2021 Ford Explorer vs 2021 Volvo XC90

The 2021 Volvo XC90 redefined Volvo's design ethos, adding a touch of character without straying from its distinct Swedish roots. The XC90 maintained Volvo’s hallmark conservative styling, but softened lines and chrome accents provided a refreshed, elegant look. The “Thor’s Hammer” LED headlights became a defining feature, seamlessly integrating with the SUV’s overall design.

The XC90 Inscription, packed with extra chrome trim and optional 21-inch alloy wheels, stood out as the most flamboyant among its trim levels. The sportier R-Design, with its new gloss-black grille surround, contrasted with the base Momentum, which featured more modest 19-inch wheels. Regardless of the trim, the XC90’s boxy profile and blunt front end remained quintessentially Volvo, yet modernized with subtle detailing.

The XC90's interior embraced “Swedish minimalism,” offering well-arranged, high-quality materials. The matte-finish wood trim exuded a natural, understated elegance, enhanced by the unique option of wool upholstery or Nappa leather. The Orrefors crystal shifter in higher trims added a dash of luxury, though it slightly clashed with the minimalist interior design philosophy.

Contrastingly, the 2021 Ford Explorer exhibited a lean towards a well-rounded, family-oriented design. It aligned with Ford’s SUV lineup, bearing a close resemblance to siblings like the Edge and Escape. The Explorer stood out with its sporty, raked belt lines and squinting front visage. Various grille designs—from the black base grille to the chrome grille found in higher trims—added to its distinctive appearance.

The Explorer offered six trim levels, catering to a wide range of preferences and budgets. Starting from the modest base trim to the top-tier Platinum, the upgrades in exterior and interior features were evident. Inside, the Explorer provided three rows of standard seating with comfortable cloth upholstery in the base model. It featured a clean dashboard layout with an 8-inch LCD touchscreen at the helm of its center stack controls.

Overall, the XC90 exuded an air of Scandinavian luxury through its minimalist elegance and refined accents, while the Explorer leaned into a more pragmatic, versatility-driven design.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 came with three powertrains centered around a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base T5 engine was turbocharged, generating 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The T6 variant added a supercharger, boosting output to 316 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid, combining turbocharging, supercharging, and electric assistance, achieved an impressive 400 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque.

The T5 model with FWD offered the lowest power, while AWD was optional here and standard on T6 and T8 models. However, despite the high output of the T8, the small four-cylinder engine sometimes struggled with rapid acceleration. The plug-in hybrid feature allowed for three driving modes—Pure, Hybrid, and Power—though the Pure mode was best suited for low-speed drives. The XC90 also impressed with its 5,000-pound towing capacity (4,000 pounds for the FWD T5), reasonable for most recreational activities.

The 2021 Ford Explorer, at a base weight of 4,345 pounds, was well-equipped to handle various driving conditions. Its base 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivered a surprising 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, outperforming some competitors despite the Explorer’s higher curb weight. Additionally, each trim came standard with a 10-speed automatic transmission with SelectShift capability, ensuring smooth gear transitions.

The Explorer’s Limited Hybrid offered a V6 drivetrain with 310 hp and 331 lb-ft of torque. Higher trims upgraded to a 3.0-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6, delivering 365 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque, with the sporty Explorer ST yielding 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque. The Explorer ST provided the most engaging experience, though it still fell short of true performance SUV standards. The Explorer’s segment-leading towing capacity ranged from 5,000 to 5,600 pounds, making it practical for heavier loads.

In terms of raw power and towing prowess, the Explorer had an edge, especially with its varied engine options and robust towing capacity. The XC90, however, focused more on an efficient and luxurious driving experience with its sophisticated hybrid option.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 offered flexibility with its three-row seating, available in six-seat or seven-seat configurations. Though similar in size to its luxury competitors, the XC90’s third-row space was somewhat tight for adults, and the seats lacked the cushioning and support found in rival models. An optional power moonroof extended across the first two rows, creating an open and airy cabin feel. The interior featured a standard four-zone climate control, which could be enhanced with an advanced filtration system.

Our Inscription test car boasted 10-way power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated front seats with massage function, enhancing comfort for the driver and front passenger. However, the absence of a power-adjustable steering wheel was a slight drawback. Forward visibility was somewhat hampered by the XC90’s tall hood, and storage space was limited due to shallow center console bins.

Cargo capacity in the XC90 T8 Recharge model stood at 11.2 cubic feet with all seats in place, 34.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, and 64.1 cubic feet with both the second and third rows down. This was on the lower end for the segment, and space with the third row up was notably limited.

The 2021 Ford Explorer also offered a versatile seating arrangement with a three-row configuration. The base trim seated seven with a second-row bench, while other trims featured captain’s chairs, reducing capacity to six. The Explorer excelled in second-row legroom, offering 39 inches, surpassing several competitors. However, it lagged behind the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade in total second-row space.

The Explorer impressed with a substantial 21 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, outperforming the XC90. With the rear seats folded, the Explorer provided a total of 81 cubic feet of cargo room, putting it in competition with smaller SUVs but slightly ahead of the XC90.

In terms of interior space and practicality, the Explorer stood out with its superior cargo capacity and more generous legroom for second-row passengers. The XC90’s refined comfort features and minimalist design catered more towards luxury.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 featured Volvo’s Sensus infotainment system, which opted for simplicity and efficiency. Standard tech included a 9-inch touchscreen, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, Bluetooth, and a built-in WiFi hotspot. Front USB-A ports and rear USB-C ports were also standard. Optional features included a 19-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system and a head-up display.

The responsive touchscreen was easy to navigate, mimicking the usability of a tablet. However, the small text and typeface could be challenging to read while driving, and the wireless charging pad did not accommodate most modern smartphones. The second-row USB-C ports might also inconvenience drivers needing connectivity up front.

The 2021 Ford Explorer included a solid lineup of standard technology, starting with an 8-inch touchscreen that supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, and the Sync 3 infotainment system. A 4G WiFi hotspot for up to 10 devices and a six-speaker audio system enhanced connectivity and entertainment.

Higher trims, such as the Limited, upgraded to a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system and HD radio. Top trims could opt for a 10.1-inch touchscreen and a 14-speaker B&O sound system. The Explorer also offered various power points and USB ports, including a 110-volt AC power outlet in the ST trim.

The Explorer provided a comprehensive tech suite at all trim levels, with meaningful upgrades in higher trims. The XC90’s minimalist yet high-quality infotainment system emphasized user-friendly design, making both SUVs competitive in their technology offerings.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 garnered the prestigious “Top Safety Pick+” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for non-hybrid models. It received top scores in crash tests and “Superior” ratings in front-crash prevention with “Advanced” scores for vehicle-to-pedestrian assessments. Volvo’s extensive list of standard safety features included lane-keep assist, driver-attention monitor, traffic-sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency braking, and Volvo’s acclaimed Pilot Assist driver aid.

The 2021 Ford Explorer also achieved the “Top Safety Pick+” rating from the IIHS, showing excellent crash test results and an “Acceptable” rating for adaptive headlights. The base Explorer came well-equipped with the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite, including auto high-beam headlights, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane keeping assist, forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and dynamic brake support.

Higher trims added the Co-Pilot360 Assist+ suite, featuring adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, lane centering, evasive steering assist, forward sensing system, rain-sensing wipers, and speed sign recognition.

Both vehicles excelled in safety, with extensive standard technology aimed at protecting passengers and enhancing driver assistance.