2021 BMW X3 vs 2021 Volvo XC90

The 2021 Volvo XC90 marked a significant shift in Volvo's design philosophy, moving away from its traditionally conservative styling. Introduced as a 2016 model, the XC90 retained Volvo's recognizable boxy profile and blunt front end with a rectangular grille, but added softer lines, more chrome, and distinctive LED headlights with "Thor’s Hammer" daytime running lights. The Inscription trim, with its extra chrome trim and optional 21-inch alloy wheels, was the flashiest, while the R-Design and Momentum trims offered sportier and more basic looks, respectively. The XC90 shared its Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform with other Volvo models, ensuring a cohesive design language across the brand.

Inside, the XC90 embraced "Swedish minimalism" with thoughtfully arranged, high-quality materials. The matte-finish wood trim and optional wool upholstery provided a natural and unique touch. The Inscription trim featured luxurious elements like a crystal shifter, although some found it out of place in the otherwise restrained interior. The XC90's design successfully balanced traditional Volvo elements with modern touches, creating a sophisticated and elegant SUV.

The third generation of the BMW X3, introduced for the 2018 model year, received updates in 2020, including a plug-in hybrid model and M performance variants. The 2018 redesign refined the X3's formula, giving it the exterior and interior presence of larger, more expensive BMW models. The X3's exterior resembled a downsized BMW X5, while the interior featured the same cold, mechanical styling found across the BMW lineup. Although not as aesthetically pleasing as the Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class, the X3's dash was more functional.

The 2021 BMW X3 was available in several trims: sDrive30i, xDrive30i, M40i, and the xDrive30e plug-in hybrid. The sDrive30i and xDrive30i came standard with 18-inch alloy wheels, push-button start, synthetic leather upholstery, tri-zone climate control, a 10.2-inch infotainment system, navigation, and 10-way power-adjustable front seats. Optional features included genuine leather upholstery, a panoramic sunroof, and a hands-free power liftgate. The M40i trim added 19-inch alloy wheels, 14-way power-adjustable front seats, unique exterior styling, and an M Sport suspension.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 offered three powertrains, all based on a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base T5 model featured a turbocharged engine producing 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, with front-wheel drive standard and all-wheel drive optional. The T6 model added a supercharger to the turbocharged engine, increasing output to 316 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, with all-wheel drive standard. The T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid, also known as Recharge, combined the T6 engine with electric assist, delivering a total of 400 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque.

Despite the impressive power figures, the XC90's small engine struggled to provide the flexibility of six-cylinder or V8 engines found in competitor SUVs. The XC90 Recharge's electric-only mode was limited to low speeds and gentle acceleration, with the gasoline engine frequently kicking in to assist. The XC90 excelled in ride quality, thanks to an optional air-suspension system, and offered a quiet cabin. Most XC90 models had a 5,000-pound maximum towing capacity, with the base FWD T5 rated at 4,000 pounds.

The 2021 BMW X3 sDrive30i and xDrive30i were equipped with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 248 horsepower, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The sDrive30i featured rear-wheel drive, while the xDrive30i came with all-wheel drive. The xDrive30e plug-in hybrid powertrain delivered 288 hp and offered brisk acceleration, with a 17-mile electric-only range and a recharge time of about 3.5 hours using a 240-volt Level 2 charger.

For those seeking a performance-oriented driving experience, the M40i trim featured a 382-hp twin-turbo inline-six engine, providing robust acceleration and responsive cornering abilities. The high-performance X3 M model offered an impressive 473 hp, catering to drivers with a need for speed and space for the whole family.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 was available in six-seat or seven-seat configurations, with second-row captain’s chairs or a bench seat. Headroom and legroom in all three rows were average for the segment, with the third row being tight for adults. The seats in the second and third rows felt hard and lacked support. An optional power moonroof extended across the first two rows, enhancing the spacious feel of the interior. The XC90's upright roof profile and standard four-zone climate control added to the comfort.

Up front, the Inscription trim featured 10-way power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats with backrest massage, but lacked a power-adjustable steering wheel. Storage space was limited, with a shallow center console storage bin and few storage options on the console. Cargo space for the T8 Recharge model was near the bottom of the segment, with 11.2 cubic feet with all seats in place, 34.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, and 64.1 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded. A hands-free power tailgate was available.

The 2021 BMW X3 offered up to 62.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded, and 28.7 cubic feet with the rear seats in use, making it one of the best in the small luxury SUV segment. A power liftgate was standard, with a hands-free power liftgate available as an option. The X3 provided ample space for all passengers, with plenty of headroom and legroom in the front row and adult-friendly rear seats.

The X3's interior featured real buttons and dials to complement the main touchscreen, making it user-friendly for drivers and passengers alike. The combination of touch operation and the iDrive dial in the center console catered to different user preferences, enhancing the overall functionality of the infotainment system.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 featured the Sensus infotainment system, which emphasized simplicity and ease of use. The XC90 came standard with a 9-inch touchscreen, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, Bluetooth, and a built-in WiFi hotspot. Two front USB-A ports and two rear USB-C ports were also standard. Optional features included a 19-speaker Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system and a head-up display (HUD).

The portrait-oriented touchscreen was intuitive, allowing users to swipe across menus like a tablet. The lack of analog backup controls was not an issue, as the touchscreen worked well and complemented the minimalist interior design. However, the amount of text and typeface used made reading some menus difficult while driving. The wireless charging pad added for 2021 was too small for most phones, and the lack of front USB-C ports was a drawback for drivers with newer phones.

The 2021 BMW X3 came standard with a 10.2-inch touchscreen running the iDrive infotainment system, which was user-friendly compared to other luxury systems. The combination of touch operation and the iDrive dial in the center console catered to different user preferences. The X3 came standard with Apple CarPlay, but Android Auto was optional. Other options included wireless device charging, a fully digital instrument panel, and a 16-speaker Harman Kardon premium stereo system. Gesture control was also available, allowing basic controls through hand movements, although it could result in false positives for those who talk with their hands.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 received the highest "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for non-hybrid models. The non-hybrid XC90 models received top "Good" scores in all IIHS crash tests and the top "Superior" rating for front-crash prevention tech in vehicle-to-vehicle testing, with a lower "Advanced" rating in vehicle-to-pedestrian testing. Headlights and LATCH child-seat anchors received "Acceptable" ratings. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave all 2021 XC90 models a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests, and four stars in rollover testing.

The XC90 offered more standard safety features than most competitors, including lane-keep assist, a driver-attention monitor, traffic-sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency braking, and Volvo's Pilot Assist driver aid. Pilot Assist combined adaptive cruise control with automated lane centering, providing smooth and quick reactions to other vehicles, although it struggled with gentle highway curves.

The 2021 BMW X3 came standard with advanced driver-assistance features such as automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, and lane departure warning. It also included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and front-and-rear parking sensors. Optional safety features included adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, headlights that bend with the road, and a head-up display.