2022 Volvo XC90 vs 2022 Cadillac Escalade

Volvo had come a long way from its boxy cars and wagons of the past decades. The brand maintained its family-friendly, safety-oriented image while moving upscale, nearing the luxury class. After Ford sold Volvo to China's Zhejiang Geely Holding in 2010, the company underwent a significant transformation, developing new vehicle platforms from scratch. The original XC90, launched in 2003, received updates until 2015. The 2016 model marked the debut of the current XC90, Volvo's flagship SUV, built on the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform.

The 2022 XC90 had a striking stance and sleek profile, with a body that seemed ready to launch forward. Its long roofline and pronounced wheel arches emphasized athleticism, while the snub nose and upright grille paid homage to classic Volvo designs. The interior, described as "Scandinavian Modern" and "Swedish Luxury," featured natural wood and metal trim, with exquisite details like a sliding wood tambor cover and a clear crystal gear selector handle. Volvo's commitment to going leather-free by 2030 was evident, though Nappa leather was still available for those who preferred it.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade made a bold first impression with its unapologetic size. The grille, LED daytime running lights, and taillights were scaled to match its massive proportions, with the taillights reminiscent of classic Cadillac tailfins. The front end, with its tall hood and vertical running lights, looked more like a diesel locomotive than a car. The various styling elements emphasized the vehicle's bulk, with 22-inch wheels appearing small against the vast sheet metal.

The Escalade followed Cadillac's pattern of offering different trim pieces for "sport" and "luxury" models. The Luxury and Premium Luxury trims featured bright exterior trim and wheels, while the Sport trim had darkened trim, including a mesh grille. Built on the same body-on-frame architecture as other GM full-size SUVs, the Escalade shared its underpinnings with the Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, and GMC Yukon, as well as the Chevy Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500. Despite its truck-like foundation, the Escalade aimed to deliver a luxury experience, though it lacked a cohesive interior design theme.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 offered three powertrain options. The T5 model featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter gasoline four-cylinder engine, producing 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The T6 model had a supercharged and turbocharged version of the same engine, delivering 316 hp and 295 lb-ft. The T8 model combined a supercharged/turbocharged gasoline engine with an electric motor, producing a combined 455 hp and 523 lb-ft of torque. The T5 models were front-wheel drive (FWD) with available all-wheel drive (AWD), while the T6 and T8 models were AWD only. All XC90 models used a conventional eight-speed automatic transmission.

The XC90 engines required Premium (91-octane) gasoline. The EPA estimated the T5 FWD models to achieve 21 mpg city/30 mpg highway/25 mpg combined, while the T5 AWD models were rated at 20 mpg city/28 mpg highway/23 mpg combined. The T6 AWD models achieved 19 mpg city/27 mpg highway/22 mpg combined. The T8 model had a 27 mpg combined rating on gas and 55 MPGe with an 18-mile EV range. The extended-range variant had a 26 mpg combined gasoline rating, a 66 MPGe rating, and an EV range of up to 36 miles. Charging the battery from empty to fully charged took about five hours at 240 volts (Level 2).

The XC90 delivered a superb driving experience, handling like a smaller SUV despite its size. Body roll was minimal and controlled. The T8 Inscription extended range model provided spirited acceleration, with the electric motor delivering torque early and smoothing out power delivery. While not a hot rod, the XC90 was fun to drive.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade offered two powertrain choices. The standard 6.2-liter gasoline V8 produced 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. The optional Duramax 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six diesel engine, available for $100, produced 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and standard rear-wheel-drive (RWD) or optional four-wheel-drive (4WD) drivetrains. A 2023 Cadillac Escalade-V performance model was available, featuring a 682-hp 6.2-liter supercharged V8.

The Escalade diesel, despite its lower horsepower compared to the V8, provided smooth power delivery and impressive torque at low RPMs, making it easy to pull away from a stop. However, the brake pedal felt very hard, which didn't inspire much confidence. The gasoline engine had a maximum towing capacity of 8,200 pounds, slightly more than the diesel's 8,100 pounds, but both fell short of the Lincoln Navigator's 8,700-pound capacity.

