2022 Ford Expedition 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 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 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 a focus on high-quality materials and thoughtful arrangement. The matte-finish wood trim and optional wool upholstery provided a natural and unique touch. The Orrefors crystal shifter added a high-end feel, though it seemed slightly out of place in the otherwise restrained interior. The overall design aimed to offer a luxurious yet understated experience, avoiding the flashiness seen in some other luxury SUVs.

The 2022 Ford Expedition underwent several exterior styling revisions, including a new grille, headlights, bumper, and redesigned wheels. The rear also saw updates with revised taillights, tailgate trim, and a new bumper. The Expedition was available in multiple trims, including the new Timberline trim for off-road enthusiasts, which added features like 4WD, all-terrain tires, and suspension modifications. The Stealth Edition packages, available with the Limited trim, added black 22-inch wheels and a mix of blacked-out and body-color exterior trim, with the Stealth Performance Package offering additional sporty features.

Inside, the Expedition featured a redesigned dashboard with the new Sync 4 and Sync 4A infotainment systems. The Limited Stealth Edition test vehicle included a 12.4-inch digital instrumentation display and a 15.5-inch touchscreen. The interior was spacious and comfortable, with leather seats, soft padding, and impressive tech. However, the F-150 pickup-grade plastic trim and switchgear detracted from the overall luxury feel. Despite this, the Expedition excelled in providing a comfortable and tech-savvy environment for passengers.

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 engine was turbocharged, producing 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The T6 engine added a supercharger, increasing output to 316 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid 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 to provide the flexibility of larger engines found in competitor SUVs. The plug-in hybrid's electric-only mode was limited to low speeds and gentle acceleration, with the gasoline engine frequently kicking in. The XC90 excelled in ride quality, thanks to the optional air-suspension system, and offered a quiet cabin. However, its towing capacity was lower than some competitors, with most models rated at 5,000 pounds and the base FWD T5 at 4,000 pounds.

The 2022 Ford Expedition featured a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine, with the standard version producing 380 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. The high-output version, available with the Stealth Edition Performance Package, delivered 440 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque on 93-octane fuel. The V6 engine was paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, driving the rear wheels or optional 4WD. Fuel economy ranged from 17 to 19 mpg in combined driving, with observed fuel economy at 16.2 mpg during testing.

The Expedition's powertrain provided impressive towing capabilities, ranging from 9,000 to 9,300 pounds, depending on the model and equipment. The twin-turbo V6 offered addictive power and a pleasing exhaust note, though it guzzled fuel when pushed hard. The sport-tuned suspension in the Stealth Edition contributed to a sometimes harsh ride quality, but the adaptive damping suspension available in higher trims helped alleviate this issue. The Expedition was surprisingly easy to park and excelled on the highway, offering a comfortable and quiet ride for long trips.

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 were average for the segment, with the third row being tight for adults. The seats in the second and third rows lacked support, and storage space was limited. The Inscription trim featured 10-way power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats with backrest massage, but a power-adjustable steering wheel was not available. Cargo space was limited, with 11.2 cubic feet behind the third row, 34.1 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 64.1 cubic feet with both rear rows folded.

The 2022 Ford Expedition offered exceptional comfort and space, with power running boards for easy entry and exit. The test vehicle featured power-adjustable, leather-wrapped, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The second-row captain’s chairs provided ample legroom and comfort, with their own climate controls and cupholders. The third-row seat was easy to access and offered good leg support, though headroom was tight for taller passengers. Cargo space was generous, with 19.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 57.5 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 104.6 cubic feet with both rear rows folded. The Expedition Max offered even more cargo space.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 featured the Sensus infotainment system with a 9-inch touchscreen, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, Bluetooth, and a built-in WiFi hotspot. The system was easy to use, with a portrait-oriented touchscreen that allowed for tablet-like swiping. However, the amount of text and typeface made reading some menus difficult while driving. The wireless charging pad was too small for most phones, and the XC90 only had second-row USB-C ports.

The 2022 Ford Expedition introduced the Sync 4 and Sync 4A infotainment systems, with the latter featuring a 15.5-inch touchscreen. Both systems included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, FordPass Connect, and a connected navigation system. Higher trims added features like SiriusXM satellite radio, HD Radio, wireless smartphone charging, and Bang & Olufsen premium sound systems. Sync 4A had some quirks, such as difficulty restarting Apple CarPlay and accidental activation of the defroster function. The Expedition also offered an upgraded rear-seat entertainment system with Amazon Fire TV and Pro Trailer Backup Assist 2.0.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 received the highest “Top Safety Pick+” rating from the IIHS for non-hybrid models and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA. It 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.

The 2022 Ford Expedition included three Ford Co-Pilot360 packages. The standard package offered forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, driver monitoring, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assist, speed-limit-sign recognition, intersection assist, and evasive steering assist. The Co-Pilot Assist 2.0 package, standard on higher trims, included a surround-view camera system, rear automatic emergency braking, and Active Park Assist 2.0. The Expedition also offered BlueCruise hands-free driving technology and Road Edge Detection.