2022 Land Rover Defender 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 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 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.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender maintained its distinctive, boxy profile, tailgate-mounted spare tire, and flat hood, visually tying it to the original Defender and classic Series Land Rovers. Despite these retro callbacks, the modern Defender featured rounded corners for improved aerodynamics and recessed LED headlights for a unique personality. The interior design emphasized ruggedness with bare metal and exposed screws, complemented by leather and suede upholstery. The Defender's larger size compared to the original provided more headroom, legroom, and a comfortable driving position, making it a practical and stylish choice for off-road enthusiasts.

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. The T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid combined the T6 engine with electric assist, delivering a total of 400 hp and 472 lb-ft. The T5 came with front-wheel drive as standard, with all-wheel drive optional, while the T6 and T8 had standard AWD. Despite the impressive power figures, the small engine struggled with flexibility, and the XC90 Recharge's electric-only mode was limited to low speeds and gentle acceleration. The XC90 excelled in ride quality and quietness, with a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds for most models.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender introduced a new V8 engine, joining the existing 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six mild-hybrid powertrains. The four-cylinder produced 296 hp and 295 lb-ft, while the six-cylinder offered 395 hp and 406 lb-ft. The new V8 engine delivered 518 hp and 461 lb-ft, propelling the Defender 90 from 0 to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds. All Defender models featured a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer case. The V8 model included an electronic active rear differential, Dynamic drive mode, and unique suspension tuning for sportier handling. The Defender provided a comfortable on-road experience and impressive off-road capabilities, with a maximum towing capacity of 8,201 pounds.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 was available in six-seat or seven-seat configurations, with headroom and legroom in all three rows being average for the segment. The third row was tight for adults, and the seats in the second and third rows lacked support. The interior featured a power moonroof, four-zone climate control, and 10-way power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats with backrest massage. However, storage space was limited, and cargo capacity was near the bottom of the segment, 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 the second and third rows folded.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats, with the Defender 90's rear seats being surprisingly comfortable but challenging to access. The Defender 110 model provided more versatility, with two-row and three-row configurations. Three-row models had 11.4 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats in place, 35.4 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 70.4 cubic feet with the second row folded. Two-row versions offered 18.1 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 51.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The interior design emphasized functionality, with a large caged storage space, a spacious center-console storage bin, and optional refrigeration. Land Rover also offered optional roof racks and cargo boxes for additional storage.

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 user-friendly, with a portrait-oriented touchscreen that allowed for easy navigation. However, the amount of text and typeface made reading some menus difficult while driving, and the wireless charging pad was too small for most phones. The XC90 also offered a 19-speaker Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system and a head-up display.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender came with the Pivi Pro infotainment system, including a 10-inch central touchscreen and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster was standard on all trims except the base model, with an 11.4-inch touchscreen newly available for 2022. The interface was user-friendly, with good graphics and menu layouts, but the screen required a strong touch to respond. Optional features included a 14-speaker Meridian audio system, head-up display, and a surround-view camera system, which was particularly useful for off-roading.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 received the highest "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the 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 NHTSA awarded the XC90 a five-star overall safety rating. The XC90 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.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender included standard driver-assist tech such as lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, and traffic-sign recognition. Blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control were optional. The IIHS and NHTSA had not published safety ratings for the Defender, which was not unusual for luxury vehicles.