2022 Volvo XC60 vs 2022 Honda Odyssey

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was often recommended for families due to its practical design and features. Its sliding side doors made it easy to load toddlers into rear-facing child safety seats, even in tight parking spaces. The minivan also offered a comfortable third-row seat, ample cargo space, and a stylish design, especially in the Elite trim with dark gray 19-inch aluminum wheels. The interior featured quality materials, a low console, and a user-friendly center stack, although the switchgear placement seemed haphazard at first.

In contrast, the 2022 Volvo XC60 received subtle styling updates, including a new front fascia with "air blades," a hidden rear bumper, and new wheel designs. The interior remained largely unchanged, maintaining a clean design with a portrait-oriented touchscreen and minimal clutter. The B6 R-Design trim added some flair with aluminum mesh speaker grilles and textured seats, but overall, the interior felt subdued compared to other Volvo models. The XC60 Inscription trim offered Nappa leather upholstery and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

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. It was front-wheel drive only, with an EPA fuel economy estimate of 22 mpg in combined driving. During a test drive in Southern California, the Odyssey averaged 22.6 mpg. While the Odyssey was quick and responsive, its brakes tended to overheat on long descents, leading to pedal vibration and an audible grumble.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 introduced new B5 and B6 mild-hybrid powertrains, replacing the previous T5 and T6 powertrains. The B5 produced 258 hp and 247 lb-ft of torque, while the B6 offered 295 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. Both used an eight-speed automatic transmission, with the B5 available in FWD or AWD and the B6 in AWD only. The B6 XC60 R-Design felt smooth and quick, with a 0-60 mph time of 5.9 seconds. The XC60 emphasized a quiet cabin and comfortable ride, enhanced by an optional air suspension. The XC60 Recharge plug-in hybrid offered 400 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque, with a 0-60 mph time of 5 seconds, while the Polestar Engineered version increased output to 415 hp and 494 lb-ft, with a 0-60 mph time of 4.9 seconds.

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. Storage space was impressive, with numerous compartments and a handy floor tray. The second-row Magic Slide seats allowed for flexible configurations, and the third-row seat was comfortable for adults. The Odyssey offered 32.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 88.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 144.9 cubic feet with the second-row seats removed.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 maintained competitive passenger space, with above-average front-seat headroom but limited rear-seat headroom. Legroom was average for the segment. The mild-hybrid models offered 21.6 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 49.8 cubic feet with the seats down, while the plug-in hybrid models had slightly less space. The XC60 provided a commanding driving position with good visibility, despite the somewhat pinched roofline.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey Elite was packed with technology, including an 8-inch touchscreen, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Touring trim added navigation and HondaLink connected services. CabinWatch and CabinTalk technology allowed the driver to monitor and communicate with rear-seat passengers. The rear-seat entertainment system included a 10.2-inch display, but it felt outdated. The Elite trim added an 11-speaker premium audio system and a wireless charging pad. However, the infotainment system was underwhelming, with a small screen and limited voice command functionality.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 received a tech overhaul with a 9-inch touchscreen running the Android Automotive operating system, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Bluetooth, and a built-in WiFi hotspot. Android-specific features included Google Assistant for voice control and Google Maps for navigation. The system also supported over-the-air software updates. While the system was compatible with iPhones, it offered more functionality for Android users. The digital instrument cluster could display a map, and the new layout made good use of the screen space.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey came standard with Honda Sensing, which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. It also had automatic high-beam headlights and a rear-seat reminder system. However, the safety features lacked refinement and could respond too sharply. The Odyssey earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but the 2021 model received top ratings. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, automatic post-collision braking, a driver-attention monitor, traffic-sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. New features for 2022 included Ready to Drive Notification and Emergency Stop Assist. The optional Pilot Assist system combined adaptive cruise control and automated lane centering.