2022 Toyota Highlander vs 2022 Volvo XC60

Volvo made subtle styling changes to the 2022 XC60, including a new front fascia with "air blades" for a sportier look and a rear bumper that hides the tailpipes. The front grille was reworked to house sensors for driver-assist systems behind a heated Volvo logo. The interior remained largely unchanged, featuring a clean design with a portrait-oriented touchscreen and minimal clutter. The B6 R-Design test car had aluminum mesh speaker grilles and textured seats, adding some flair, while the Inscription trim offered Nappa leather upholstery and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander had a modern, somewhat aggressive front-end design with flared fender arches and a third-row window that kicked up slightly. Inside, it offered tons of cabin space and clever storage solutions. The XSE trim featured bold red leather upholstery, unique exterior styling, ambient interior lighting, and a sport-tuned suspension. The Highlander came in multiple trims, each adding more features, from the base L with its 8-inch touchscreen and three-zone climate control to the top-tier Platinum with adaptive headlights, a panoramic sunroof, and a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 introduced new B5 and B6 mild-hybrid powertrains, replacing the previous T5 and T6 engines. Both powertrains combined a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a 48-volt electrical system and an integrated starter generator, adding 13 horsepower in short bursts. The B6 also included an electric supercharger. The B5 produced 258 hp and 247 lb-ft of torque, while the B6 offered 295 hp and 310 lb-ft. Both used an eight-speed automatic transmission, with the B5 available in FWD or AWD and the B6 in AWD only. The B5 accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds (6.6 seconds with FWD), and the B6 in 5.9 seconds. The XC60 Recharge plug-in hybrid delivered 400 hp and 472 lb-ft, achieving 0 to 60 mph in 5 seconds, while the Polestar Engineered version increased output to 415 hp and 494 lb-ft, with a 0 to 60 mph time of 4.9 seconds.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander came with a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 295 hp and 263 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered standard FWD and optional AWD, with drive modes including Sport, Normal, and Eco, and AWD modes for Mud/Sand and Rock. The V6 provided better pickup once moving, with a throaty exhaust note during acceleration. The Highlander handled well in various scenarios, with the XSE trim's sport-tuned suspension reducing body roll while remaining soft over bumps. It could tow up to 5,000 pounds and had a max payload of 1,685 pounds in FWD L and LE trims.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 maintained its competitive passenger space, with above-average front-seat headroom but limited rear-seat headroom. Legroom was average in both rows. Cargo space was 21.6 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 49.8 cubic feet with them down for mild-hybrid models, while plug-in hybrids offered slightly less. The XC60 provided a commanding driving position with good visibility, aided by large exterior mirrors.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander offered up to 84.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the second- and third-row seats folded, 48.4 cubic feet with the second row in use, and 16 cubic feet with all seats deployed. The seats were easy to lower and lift, and trims above the base L included a power liftgate. The cockpit featured an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, deep cargo pockets, and various storage compartments. The XSE trim had second-row captain’s chairs, providing a center aisle to the third row, which was spacious for adults, though the third row was best for short trips.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 received a tech overhaul with a 9-inch touchscreen running Android Automotive, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Bluetooth, and a built-in WiFi hotspot. It included Google Assistant for voice control, Google Maps for navigation, and access to third-party apps via the Google Play Store. The system supported over-the-air updates and promised full iPhone compatibility. The digital instrument cluster could display a map or a "Calm" setting to minimize distractions.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander came standard with a WiFi hotspot, five USB ports, and an 8-inch touchscreen supporting Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. The infotainment system had a straightforward layout with hard buttons for ease of use. The XSE trim featured a wireless charging pad and additional USB ports. A larger 12.3-inch touchscreen and an 11-speaker JBL premium stereo system were available.

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.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander came standard with Toyota Safety Sense, including forward collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, and automatic high beams. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, rain-sensing windshield wipers, a surround-view monitor, a head-up display, and adaptive headlights. The lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist systems were very active, sometimes overly so.