2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs 2022 Volvo XC60

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, which debuted in 2005 and entered its second generation in 2014, received a significant refresh in 2018 that carried over into 2021. This refresh introduced a dual-screen center console, a defining feature of Land Rover interiors. The 2020 model year saw the addition of a plug-in hybrid variant and the availability of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Range Rover Sport offered various trims, including SE, HSE Silver, HST, HSE Dynamic, Autobiography, SVR, and SVR Carbon Edition, each with a range of luxurious features and powerful engines.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 underwent subtle styling changes, including a new front fascia with “air blades” and a redesigned rear bumper that concealed the tailpipes. The front grille was reworked to house sensors for driver-assist systems behind a heated Volvo logo. The XC60 shared its Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform with other Volvo models like the XC90 and S90. The interior remained largely unchanged, featuring a clean design with a portrait-oriented touchscreen and minimal clutter. The XC60 Inscription trim level offered Nappa leather upholstery and a leather-wrapped steering wheel, adding a touch of luxury.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered a variety of powertrain options. The base P360 mild-hybrid powertrain, available in the SE and SE Silver Edition, combined a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six with a 48-volt electrical system, producing 355 horsepower and 365 pound-feet of torque. The HST model featured a more potent P400 powertrain, delivering 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The HSE Silver Edition also offered plug-in hybrid and diesel powertrains, with the P400e plug-in hybrid generating 398 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque, and the 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 producing 254 hp and 443 lb-ft. The HSE Dynamic and Autobiography trims boasted a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 with 518 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque, while the SVR and SVR Carbon Edition models had an even more powerful version of this engine, making 575 hp and 516 lb-ft. All models featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time four-wheel drive, with a height-adjustable air suspension and Terrain Response system for various driving conditions. The Range Rover Sport could tow up to 7,716 pounds, except for the SVR, which could tow 6,613 pounds.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 introduced new B5 and B6 mild-hybrid powertrains, replacing the previous T5 and T6 powertrains. Both powertrains combined a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a 48-volt electrical system and integrated starter generator, adding 13 horsepower in short bursts. The B6 powertrain also included an electric supercharger. The B5 produced 258 hp and 247 lb-ft of torque, while the B6 delivered 295 hp and 310 lb-ft. Both powertrains used an eight-speed automatic transmission, with the B5 offering standard front-wheel drive or optional all-wheel drive, and the B6 available only with all-wheel drive. The XC60 B5 could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds (6.6 seconds with FWD), while the B6 achieved this in 5.9 seconds. The XC60 Recharge plug-in hybrid combined a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with turbocharging, supercharging, and an electric motor, producing 400 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque, with a zero to 60 mph time of 5 seconds. The Polestar Engineered version increased output to 415 hp and 494 lb-ft, with a zero to 60 mph time of 4.9 seconds, and featured Öhlins adjustable dampers, Akebono brakes, and a front strut bar.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered a maximum of 63.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 31.7 cubic feet with the second row in use. An optional third row increased seating capacity from five to seven, but reduced cargo space to 10.8 cubic feet with the third row in use. Both the first and second rows provided ample headroom and legroom, while the optional third row was best suited for children.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 maintained its competitive interior space, with above-average front-seat headroom but limited rear-seat headroom. Legroom in both rows was about average for the segment. Mild-hybrid models offered 21.6 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 49.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. Plug-in hybrid models had slightly less cargo capacity, at 21.1 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 49.3 cubic feet with the rear seats down. The XC60 provided a commanding driving position with good forward and rear visibility, aided by large exterior mirrors.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport featured a dual-screen center console, with the lower screen controlling climate and vehicle settings, and the upper screen housing the infotainment system. The system included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but was not always intuitive and had some bugs in earlier models. The lower screen had multifunction dials for various controls, while the upper screen had reasonably sized icons for menu navigation. The system had a learning curve, and while not the worst on the market, there were better options available.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 received a tech overhaul, featuring a 9-inch touchscreen running the Android Automotive operating system, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Bluetooth, and a built-in WiFi hotspot. The system included Google Assistant for voice control, Google Maps for navigation, and access to third-party apps via the Google Play Store. The system also supported over-the-air software updates and promised full iPhone compatibility. The digital instrument cluster could display a map or a “Calm” setting to minimize distraction. The new layout used sideways swiping to access menus, making efficient use of screen space.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport came with standard driver assistance features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and front-and-rear parking sensors. Adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert were available as options. Other available features included a surround-view parking camera, traffic sign recognition, driver drowsiness monitoring, parallel and perpendicular park assist, and a head-up display.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA for the 2022 model year, but the 2021 model received top ratings from both organizations. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, automatic post-collision braking, a driver-attention monitor, traffic-sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross traffic alert. New features for 2022 included Ready to Drive Notification and Emergency Stop Assist. Volvo’s Pilot Assist driver-assistance system, combining adaptive cruise control and automated lane centering, was available as an option.