The Escalade's ride was unsettled, with the body never feeling fully settled and vibrations from pavement imperfections affecting the cabin. Despite its independent rear suspension and available air suspension and Magnetic Ride Control dampers, the Escalade's ride quality was less comfortable than unibody SUVs like the BMW X7, Mercedes-Benz GLS, and Range Rover, as well as the truck-like Lincoln Navigator and Grand Wagoneer.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 was available in six-passenger and seven-passenger configurations, with the option of captain's chairs or three-across seating in the second row. The third row was accessible with a one-handed slide and fold of the second row, though it was more suitable for children than adults due to limited legroom and thigh support. The XC90 offered 15.9 cubic feet of luggage space behind the third row, 41.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and up to 85.7 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded. It could tow between 4,000 and 5,000 pounds, depending on the configuration and powertrain.

The XC90's interior was well-utilized, with ample storage space in door pockets, seat back pockets, console storage, and a large glove compartment. The cabin was airy and spacious, enhanced by the standard laminated panoramic moonroof. The air-conditioning system performed well during a heat wave, providing a comfortable sanctuary from the weather.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade shared its body shell and chassis with the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon, while the extended Escalade ESV was related to the Chevrolet Suburban and GMC Yukon XL. The standard Escalade measured 211.9 inches long, while the ESV was 15.1 inches longer at 227 inches. This platform sharing resulted in a cavernous cabin, offering the most first-row and third-row legroom among full-size luxury SUVs. Second-row captain’s chairs and a 60/40 power split-folding third-row bench seat were standard, with a power-folding 60/40 bench seat available as a no-cost option.

The Escalade excelled in cargo space, offering 25.5 cubic feet with all seats in place, 63.0 cubic feet with the third-row seats folded, and 109.1 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. However, the raised center console provided limited storage space, and the 12-way power adjustable front seats with massage and lumbar support felt like they could have come from one of the Escalade’s GM cousins. Cadillac did include dedicated buttons for seat heating and ventilation, and large sun visors for the expansive side-window glass.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 featured the Sensus infotainment system, which offered tablet-like functionality with familiar gestures like pinch, pull, and swipe. However, the system in the test car was glitchy and slow to respond, performing better when connected to an iPhone 11 Pro using Apple CarPlay. The nine-inch diagonal, portrait-oriented touchscreen was mounted in the top portion of the center stack, close to the driver's line of sight. A 12.3-inch digital instrument panel offered easy configuration and crisp graphics. The $1,650 Advanced package included a head-up display, a 360-degree surround view camera system, and an advanced air cleaner.

The XC90 came with standard Harman Kardon Premium Sound, with a $3,200 Bowers & Wilkins upgrade available for audiophiles. The vehicle included two front USB-A ports, two rear USB-C ports, a WiFi hotspot with a complimentary trial subscription, and the Volvo Care smartphone app, which provided remote lock/unlock function and other vehicle controls for four years.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade boasted a 38-inch curved OLED display, consisting of three screens: a 14.2-inch digital instrument cluster, a 16.9-inch touchscreen, and a 7.2-inch screen for trip-computer functions. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as Bluetooth connectivity, were standard. The display was well-integrated into the dashboard, with icons arranged to fit its shape. Cadillac retained physical toggles for climate control and other important functions.

However, the carousel format for changing radio stations was awkward to use while driving, and the rotary controller seemed like an afterthought. The Escalade's OLED screens provided unparalleled resolution for the standard 360-degree camera system, and the rearview camera mirror eliminated blind spots from the rear seats or pillars. The Escalade also offered a head-up display, night vision, and augmented-reality navigation. A 19-speaker AKG Studio sound system was standard, though it was difficult to tune properly.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 continued Volvo's commitment to safety, featuring blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, parking assist front and rear, rain-sensing wipers with integrated washers, slippery road alert, lane-keeping aid, adaptive cruise control, oncoming lane mitigation, and road-sign recognition. Volvo's Pilot Assist system combined several safety features to keep the car in its lane, at a set speed and/or following distance, with minimal driver intervention on highways. The XC90 received the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ designation and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade included standard driver-assist tech such as adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking (front and rear), front and rear park assist, lane-keep assist, and lane-departure warning. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard on Premium Luxury and higher trims, with trailer blind-spot monitoring standard on Premium Luxury Platinum trims and above. Super Cruise, a $2,500 option on most trims, offered hands-free driving on pre-mapped highways, with a driver-facing camera to ensure safety.

While the Escalade could avoid some crashes, the IIHS and NHTSA did not publish safety ratings for this model year.