2021 Toyota Venza vs 2022 Volvo XC90

The 2021 Toyota Venza was a sleek and stylish SUV that many critics noted bore a resemblance to a Lexus. Its design, from the grille to the elongated profile, blurred the lines between the Toyota and Lexus brands, evoking the Lexus LF-1 Limitless concept. The Venza was available in three trim levels—LE, XLE, and Limited—and offered a choice of seven paint colors. Standard features included dual chrome-tipped exhaust, LED headlights and taillights, automatic high beams, puddle lights, and 18-inch alloy wheels. The interior boasted a wireless charging pad, leather-trimmed steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, and an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, among other amenities.

The 2022 Volvo XC90, on the other hand, showcased a more upscale and luxurious design. The SUV had a poised stance with a sleek roofline and pronounced wheel arches that emphasized its athleticism. 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 the XC90 with either Nappa leather or a tailored wool blend upholstery. The cabin was spacious and airy, enhanced by a standard laminated panoramic moonroof, and provided ample storage space with door pockets, seat back pockets, and a large glove compartment.

The 2021 Toyota Venza came equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine paired with a lithium-ion battery pack and electric motors, resulting in a combined 219 horsepower and 163 pound-feet of torque. The hybrid system used an electronically-controlled continuously-variable transmission (eCVT) with a sequential-shifting feature for regenerative braking. While the Venza's acceleration was smooth, it was not particularly rapid, and the engine noise was noticeable during acceleration. However, the Venza excelled in fuel economy, achieving an EPA-estimated 40 mpg on the highway, 37 mpg in the city, and 39 mpg combined. Toyota backed its hybrid powertrain with a 10-year/150,000-mile hybrid battery warranty and an eight-year/100,000-mile Hybrid System warranty.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 offered three powertrain options: the T5 with a turbocharged 2.0-liter gasoline engine producing 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, the T6 with a supercharged and turbocharged version of the same engine delivering 316 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, and the T8 plug-in hybrid with a combined 455 horsepower and 523 pound-feet of torque. The T5 models were available in front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), while the T6 and T8 models were AWD only. The XC90 engines required Premium (91-octane) gasoline, and fuel economy varied by model, with the T8 achieving a combined 27 mpg on gas and 55 MPGe with an 18-mile EV range. The XC90 handled like a smaller SUV despite its size, with minimal body roll and spirited acceleration, especially in the T8 Inscription extended range model.

The 2021 Toyota Venza offered a practical and comfortable interior with premium appointments in the center stack, including piano black capacitive buttons for climate and infotainment controls. The deep center console featured resizable cup holders, a traditional stick shifter, drive mode buttons, and a wireless charging pad. The Venza's seating was accommodating for both front and rear passengers, with more headroom than the RAV4 and nearly equal amounts of shoulder and hip room. The Venza provided up to 55.1 cubic feet of cargo space with the second-row seats folded, which was sufficient for daily driving needs but less than some competitors.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 was available 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 children 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 SUV could tow between 4,000 and 5,000 pounds, depending on the configuration. The XC90's interior was spacious and comfortable, with ample storage space and a highly effective air-conditioning system that performed well even in extreme heat and humidity.

The 2021 Toyota Venza featured the Entune infotainment system, with an 8-inch touchscreen on the LE and XLE trims and a 12.3-inch touchscreen on the Limited trim. While the system's response time was good, it was not the easiest to use, requiring multiple menu trips for certain functions. The Venza came standard with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, AM/FM/HD Radio, Bluetooth, and a six-speaker audio system. A Wi-Fi hotspot was also standard, with a free trial period. The Venza XLE and Limited offered a nine-speaker JBL premium audio system, and the Limited trim included dynamic navigation with cloud-based route guidance.

The 2022 Volvo XC90's Sensus infotainment system featured a nine-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen with familiar smartphone gestures like pinch, pull, and swipe. However, the system was occasionally glitchy and slow to respond. The XC90 also offered Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and an optional head-up display included in the $1,650 Advanced package. The package also added a 360-degree surround view camera system and an advanced air cleaner. The XC90 came standard with Harman Kardon Premium Sound, with an optional $3,200 Bowers & Wilkins upgrade for audiophiles. The SUV included two front USB-A ports, two rear USB-C ports, a WiFi hotspot, and the Volvo Care smartphone app with remote vehicle controls.

The 2021 Toyota Venza came equipped with the Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite, which included a pre-collision warning system with pedestrian detection and automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert with steering assist, lane-tracing assist, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, and road sign assist. Additional safety features included eight airbags, a rearview camera, hill start assist, parking distance sensors, tire pressure monitoring, and adjustable front seatbelt anchors. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was standard, with an upgrade to automatic braking available on the XLE and Limited trims. The Venza also had two full sets of LATCH connections on the rear outboard seats.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 continued Volvo's legacy of safety with a comprehensive list of 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 to provide assisted driving on highways. The XC90 received the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ designation and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, highlighting its top-tier safety performance.