2021 Cadillac XT5 vs 2021 Volvo XC90

The 2021 Volvo XC90 marked a significant shift in Volvo's design language, moving away from its traditionally conservative styling. The XC90 retained Volvo's recognizable boxy profile and blunt front end with a rectangular grille, but introduced softer lines, more chrome, and distinctive LED headlights with "Thor’s Hammer" daytime running lights. The Inscription trim level, 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 understated looks, respectively. The XC90 shared its Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform with other Volvo models, ensuring a cohesive design across the brand. Inside, the XC90 embraced "Swedish minimalism" with high-quality materials, matte-finish wood trim, and unique options like wool upholstery and an Orrefors crystal shifter, creating a refined yet understated cabin.

The 2021 Cadillac XT5 represented a return to form for Cadillac, showcasing the brand's efforts to regain its status as a refined luxury vehicle. Updated for the 2020 model year, the XT5 featured a new engine option, revised styling, and enhanced technology, which carried over to the 2021 model. The exterior design included standard LED lights, 20-inch wheels, and a more differentiated look between trim levels. Inside, the XT5 offered a mix of luxury features, including cut-and-sewn leather, natural wood, and carbon fiber accents, particularly in the Premium Luxury trim. The interior design focused on simplicity and elegance, with sweeping horizontal lines and straightforward materials, making it one of the most elegant Cadillacs aside from the Escalade.

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. The T6 model added a supercharger, increasing output to 316 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. 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. The T5 came standard with front-wheel drive, while all-wheel drive was optional on the T5 and standard on the T6 and T8. Despite the impressive power figures, the XC90's small engine struggled with flexibility, particularly in the plug-in hybrid model, where the gasoline engine often had to assist even at low speeds. The XC90 excelled in ride quality and old-school luxury, with an optional air-suspension system and a quiet cabin. It also had a respectable towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds, though the base FWD T5 was limited to 4,000 pounds.

The 2021 Cadillac XT5 was available in Luxury, Premium Luxury, and Sport trim levels. The Luxury and Premium Luxury trims came standard with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The Premium Luxury trim could be upgraded to a 3.6-liter V6 engine with 310 hp and 237 lb-ft of torque, which was standard on the Sport trim. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The V6 engine provided immediate throttle response, though it lacked low-end torque. The XT5's engine start-stop technology was seamless, except for the heating and air conditioning shutting down during stops. Front-wheel drive was standard on the Luxury and Premium Luxury trims, with all-wheel drive available, while the Sport trim came standard with AWD. During testing, the XT5 AWD achieved about 25 mpg, better than the EPA-estimated 21 mpg combined for the V6. The base engine achieved 23 mpg combined with FWD and 21 mpg with AWD. The XT5's fuel economy was comparable to its rivals, and it handled the road with ease.

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. 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 was 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, placing it near the bottom of the segment. A hands-free power tailgate was available.

The 2021 Cadillac XT5 had enough room for four adults in two rows, though it technically fit five with a three-seat bench in the second row. The back seat had limited headroom for tall occupants, but legroom was good in both rows. The front seats were not as comfortable as they appeared during extended road trips due to a hard bottom cushion. Heated front seats were standard, and depending on the climate inside the car, either heated or ventilated seats were activated upon starting the SUV. The XT5 offered 30 cubic feet of cargo space, less than the Nissan Murano and Lincoln Nautilus, but benefited from a deep rear cargo area. However, wheel bump-outs minimized the width of the cargo area. The cargo-management system allowed for dividing and securing loose items, and a hands-free programmable height liftgate was available. Small-item storage was limited, with no good place for a smartphone within eyesight and small map pockets.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 featured the Sensus infotainment system, which emphasized simplicity and functionality. It 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 standard, with a 19-speaker Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system and head-up display (HUD) available. The portrait-oriented touchscreen was easy to use, allowing for tablet-like swiping across menus. However, the amount of text and typeface 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 Cadillac XT5 had a streamlined infotainment system and center stack, with climate control housed inside Piano Black plastic that provided haptic feedback. The tri-zone automatic climate control featured a chrome toggle switch for adjusting temperature, though it often ran colder than displayed. A heated steering wheel and heated outboard rear seats were available, with the rear seats offering 60/40 split-folding capability and the ability to slide and recline. The Piano Black surround of the 8-inch infotainment touchscreen housed numerous functionalities, including the automatic start-stop engine on/off switch. A rotary controller on the center console aided infotainment system functionality, though it crowded the screen's aesthetics. The XT5 included one-touch phone pairing, an eight-speaker Bose sound system, AUX port, Bluetooth, 15-watt wireless charging, and USB-A and USB-C ports. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with a 4G LTE WiFi hot spot and 14-speaker Bose Performance Series sound system available. A rear camera mirror and head-up display (HUD) were also available, with the rear camera mirror proving useful during nighttime driving.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 received the highest “Top Safety Pick+” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for non-hybrid models, with top “Good” scores in all crash tests and a “Superior” rating for front-crash prevention in vehicle-to-vehicle testing. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave all XC90 models a five-star overall safety rating. The XC90 offered a comprehensive list of standard safety features, including lane-keep assist, 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, though it struggled with highway curves.

The 2021 Cadillac XT5’s safety features included front automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and lane-change alert with side blind-zone alert. Not all technologies were available in all trim levels. The XT5 also featured a rear-seat reminder and a federally-mandated rearview camera. Cadillac’s available Night Vision technology enhanced nighttime drivability, allowing large wildlife and hazards to be seen at a distance. General Motors’ Teen Driver software was standard, allowing parents to limit certain vehicle features and view a report card of driving habits.