2022 Subaru Ascent vs 2021 Volvo XC90

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 maintained a boxy profile and a blunt front end with a rectangular grille, but the details made all the difference. Softer lines, increased chrome, and distinctive LED headlights with “Thor’s Hammer” daytime running lights added a modern touch. The Inscription trim, with extra chrome 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. Inside, the XC90 embraced “Swedish minimalism” with thoughtfully arranged, high-quality materials. Matte-finish wood trim and optional wool upholstery provided a unique, natural feel, complemented by an Orrefors crystal shifter in the Inscription trim.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent introduced the Onyx Edition trim, featuring a blacked-out exterior trim and badges, black 20-inch aluminum wheels, and unique grille design. This trim level aimed to give the Ascent a sporty appearance. The Onyx Edition also included water-repellant StarTex synthetic leather seats, priced at $37,995, with an optional package adding a panoramic moonroof, navigation system, and cargo cover for an additional $2,000. The interior featured a gray two-tone scheme with light gray stitching and metallic trim on the dashboard and door panels. However, the StarTex material tended to trap sweat, making it less comfortable on hot days. The Ascent's design aimed to balance practicality with a sporty look, appealing to a younger demographic.

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 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 small engine struggled to provide flexible performance, especially in the plug-in hybrid model. The XC90 excelled in ride quality, thanks to an optional air-suspension system, and offered a quiet cabin. It had a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds, except for the base FWD T5, which was rated at 4,000 pounds.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent featured a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. It came standard with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and all-wheel drive. The Ascent achieved an EPA fuel-economy rating of 22 mpg combined, with our testing loop averaging 20.5 mpg. The flat-four engine layout provided a lower center of gravity, improving handling. The CVT offered eight programmed ratios and manual shift control, enhancing the driving experience. The Ascent could tow up to 5,000 pounds and featured Subaru’s X-Mode off-road traction control system, hill descent control, and 8.7 inches of ground clearance. The Ascent felt nimble and maneuverable in urban settings, though its braking response could be overly sensitive. On highways, the lane-keeping and lane-centering assistance technologies could feel unstable, but turning them off improved the driving experience.

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, with the third row being tight for adults. The seats in the second and third rows felt hard and 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 lacked a power-adjustable steering wheel. Storage space was limited, with a shallow center console storage bin. Cargo space 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 Subaru Ascent could carry up to eight people with a second-row bench seat, though the third row was best suited for children. The Ascent Onyx Edition featured water-resistant seat material, triple-zone climate control, heated front seats, heated side mirrors, and a wiper de-icer. Loading the second-row seat was easy, thanks to wide rear doors that opened nearly 90 degrees. Captain’s chairs were available, and the panoramic sunroof extended over the second-row seats. The Ascent provided ample storage, including a useful shelf running the width of the dashboard. Cargo capacity was 17.8 cubic feet behind the third row, 47.5 cubic feet behind the second row, and 86.5 cubic feet with both rows folded. Versions with the panoramic sunroof had slightly less 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. It also had two front USB-A ports and two rear USB-C ports. A 19-speaker Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system and head-up display were available. The portrait-oriented touchscreen was user-friendly, though 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 Subaru Ascent came with a standard 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, HD Radio, and satellite radio. The Premium trim added an 8-inch display with Starlink connected services, including a WiFi hotspot and remote engine starting with climate control pre-conditioning. Both systems included volume and tuning knobs and shortcut buttons. The voice recognition technology needed improvement, requiring specific commands to function properly. The Onyx Edition used standard stereo speakers, which lacked sonic quality. Additional technology features for the Touring trim included a digital rearview mirror and a 180-degree-view front camera.

The 2021 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 in vehicle-to-vehicle testing, with an “Advanced” rating in vehicle-to-pedestrian testing. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave all XC90 models a five-star overall safety rating. The XC90 offered numerous 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 Subaru Ascent also received a "Top Safety Pick+" award from the IIHS and five-star crash-test ratings from the NHTSA, except for a four-star rating in rollover resistance. The Ascent came standard with Subaru’s EyeSight driver-assistance tech, including adaptive cruise control with lane-centering technology. However, EyeSight struggled in direct sunlight and lacked refinement in adaptive cruise control and lane-centering functions. Additional safety features included steering responsive LED headlights with automatic high-beam assist, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was available from the Premium trim level.