2022 Volvo XC90 vs 2021 Kia Sportage

The 2021 Kia Sportage featured a design that some might have described as frog-like, with its tiger-nose grille and bulbous headlights. Kia, however, marketed the Sportage’s styling as “Euro-focused.” This two-row crossover SUV had a relatively short wheelbase and short overhangs, making it ideal for city driving. The headlights carried over from the 2020 model, and the Sportage could be equipped with 17-, 18-, or 19-inch wheels. Inside, an 8-inch touchscreen display served as a stylish centerpiece, flanked by air vents and physical buttons for tuning and volume. The interior, while not the most tech-forward, was still a pleasant place to sit.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 represented a significant evolution from Volvo's boxy cars of the past, maintaining its family-friendly, safety-oriented image while moving into the luxury class. The XC90, launched as a 2016 model, rode on the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform. The 2022 model had a great stance and profile, with a sleek roofline and pronounced wheel arches. 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, but the XC90 still offered Nappa leather and a tailored wool blend upholstery option.

The 2021 Kia Sportage was available in LX, EX, or SX Turbo trims with either front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). The LX and EX trims were powered by a 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. The SX Turbo trim featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged GDI four-cylinder engine, delivering 240 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. All Sportage models used a six-speed automatic transmission. Fuel economy for the FWD Sportage with the 2.4-liter engine was 23 mpg city, 30 highway, and 26 combined, while AWD models saw a slight dip. The turbocharged models had lower fuel economy, with the FWD version at 20/28/23 and the AWD at 19/24/21. The Sportage offered a smooth ride with its McPherson-strut front suspension and multi-link rear suspension, though the steering and tire grip left something to be desired.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 offered three powertrains: the T5 with a turbocharged 2.0-liter gasoline four-cylinder engine, the T6 with a supercharged and turbocharged version of that engine, and the T8 with a plug-in hybrid powertrain. The T5 produced 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, the T6 delivered 316 hp and 295 lb-ft, and the T8 combined gasoline and electric sources for 455 hp and 523 lb-ft. The T5 models were FWD with available AWD, while the T6 and T8 were AWD only. All XC90 models used an eight-speed automatic transmission. Fuel economy for the T5 FWD was 21 mpg city, 30 highway, and 25 combined, with AWD models slightly lower. The T6 AWD achieved 19 mpg city, 27 highway, and 22 combined. The T8 had a combined rating of 27 mpg on gas and 55 MPGe with an 18-mile EV range, while the extended range variant offered 26 mpg combined gasoline, 66 MPGe, and up to 36 miles of EV range. The XC90 provided a superb driving experience, with minimal body roll and spirited acceleration, especially in the T8 Inscription extended range model.

The 2021 Kia Sportage was on the smaller side of the compact crossover segment but offered good interior space for passengers. The SX Turbo trim featured a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and 8-way power adjustment for the passenger, along with heated and ventilated seats. Rear legroom and headroom were adequate, but cargo space was limited, with 30.7 cubic feet behind the second row and 60.1 cubic feet with the rear seat folded.

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 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 a standard laminated panoramic moonroof. The air-conditioning system performed well even during a heat wave, making the XC90 a comfortable sanctuary from the weather.

The 2021 Kia Sportage featured an 8-inch touchscreen interface for its infotainment system, which included Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and USB ports as standard equipment. Most trims also had Kia’s UVO Link connected services. The SX Turbo trim added wireless charging and an eight-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system. The technology was user-friendly, with logical menus, physical buttons, and handy knobs.

The 2022 Volvo XC90's Sensus infotainment system offered tablet-like functionality with familiar gestures like pinch, pull, and swipe. However, the system could be glitchy and slow to respond. The 9-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen was positioned close to the driver's line of sight, minimizing distraction. A 12.3-inch digital instrument panel provided easy configuration and crisp graphics. The $1,650 Advanced package included a head-up display, a 360-degree surround view camera system, and an advanced air cleaner. The XC90 came with standard Harman Kardon Premium Sound, with a $3,200 Bowers & Wilkins upgrade available. The vehicle included two front USB-A ports, two rear USB-C ports, a WiFi hotspot, and the Volvo Care smartphone app for remote vehicle controls.

The 2021 Kia Sportage was strong in safety, offering standard advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) such as forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, automatic high beams, and a driver-monitoring system. The SX Turbo trim added adaptive cruise control. The Sportage earned Top Safety Pick status from the IIHS and performed well in NHTSA crash tests.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 continued Volvo's legacy of safety with features like 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.