2022 Volvo XC60 vs 2021 Subaru Forester

The 2021 Subaru Forester, despite its redesign in 2019, retained a somewhat dated appearance, largely carrying over from its previous generation. The most noticeable change was the distinctive cross-shaped taillights. Subaru seemed to follow the adage, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it," maintaining the boxy, upright shape that appealed to many SUV shoppers. The Base trim level appeared plain with its 17-inch steel wheels, but the Forester's overall clean and unpretentious look stood out among compact crossovers. The Sport models added orange striping, a rear spoiler, and black 18-inch alloy wheels, which made a significant visual impact, especially with complementary paint colors like Dark Blue Pearl.

Underneath, the Forester shared the Subaru Global Platform with other models like the Impreza and Outback, maintaining its rugged SUV marketing despite shared underpinnings with sedans and hatchbacks. The interior was practical, with materials designed to withstand years of use. The Sport trim added orange accents, while higher trims offered leather upholstery and heated features. The Forester's interior was functional, with large knobs for controls, though the steering wheel's numerous buttons could be confusing.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 received subtle styling updates, including a new front fascia with "air blades" for a sportier look, a rear bumper that hid the tailpipes, and new wheel designs. The front grille was reworked to house sensors for driver-assist systems behind a heated Volvo logo, ensuring functionality in cold weather. The XC60 was built on the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform, shared with models like the XC90 and S90.

Inside, the XC60 retained its clean design with a portrait-oriented touchscreen and minimal clutter. The new digital instrument cluster was a notable update, but the overall interior remained subdued compared to other Volvo models. The Inscription trim level offered Nappa leather upholstery and a leather-wrapped steering wheel, adding a touch of luxury. The XC60's interior was functional and comfortable, with a focus on a calm driving experience.

The 2021 Subaru Forester featured a single powertrain option: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The engine's boxer configuration provided a lower center of gravity. Subaru quoted a 1,500-pound towing capacity, with Trailer Stability Assist as standard. While the power felt adequate, it lacked the thrust needed for highway merging and overtaking, and wind noise was noticeable at higher speeds.

The Forester's suspension was tuned for comfort, resulting in a soft ride that absorbed bumps but suffered from poor body control and significant body roll in corners. The standard all-wheel drive (AWD) system included X-Mode for different surfaces, with Dual X-Mode available on Sport models. Hill-descent control was standard on Premium and higher trims, and the Forester offered 8.7 inches of ground clearance. However, for serious off-roading, alternatives like the Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk were better suited.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 introduced new B5 and B6 mild-hybrid powertrains, replacing the previous T5 and T6 options. Both 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 also included an electric supercharger. The B5 produced 258 hp and 247 lb-ft of torque, while the B6 offered 295 hp and 310 lb-ft. Both used an eight-speed automatic transmission, with the B5 available in FWD or AWD, and the B6 in AWD only.

The XC60 B5 accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds (6.6 seconds with FWD), while the B6 achieved it in 5.9 seconds. The B6 R-Design felt smooth and quick, with impressive body control in corners. The XC60 prioritized a quiet cabin and comfortable ride, enhanced by an optional air suspension. Volvo also offered a plug-in hybrid XC60 Recharge, with 400 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque, and a 0-60 mph time of 5 seconds. The Polestar Engineered version increased output to 415 hp and 494 lb-ft, with a 0-60 mph time of 4.9 seconds, and included performance upgrades like Öhlins dampers and Akebono brakes.

The 2021 Subaru Forester offered above-average headroom and legroom in both rows, thanks to its tall, flat roof. This design also provided excellent outward visibility and a roomy feel, though it could let in a lot of sunlight. The Forester had 35.4 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up, and 76.1 cubic feet with them folded, surpassing some competitors. However, it lacked a sliding second-row bench. A power liftgate was optional on the Sport trim and standard on Limited and Touring trims.

The Forester's interior featured decently sized cupholders and a reasonably sized center console, though the phone-storage cubby was too small for an average phone, and wireless charging was not available. A power-adjustable driver's seat was only standard on the Premium trim and above. The large knobs for audio and climate controls were user-friendly, but the numerous buttons on the steering wheel could be confusing.

The 2022 Volvo XC60's interior space remained competitive, with above-average front-seat headroom but limited rear-seat headroom, tying with the Audi Q5 for the worst in its segment. Legroom was average in both rows. The mild-hybrid models offered 21.6 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up, and 49.8 cubic feet with them folded. Plug-in hybrid models had slightly less cargo space, at 21.1 cubic feet with the seats up and 49.3 cubic feet with them down, making the XC60 less spacious than many luxury crossovers.

The XC60 provided a commanding driving position with good forward visibility, and despite the somewhat pinched roofline, rear visibility was also good. Large exterior mirrors further aided driving without relying heavily on driver aids.

The 2021 Subaru Forester came with the Subaru Starlink infotainment system, featuring a 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, front-row USB ports, and a CD player. Sport models upgraded to an 8-inch touchscreen and Harman Kardon audio system, while Limited and Touring trims added navigation and rear USB ports. The system was user-friendly with well-designed graphics and backup analog controls, but the screen was slow to boot up.

The Forester also included a secondary screen in the dashboard and a small screen in the instrument cluster, displaying information like fuel economy and tire pressure. This setup seemed overly complex, as much of the same information could be displayed on both screens.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 received a tech overhaul, retaining a 9-inch touchscreen but now running the Android Automotive operating system. It included a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Bluetooth, and a built-in WiFi hotspot. Optional features included a head-up display and upgraded audio systems from Harman Kardon or Bowers & Wilkins. The new system integrated Android-specific features like Google Assistant for voice control and Google Maps for navigation, with the ability to sync Android user profiles and access third-party apps via the Google Play Store. Over-the-air software updates were also enabled.

The system was compatible with iPhones, though without the added functionality of syncing Google profiles. The new layout used sideways swiping to access menus, making efficient use of screen space. The digital instrument cluster could display a map between the speedometer and tachometer, with a "Calm" setting to minimize distractions.

The 2021 Subaru Forester excelled in safety, earning the highest "Top Safety Pick+" award from the IIHS, with top ratings in all crash tests and front-crash prevention tech. The NHTSA gave it a five-star overall rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests, and four stars in rollover tests. The Forester came standard with Subaru's EyeSight driver-assist suite, including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lead-vehicle start alert. EyeSight's camera-based system was cost-effective and easy to package, allowing Subaru to offer it widely across its lineup. The Forester also featured a driver-monitoring system, DriverFocus, to detect distraction.

Optional safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and reverse automatic braking. The adaptive cruise control and lane-centering functions performed adequately, though the latter's steering inputs were jerky. Lead-vehicle start alert could trigger false alarms with rolling cars at red lights.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 had not yet been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA for the 2022 model year, but the 2021 model received the highest "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. 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 was available as an option, combining adaptive cruise control and automated lane centering. While Pilot Assist worked well, it was no longer a standout feature as most competitors offered similar systems.