2021 Volvo XC90 vs 2021 BMW X5

The 2021 Volvo XC90 and the 2021 BMW X5 embodied distinctive design languages reflective of their brand philosophies. The Volvo XC90, having debuted its current-generation model in 2016, marked a significant shift in Volvo's design approach. Historically known for its conservative styling, Volvo managed to infuse more character into the XC90 while retaining signature elements like a boxy profile and a blunt front end with a rectangular grille. The result was a balance of traditional and modern, featuring softer lines, increased use of chrome, and the standout "Thor’s Hammer" LED headlights. The Inscription trim, with its extra chrome and optional 21-inch alloy wheels, was the flashiest, while the R-Design aimed for a sportier look with a new gloss-black grille surround for 2021. The base Momentum trim, on the other hand, was more understated, featuring 19-inch wheels in a new design. The XC90's interior boasted Swedish minimalism, offering thoughtfully arranged materials with matte-finish wood trim and options like wool upholstery or Nappa leather. The crystal shifter, though high-end, felt a bit out of place in the otherwise restrained cabin.

The 2021 BMW X5, part of BMW's serious SUV lineup, showcased classic BMW elements from its kidney grille to its body shape, ensuring there was no mistaking it for anything other than a BMW. This familiarity was both a strength and a potential drawback, making the X5 blend in with other BMW models in parking lots. The X5 featured full adaptive LED headlights and a variety of matte or high-gloss trims depending on the model, with options for 19- to 22-inch wheels. The interior, while not revolutionary, was well-crafted, though laden with buttons and dials that could be overwhelming and hard to distinguish at night. The M Sport models added aggressive touches like an M sports steering wheel and specific interior trim strips, but the abundance of black plastic detracted somewhat from the overall luxury feel.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 offered three powertrain choices, all built around a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base T5 model, with its turbocharged engine, produced 250 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, available in front-wheel drive by default, with all-wheel drive as an option. The T6 model upped the ante with both turbocharging and supercharging, delivering 316 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The T8 Twin Engine, or Recharge, combined the T6 engine with electric assist for a total output of 400 hp and 472 lb-ft, but its small inline-four struggled to completely mask the limitations when compared to six-cylinder or V8 engines in rival SUVs. The XC90’s various drive modes—Pure, Hybrid, and Power—revealed a dichotomy between efficiency and performance, with Pure mode being suited only for low-speed, gentle driving. The XC90 also excelled in providing a smooth, quiet ride, even with optional air suspension and 21-inch wheels, and it boasted a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds for most models.

The 2021 BMW X5 came with a variety of powertrain options, starting with the base X5 sDrive40i/xDrive40i, powered by a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine producing 335 hp and 330 lb-ft of torque. These could be configured with rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The X5 M50i featured a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 engine with 523 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. The more performance-focused X5 M offered 600 hp, which increased to 617 hp with the Competition Package. For 2021, BMW introduced the X5 xDrive45e plug-in hybrid model, combining a 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine with a 24-kilowatt-hour battery, delivering 389 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque, and capable of up to 30 miles of all-electric range. Transitioning between electric, hybrid, and gasoline modes was seamless, though the steering and driving dynamics fell short of BMW's typically high standard. The X5's ride comfort was top-notch, with road imperfections well absorbed and minimal noise intrusion into the cabin. The X5 offered varying levels of fuel efficiency, with the plug-in hybrid achieving up to 50 MPGe and the more powerful models significantly lower.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 offered versatility with six- or seven-seat configurations, but like many three-row SUVs, space in the third row was tight for adults. Headroom and legroom were about average for the class, and the seats in the second and third rows were noted for their hardness and lack of support. An optional panoramic moonroof and a standard four-zone climate control system contributed to an airy and comfortable cabin feel. However, storage options were limited, and cargo space was not the XC90’s strong suit, offering 11.2 cubic feet with all seats in place, 34.1 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 64.1 cubic feet with both rows down. The hands-free power tailgate was a nice touch, but overall, the XC90 lagged behind competitors in terms of cargo capacity.

The 2021 BMW X5 excelled in making efficient use of its interior space. The front center console was well-organized, though the abundance of buttons and controls could be confusing, especially at night. The front seats were comfortable for short trips but felt hard on longer journeys. Rear seats offered ample space for adults, and while the optional third-row seating was not tested, it was available. The X5’s climate controls were user-friendly, and the split liftgate, combined with full power functionality and an adjustable vehicle height option, made loading and unloading cargo straightforward. Without the third row, the X5 provided a spacious cargo area. Although the xDrive45e plug-in hybrid had slightly reduced cargo space, it remained practical for most buyers. The rear doors did not open very wide, making access somewhat challenging, but overall, the X5 was more accommodating in terms of cargo capacity and interior space than the XC90.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 featured a minimalist and user-friendly Sensus infotainment system. Standard equipment included a 9-inch touchscreen, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, Bluetooth, and a built-in WiFi hotspot. USB-A ports in the front and USB-C ports in the rear were also standard, with a premium 19-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system and head-up display as available options. The portrait-oriented touchscreen was intuitive and responsive, although some menus were difficult to read while driving, and the wireless charging pad had compatibility issues with larger phones.

The 2021 BMW X5 offered a robust roster of standard features, including a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, a 10-speaker audio system, voice recognition, Bluetooth, five USB ports, navigation, HD Radio, satellite radio, automatic climate control, a proximity key, and a panoramic moonroof. Additional options included remote start, a head-up display, quad-zone automatic climate control, a wireless smartphone charger, massaging seats, a WiFi hotspot, and a choice between a 16-speaker Harman Kardon and a 20-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system. Though the iDrive system required some acclimation, it became user-friendly over time. The wireless Apple CarPlay feature, despite its convenience, could sometimes act up, taking over audio operations unexpectedly.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 was lauded for its comprehensive suite of safety features and high safety ratings. The non-hybrid models received the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ rating, scoring top marks across crash tests and front-crash prevention tech. The NHTSA awarded all 2021 XC90 models a five-star overall safety rating. Volvo's commitment to safety was evident in the standard features, which included lane-keep assist, a driver-attention monitor, traffic-sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency braking, and Volvo’s advanced Pilot Assist system. Despite its capabilities, Pilot Assist's lane-centering struggled with highway curves, underscoring that these systems are aids rather than replacements for attentive driving.

The 2021 BMW X5 also came well-equipped with safety features, including blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, parking sensors, rain-sensing windshield wipers, lane departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. However, not all adaptive systems performed flawlessly. The adaptive cruise control sometimes reacted late to stopped traffic, and the lane-keeping system struggled with sunshine and light rain affecting camera visibility. The 2021 X5 received good safety ratings from the IIHS and a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, though it was subject to seven recalls.