2022 Volvo XC90 vs 2021 Nissan Armada

The 2021 Nissan Armada underwent a significant facelift, aligning its exterior design with Nissan's new signature look. The SUV featured a new grille, front fenders, bumpers, and LED headlights and taillights, giving it a modern appearance while retaining its traditional beefy and athletic body styling. The Armada was available in S, SV, SL, and Platinum grades, with the Midnight Edition Package exclusive to the SL trim. The highest Platinum trim level included body-color over fenders, dark-painted roof rails, and an acoustic windshield and front side windows. Depending on the trim, the Armada rode on 18-, 20-, or 22-inch aluminum alloy wheels wrapped in all-season tires.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 showcased a sleek and modern design, moving away from Volvo's boxy past. The SUV had a great stance and a profile that seemed poised to launch forward. Its long and sleek roofline contained a big greenhouse without telegraphing bulk and height. Pronounced wheel arches emphasized athleticism, and the snub nose recalled the upright grille 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 on the center console, and a clear crystal gear selector handle. Volvo offered both Nappa leather and a tailored wool blend upholstery, with the latter being a non-leather option.

The 2021 Nissan Armada was equipped with a 5.6-liter V8 engine paired with a seven-speed automatic transmission, delivering 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque on premium fuel. The SUV came standard with rear-wheel drive, with automatic four-wheel drive available. Despite its weight of over 6,000 pounds, the Armada was a capable off-roader with a skid plate, double-wishbone suspension, and Hitachi twin-tube shock absorbers. It had a maximum towing capacity of 8,500 pounds. However, its fuel economy was on the low end, with RWD models getting 14 mpg city/19 mpg highway/16 mpg combined, and 4WD models getting 13 mpg city/18 mpg highway/15 mpg combined.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 offered three powertrain options. The T5 model had a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The T6 model featured a supercharged and turbocharged version of the same engine, delivering 316 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The T8 model combined a supercharged/turbocharged engine with an electric motor, producing a combined 455 horsepower and 523 pound-feet of torque. The T5 was available in FWD and AWD, while the T6 and T8 were AWD only. The T8 had an 18-mile EV range and a combined rating of 55 MPGe. The XC90 handled like a smaller SUV, with minimal body roll and smooth power delivery, making it fun to drive.

The 2021 Nissan Armada offered practicality and functionality for families. It featured standard running boards and in-cabin handles for easy entry and exit. The new 12.3-inch touchscreen was the largest in its class, but the dashboard's broad design made some controls hard to reach. The first and second-row seats were comfortable, with power-adjustable options. The third-row seating was less comfortable for adults. The Armada had 16.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 49.9 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 95.4 cubic feet with both rows folded. However, the high load floor made loading and unloading difficult.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 came in six-passenger and seven-passenger configurations. The third row was suitable for kids but not for adults. The XC90 offered 15.9 cubic feet of cargo 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 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 choice for all seasons.

The 2021 Nissan Armada featured a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, the largest in its class, with navigation, a six-speaker stereo system, satellite radio, Bluetooth, USB ports, a WiFi hotspot, NissanConnect Services, keyless entry, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Available options included a wireless charging pad, a 13-speaker Bose audio system, a rearview camera mirror, and a second-row entertainment system. The Armada Platinum trim came with all these features as standard.

The 2022 Volvo XC90's Sensus infotainment system featured a nine-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen with familiar smartphone gestures. However, it was sometimes slow to respond. The system worked better with Apple CarPlay, and the XC90 also supported Android Auto. A 12.3-inch digital instrument panel offered easy customization. The $1,650 Advanced package included a head-up display, a 360-degree 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 SUV had front and rear USB ports, a WiFi hotspot, and the Volvo Care smartphone app.

The 2021 Nissan Armada had not been fully rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but it received a three-star rollover rating from the NHTSA. The SUV came with Nissan Safety Shield 360, which included automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and rear automatic braking. Additional standard features included adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and rear door alert. A rear camera mirror and surround-view camera system were available.

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 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.