2021 Hyundai Tucson vs 2021 Volvo XC90

The 2021 Volvo XC90 marked a significant shift in Volvo's design philosophy, 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, 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's interior embraced "Swedish minimalism," featuring matte-finish wood trim and unique options like wool upholstery and an Orrefors crystal shifter, creating a refined yet restrained cabin.

In contrast, the 2021 Hyundai Tucson offered a more conventional design, appealing to those who preferred a straightforward, upright layout. The Tucson's interior featured a modern and attractive dash design, with tech features seamlessly integrated into the overall aesthetic. The base SE trim came with 17-inch alloy wheels, manually adjustable front seats, and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims like the Value, SEL, Sport, Limited, and Ultimate added various features, including LED headlight accents, heated side mirrors, roof rails, and more. The Tucson's interior provided solid front-seat headroom and legroom, with comfortable and supportive seats, making it suitable for long trips.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 offered three powertrain options, all centered around a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base T5 engine was turbocharged, producing 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The T6 engine, both turbocharged and supercharged, delivered 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, resulting in a total output of 400 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque. The T5 came with front-wheel drive (FWD) as standard, with all-wheel drive (AWD) optional, while the T6 and T8 had AWD as standard. Despite its power, the XC90's small engine struggled to provide consistent acceleration, especially in all-electric mode. However, the XC90 excelled in ride quality, thanks to its optional air-suspension system, and offered a respectable 5,000-pound maximum towing capacity.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson featured two engine options. The base engine was a 2.0-liter four-cylinder producing 161 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque. The SEL, Sport, Limited, and Ultimate trims came with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine generating 181 hp and 175 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and offered standard FWD or optional AWD. The base engine felt underwhelming, especially at higher speeds, while the 2.4-liter engine provided a livelier performance around town. The Tucson offered a comfortable and refined ride, striking a balance between softness and athleticism. The base engine allowed for a towing capacity of up to 1,500 pounds, while the 2.4-liter engine increased it to 2,000 pounds.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 was available in six-seat or seven-seat configurations, depending on whether you chose second-row captain’s chairs or a bench seat. While headroom and legroom in all three rows were average for the segment, the third row was tight for adults, and the seats in both the second and third rows lacked support. The XC90's interior felt spacious, thanks to an optional power moonroof and an upright roof profile. The Inscription trim featured 10-way power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats with backrest massage, but lacked a power-adjustable steering wheel. Cargo space was limited, with 11.2 cubic feet behind the third row, 34.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, and 64.1 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded. The XC90 did offer a hands-free power tailgate for added convenience.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson provided 31 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 61.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. While this was on the lower side for the compact SUV segment, it still offered adequate space for weekend bags or larger items. Higher trims like the Sport and above included a hands-free power liftgate. The Tucson's front seats provided solid headroom and legroom, with comfortable and supportive seating for long trips. The rear seats, though less spacious, were still accommodating for adults on road trips. The Tucson also featured numerous cubbies and compartments for storage, including helpful trays for the driver’s essentials.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 featured the Sensus infotainment system, which emphasized simplicity and functionality. It came standard with a 9-inch touchscreen, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, Bluetooth, and a built-in WiFi hotspot. The system included two front USB-A ports and two rear USB-C ports. Optional features included a 19-speaker Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system and a head-up display (HUD). The portrait-oriented touchscreen was user-friendly, though the text and typeface could be challenging to read 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 devices.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Ultimate trim offered an upgraded 8-inch touchscreen, which was optional on other trims. The touchscreen was easy to use, with logical menu layouts and helpful hard buttons for backup. Additional available features included navigation, satellite radio, and wireless device charging.

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) awarded all XC90 models a five-star overall safety rating. The XC90 offered a comprehensive list of standard safety features, 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 responsive assistance, though it struggled with highway curves.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson provided a solid list of standard driver-assistance features, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and driver drowsiness monitoring. Higher trims offered additional features like adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, automatic high-beams, a 360-degree parking monitor, and blind-spot monitoring. The Tucson earned a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS.