2021 Volvo XC90 vs 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid

The 2021 Volvo XC90 marked a significant shift in Volvo's design philosophy. Known for its conservative styling, Volvo managed to infuse the XC90 with more character while retaining its recognizable features. The XC90's design included a boxy profile and a blunt front end with a rectangular grille, but with softer lines, more chrome, and distinctive LED headlights featuring "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 basic looks, respectively. The XC90 shared its Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform with other Volvo models, ensuring a cohesive design language across the brand.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid, on the other hand, showcased a dramatic new face with sharp, angular cues and a longer, wider stance. This bold design choice set it apart from its predecessor and competitors. The Tucson's grille seamlessly blended with the LED headlights, running lights, and turn signals, creating a futuristic look. The base Blue trim shared design cues with the mid-level SEL Convenience trim but featured smaller 17-inch wheels. The Limited trim added a dark chrome finish to the grille, enhancing its sleek appearance. Inside, the Tucson offered a spacious and airy cabin with heated front seats, a proximity key, and a range of tech features, including a 10.25-inch digital driver information display and ambient lighting.

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 the Recharge, combined the T6 engine with electric assist, delivering a total of 400 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque. The T5 came with front-wheel drive as standard, with all-wheel drive optional, while the T6 and T8 models had standard all-wheel drive. Despite its power, the XC90 struggled with acceleration on electric power alone, and its small engine required the gasoline engine's assistance 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.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid impressed with its 1.6-liter turbo-four engine and electric motor, producing a combined 226 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. This setup made the Tucson Hybrid noticeably quicker than its gas-powered counterpart. The Tucson's steering was responsive and direct, managed by a six-speed automatic transmission. The suspension provided a smooth ride, absorbing road imperfections without feeling bouncy. The Tucson Hybrid delivered good fuel economy, with EPA ratings of 37 mpg city, 36 highway, and 37 combined. The upcoming plug-in hybrid version promised even better efficiency with an 80 MPGe rating and 33 miles of all-electric range.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 offered a three-row configuration with either six or seven seats, depending on the choice of second-row captain’s chairs or a bench seat. While headroom and legroom were average for the segment, the third row was tight for adults, and the seats lacked support. 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 and minimal console storage options. Cargo space was also on the lower end, with 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 rows folded.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid, despite its larger footprint, did not appear overly large. It offered impressive cargo space, with 38.8 cubic feet in the trunk and 74.5 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. This was significantly more than competitors like the Mazda CX-5 and Toyota RAV4. The Tucson also provided excellent front and rear legroom, with over 41 inches each, and the rear seats could recline. The cargo floor had a dual-level system for added versatility. The interior featured ample storage options, including angled bottle holders in the doors, cupholders in the center console, and a fold-down center armrest with cupholders in the rear. The Limited trim added ambient lighting for a touch of flair.

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. The system also 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. The portrait-oriented touchscreen was user-friendly, but 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 lack of front USB-C ports was a drawback.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid offered a 10.25-inch touchscreen in the Limited trim, but it only utilized about 8 inches when running Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, which required a wired connection. The smaller 8-inch screen in the Blue and SEL Convenience trims offered wireless connectivity. The touch-capacitive buttons for the infotainment and HVAC controls were frustrating to use, but steering-wheel controls provided an alternative. The Tucson featured plenty of USB ports, including two for rear-seat passengers, and a Bose premium stereo in the Limited trim.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 received the highest “Top Safety Pick+” rating from the IIHS for non-hybrid models, with top scores in all crash tests and a “Superior” rating for front-crash prevention in vehicle-to-vehicle testing. The NHTSA awarded the XC90 a five-star overall safety rating. Standard safety features included 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, offering smooth and quick reactions to other vehicles.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid came with a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking, pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot collision avoidance, rear cross-traffic alert, a driver-attention monitor, lane-keeping assist, lane-following assist, safe-exit warning, and rear occupant alert. The Limited trim added a surround-view monitor, highway-driving assist with adaptive cruise control, navigation, blind-spot view monitor, and remote smart park assist. The IIHS awarded the Tucson Hybrid a Top Safety Pick+ rating.