2022 Honda Odyssey vs 2021 Volvo XC90

The 2021 Volvo XC90 marked a significant shift in Volvo's design philosophy, adding character while retaining the brand's traditional styling cues. Unlike Lexus, which opted for a radical redesign, Volvo maintained its boxy profile and blunt front end with a rectangular grille. The XC90 featured 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 basic looks, respectively. The XC90 shared Volvo's Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform with other "90" and "60" series models, emphasizing its car-based crossover nature.

Inside, the XC90 embraced "Swedish minimalism" with thoughtfully arranged, high-quality materials. The matte-finish wood trim and optional wool upholstery provided a natural and unique touch. The Inscription test car featured an Orrefors crystal shifter, adding a high-end element to the otherwise restrained interior. The XC90's interior design focused on simplicity and elegance, avoiding overwhelming flashiness while offering a comfortable and luxurious experience.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was a top recommendation for families due to its practicality and comfort. The minivan's sliding side doors made loading toddlers into rear-facing child safety seats a breeze, and its comfortable third-row seat accommodated additional passengers with ease. The Odyssey's cargo space was impressive, with the ability to fold the third-row seat down and remove the second-row seats, providing as much cargo space as a Chevrolet Suburban. Despite the minivan's practical advantages, its image deterred some buyers who preferred the look of crossover SUVs.

The Odyssey's design adhered to the classic minivan ethos, with kinked sliding doors and dramatic hockey-stick character lines. The Elite trim level featured dark gray 19-inch aluminum wheels, adding a touch of style. The interior offered quality materials, supportive front seats with power adjustment, heating, and ventilation, and a tri-zone automatic climate control system. The Magic Slide second-row seats provided flexibility for child safety and easy access to the third-row seat. The Odyssey's cargo space was generous, with 32.8 cubic feet behind the third row and up to 144.9 cubic feet with the second-row seats removed.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 offered three powertrains, all built around 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 (FWD), while all-wheel drive (AWD) was optional on the T5 and standard on the T6 and T8.

Despite the impressive 400 hp, the XC90's small engine struggled to provide consistent power, especially when relying on electric assist. The XC90 offered three drive modes—Pure (all-electric), Hybrid, and Power—but Pure mode was only practical at low speeds with gentle acceleration. The gasoline engine often had to assist, limiting the effectiveness of the all-electric mode. The XC90 excelled in ride quality, thanks to an optional air-suspension system, and provided a quiet cabin. The XC90's towing capacity was respectable, with most models rated at 5,000 pounds, although the base FWD T5 was limited to 4,000 pounds.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission with pushbutton controls. Unlike its competitors, the Odyssey did not offer all-wheel drive (AWD) or an electrified powertrain. The Odyssey's EPA fuel economy estimate was 22 mpg in combined driving, lower than the hybrid Toyota Sienna and plug-in hybrid Chrysler Pacifica.

The Odyssey's driving experience was enjoyable, with responsive handling and quick acceleration. However, repeated use of the brakes on downhill grades led to pedal vibration and an audible grumble, especially when the van was fully loaded. Despite this issue, the Odyssey remained composed and fun to drive, making it a practical choice for families.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 offered 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 lacked support and felt hard. The optional power moonroof and upright roof profile gave the interior a spacious feel. The Inscription trim featured 10-way power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats with backrest massage, but the steering wheel was not power-adjustable. Storage space was limited, with a shallow center console storage bin and few storage options on the console. Cargo space for the T8 Recharge model 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. The XC90 offered a hands-free power tailgate.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey provided easy access with wide-opening doors and a lower ride height. The Elite trim featured quality leather, supportive front seats with power adjustment, heating, and ventilation, and a tri-zone automatic climate control system. The Odyssey offered numerous storage spaces, including shelving in the front door panels and a handy floor tray. The Magic Slide second-row seats allowed for flexible configurations, making it easier to tend to children or create a pass-through to the third-row seat. The third-row seat was comfortable for adults, with good leg support and foot room. The Odyssey offered 32.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 88.8 cubic feet with the third-row seat folded, and 144.9 cubic feet with the second-row seats removed. The Odyssey's cargo space was comparable to a Chevrolet Suburban, making it a practical choice for families.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 featured the Sensus infotainment system, which emphasized simplicity and functionality. The XC90 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. 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 easy to use, but 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.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey Elite was equipped with all available technology features, but its infotainment system was becoming outdated compared to rivals. Starting with the EX trim, the Odyssey included an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Touring trim added navigation and HondaLink connected services, including WiFi hotspot access. The Odyssey Touring and Elite featured CabinWatch and CabinTalk technology, allowing the driver to monitor and communicate with rear-seat passengers. The rear-seat entertainment system, standard on Touring and Elite trims, included a 10.2-inch display screen, HDMI inputs, and a USB port. The Elite trim added an 11-speaker premium audio system and a wireless charging pad. The Odyssey's infotainment system was user-friendly but lacked a tuning knob and required specific voice commands for navigation.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 received the highest “Top Safety Pick+” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for non-hybrid models. It earned top “Good” scores in all IIHS crash tests and a “Superior” rating for front-crash prevention tech in vehicle-to-vehicle testing, with an “Advanced” rating in vehicle-to-pedestrian testing. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the XC90 a five-star overall safety rating. The XC90 offered numerous 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 quick reactions to other vehicles.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was equipped with Honda Sensing, a comprehensive suite of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. The Odyssey also had automatic high-beam headlights and a rear-seat reminder system. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were available on the EX trim and higher. Honda Sensing lacked refinement, with occasional false warnings and abrupt responses. The blind-spot monitoring system's warning light was poorly placed, and the radar's range was limited. The Odyssey earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.