2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee vs 2022 Volvo XC90

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee was a timelessly styled SUV that managed to look terrific even more than a decade after its debut. It combined rugged utility with upscale sophistication, featuring big wheels pushed to the corners under purposely flared fenders. This design contributed significantly to its continued success, making it a balanced work of automotive art. The Grand Cherokee defied easy categorization, fitting into mainstream, luxury, and performance SUV segments. The lineup ranged from the affordable Laredo and Limited trims to the upscale Overland and Summit, and even included performance models like the SRT and Trackhawk. The Summit trim, in particular, featured premium leather, genuine wood, and real aluminum, creating a luxurious interior. However, the interior design showed signs of aging, with old-school switchgear and non-flush panel fits indicating a need for a redesign.

In contrast, the 2022 Volvo XC90 represented a significant evolution from Volvo's boxy past, embracing a family-friendly, safety-oriented image while moving upscale. The XC90 had a great stance and a sleek profile, with a long roofline and pronounced wheel arches emphasizing athleticism. The interior was described in terms like "Scandinavian Modern" and "Swedish Luxury," featuring natural wood and metal trim, a clear crystal gear selector handle, and a sliding wood tambor cover on the center console. Volvo committed to going leather-free by 2030, offering a tailored wool blend upholstery option alongside Nappa leather. The XC90's interior was airy and spacious, with a standard laminated panoramic moonroof enhancing the sense of space. The air-conditioning system performed admirably during a heat wave, making the XC90 a comfortable sanctuary from the weather.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee came standard with a 3.6-liter V6 engine, producing 295 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This setup could tow up to 6,200 pounds. For those seeking more power, an optional 5.7-liter Hemi V8 was available, delivering 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque, with a best-in-class towing capacity of 7,200 pounds. The V8 featured cylinder deactivation technology for improved fuel efficiency, though it still managed only 17 mpg in combined driving. The Grand Cherokee's Quadra-Trac II 4WD system, hill-descent control, and Selec-Terrain traction management made it capable off-road, while the Quadra-Lift air suspension provided 4.1 inches of variability for different driving conditions. Despite its off-road prowess, the Grand Cherokee Summit was speedy and responsive on the road, though it could feel bouncy and wobbly on uneven surfaces.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 offered three powertrain options. The T5 model featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The T6 model added a supercharger to the turbocharged engine, increasing output to 316 hp and 295 lb-ft. The T8 model combined a supercharged/turbocharged engine with an electric motor, delivering a combined 455 hp and 523 lb-ft of torque. The T5 was available with front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), while the T6 and T8 were AWD only. The T8 also had an extended-range variant with an 18-mile EV range. The XC90's driving experience was superb, with minimal body roll and spirited acceleration, especially in the T8 Inscription extended range model. The electric motor provided early torque, eliminating turbo lag and smoothing power delivery. The XC90 was not a hot rod but offered a fun driving experience.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit featured a luxurious interior with flat, firm, and supportive seats wrapped in quilted and perforated leather. Both front seats offered eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation, though the controls were embedded in the Uconnect infotainment system, causing some distraction. The rear seat was comfortable but had somewhat snug legroom for taller adults. The optional rear-seat entertainment system added to a sense of claustrophobia. Interior storage was adequate, but the rear-seat entertainment system's DVD/Blu-Ray player took up most of the center console bin space. The Grand Cherokee provided 36.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat, expandable to 68.3 cubic feet with the second-row seats folded flat.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 came in six-passenger and seven-passenger configurations, with easy access to the third row via a one-handed slide and fold of the second row. The third row was suitable for kids but lacked legroom and thigh support for adults. The XC90 offered 15.9 cubic feet of luggage space behind the third row, expandable to 41.8 cubic feet with the third row folded flat, and up to 85.7 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded. The XC90 could tow between 4,000 and 5,000 pounds, depending on the configuration. The interior featured ample storage space, comfortable seating, and an airy cabin enhanced by a standard panoramic moonroof. The air-conditioning system performed well during a heat wave, making the XC90 a comfortable vehicle in various weather conditions.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee featured the Uconnect 4C with Nav infotainment system, which offered a nearly flawless user experience with fast response times, pleasing graphics, and separate primary stereo controls. Highlights included navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and a Jeep Skill for Amazon Alexa. The system also came with six months of free satellite radio, five years of free Traffic Plus and Travel Link services, and one year of free SiriusXM Guardian services. The voice recognition technology worked well, allowing control of many features through voice commands. The Summit trim included a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, providing excellent sound quality. Despite its age, the Grand Cherokee's infotainment system remained impressive.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 featured the Sensus infotainment system, which offered tablet-like functionality with familiar smartphone gestures. However, the system in the test car was glitchy and slow to respond, performing better when connected to an iPhone 11 Pro using Apple CarPlay. The nine-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen was positioned close to the driver's line of sight, minimizing distraction. The XC90 also featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and an optional head-up display as part of the $1,650 Advanced package, which also included a 360-degree surround view camera system and an advanced air cleaner. The standard Harman Kardon Premium Sound system could be upgraded to a $3,200 Bowers & Wilkins system, offering exceptional surround sound staging. The XC90 included two front USB-A ports, two rear USB-C ports, a WiFi hotspot, and the Volvo Care smartphone app with remote vehicle controls.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee had mixed safety ratings. While it received a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for 4WD models, the 2WD models received a four-star rating due to a three-star rollover resistance rating. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the Grand Cherokee "Marginal" and "Poor" ratings for small-overlap frontal-impact collisions. The Grand Cherokee's headlights also rated "Poor" unless upgraded to high-intensity discharge headlights. The Summit trim included numerous safety features, such as adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Grand Cherokee also offered a backup camera, parking sensors, and a ParkSense parking assistance system.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 continued Volvo's commitment to safety, featuring blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, parking assist, rain-sensing wipers, slippery road alert, lane-keeping aid, adaptive cruise control, oncoming lane mitigation, and road-sign recognition. Volvo's Pilot Assist system combined several safety features to keep the car in its lane and at a set speed or following distance with minimal driver intervention. The XC90 received the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ designation and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, making it one of the safest vehicles in its class.