short.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 received no alterations affecting its interior space. Front-seat headroom was slightly above average, but rear-seat headroom matched the Audi Q5 as the lowest in its segment. Legroom in both rows was about average for this class. In terms of cargo capacity, models with mild-hybrid powertrains offered 21.6 cubic feet of space with rear seats up and 49.8 cubic feet when folded. For plug-in hybrids, this space was slightly reduced to 21.1 cubic feet and 49.3 cubic feet, respectively, making the XC60 offer less cargo space than most comparable luxury crossovers.

Where the XC60 excelled was in providing a commanding driving position with excellent forward visibility. Rear visibility remained good despite its somewhat pinched roofline, and large exterior mirrors allowed for easy driving without over-reliance on driver aids.

The 2021 Ford Escape retained the older Sync 3 infotainment system instead of upgrading to the new Sync 4. The base Escape S model featured a basic 4.2-inch touchscreen but included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot as standard. The SE trim added an 8-inch touchscreen with pinch-and-zoom capability and SiriusXM satellite radio with a three-month trial. The top-tier Titanium trim further enhanced technology with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system.

Sync 3 was noted for its ease of use, and testers familiar with previous Escape models appreciated its functionality. However, the lack of some standard tech features compared to competitors, and the absence of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, were notable drawbacks.

Volvo’s 2022 XC60 saw a significant tech upgrade. It kept the 9-inch touchscreen but transitioned to the new Android Automotive operating system. This system integrated deeply with Android-specific features, such as Google Assistant for voice control and Google Maps for navigation, and enabled over-the-air (OTA) software updates. The XC60 included a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Bluetooth, and a built-in WiFi hotspot. Enhanced audio options from Harman Kardon or Bowers & Wilkins were available, as was a head-up display.

Android users could sync their profiles with the car to further integrate services such as Spotify and other third-party apps accessible through the Google Play Store. Although Volvo promised full iPhone compatibility, some features like Google profile syncing were more beneficial for Android users. The new layout with sideways swiping facilitated easy menu navigation, and the digital instrument cluster offered a “Calm” setting to minimize distractions.

In safety, the 2021 Ford Escape excelled. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded it a “Top Safety Pick” rating, noting top “Good” scores in all crash tests and the ease of use for LATCH child-seat anchors. The Escape's front-crash prevention technology also received high marks, though its headlights earned “Acceptable” and “Marginal” ratings depending on the trim level. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the Escape a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests, and four stars in rollover tests.

Standard under Ford's Co-Pilot360 safety features included automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, forward collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. The optional Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, lane centering, traffic-sign recognition, park assist, and Evasive Steering Assist for emergency maneuvers.

For the 2022 Volvo XC60, crash-test ratings from IIHS and NHTSA were not yet released, but the similar 2021 model received IIHS’s highest “Top Safety Pick+” rating and a five-star overall rating from NHTSA. Standard safety features for the 2022 model included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, automatic post-collision braking, driver-attention monitor, traffic-sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert.

New for 2022 were the Ready to Drive Notification, which alerted drivers when the vehicle ahead began to move, and Emergency Stop Assist, which could automatically bring the car to a stop if the driver was incapacitated. Volvo’s Pilot Assist was available as an option, combining adaptive cruise control and lane centering for easier highway driving.