2021 Jeep Renegade vs 2022 Volvo XC90

The 2021 Jeep Renegade, introduced in 2015, was inspired by the iconic Wrangler SUV, featuring a boxy profile, circular headlights, and an upright seven-slat grille. The 2019 refresh carried over into 2021, making previously optional features standard. Inside, the Renegade had a modern, functional cabin with an upright center stack, offering trims like Sport, Jeepster, Latitude, Upland, 80th Anniversary, Islander, Limited, and Trailhawk, each with unique features and equipment.

The 2022 Volvo XC90, launched as a 2016 model, was Volvo's flagship SUV, riding on the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform. It had a sleek, poised profile with pronounced wheel arches and a snub nose, reminiscent of the classic 245 wagon. The interior was described as "Scandinavian Modern" and "Swedish Luxury," featuring natural wood and metal trim, a sliding wood tambor cover, and a clear crystal gear selector handle. Volvo committed to going leather-free by 2030, offering Nappa leather or a "tailored wool blend" upholstery.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade came with a base 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 180 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. The upgraded turbocharged 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine delivered 177 hp and 210 lb-ft of torque. Both engines used a nine-speed automatic transmission with front-wheel drive (FWD) or available four-wheel drive (4WD). The Renegade had a solid ride quality, maneuverability in tight spaces, and a terrain management system with Auto, Snow, Sand, Mud, and Rock drive modes. The Trailhawk trim, with 8.7 inches of ground clearance and off-road suspension, was the only trim with Jeep’s “Trail Rated” designation.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 offered three powertrains: T5 with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (250 hp, 258 lb-ft), T6 with a supercharged and turbocharged version (316 hp, 295 lb-ft), and T8 with a plug-in hybrid powertrain (455 hp, 523 lb-ft). T5 models were FWD with available AWD, while T6 and T8 were AWD only. All XC90 models used an eight-speed automatic transmission. The T8 had a 27 mpg combined rating on gas and 55 MPGe with an 18-mile EV range. The extended range variant had a 26 mpg combined gasoline rating, a 66 MPGe rating, and a 36-mile EV range. The XC90 handled like a smaller SUV, with minimal body roll and spirited acceleration from the T8 Inscription extended range.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade provided 50.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 18.5 cubic feet with the seats in use. Its tall, boxy design offered plenty of headroom in both rows, with great front legroom and suitable rear legroom for adults. The Renegade had helpful storage solutions, including small cubbies, trays, and optional equipment tie-down solutions. The front passenger seat could fold completely forward for added space.

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, 41.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 85.7 cubic feet with both rows folded. It could tow between 4,000 and 5,000 pounds, depending on configuration. The XC90 had ample interior storage, comfortable seating, and a spacious cabin with a standard laminated panoramic moonroof. The air-conditioning system performed well during a heat wave, making the XC90 a comfortable choice for all seasons.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade featured a standard 7-inch touchscreen with an optional 8.4-inch screen on mid-tier trims and standard on higher trims. Both screens ran the intuitive Uconnect infotainment system, with a logical menu layout, easy-to-read graphics, and a helpful dock at the bottom of the screen. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with a Kenwood premium audio system available.

The 2022 Volvo XC90's Sensus infotainment system had a nine-inch diagonal, portrait-oriented touchscreen interface, with familiar smartphone gestures like pinch, pull, and swipe. The system was glitchy and slow to respond but worked better with Apple CarPlay. The XC90 had a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, a $1,650 Advanced package with a head-up display, a 360-degree surround view camera system, and an advanced air cleaner. The standard Harman Kardon Premium Sound could be upgraded to a $3,200 Bowers & Wilkins system. The XC90 included two front USB-A ports, two rear USB-C ports, a WiFi hotspot, and the Volvo Care smartphone app.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade made previously optional safety features standard, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-path detection. Adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, and front and rear parking sensors were optional. The Renegade received a four-star crash test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 had a long list of safety features, including 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 for minimal driver intervention on highways. The XC90 received the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ designation and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.