2022 Porsche Macan vs 2022 Volvo XC90

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 recalled the classic 245 wagon's upright grille. The interior, described as "Scandinavian Modern" and "Swedish Luxury," featured natural wood and metal trim, a sliding wood tambor cover on the center console, and a clear crystal gear selector handle. Volvo offered both Nappa leather and a tailored wool blend upholstery, with our test car featuring leather seats, which proved beneficial during a week of high temperatures and humidity.

Porsche introduced the Macan in 2015, aiming to expand its sales with a smaller, more affordable SUV below the Cayenne. Eight years later, the Macan remained nearly indistinguishable from the original, despite regular updates to the model lineup, styling details, wheel designs, and paint colors. The 2022 Macan received another styling refresh, larger standard wheels, seven new wheel designs, and a new center console with haptic touch controls and increased storage space. Every model had more power and standard equipment.

Our evaluation vehicle was a Macan S with extra equipment, bringing the as-tested MSRP to $87,670, including the $1,450 destination charge. The nearly $20,000 in extras included nicer paint and wheels, four option packages, and performance upgrades to the drivetrain, suspension, brakes, and tires. The Macan S, with its Volcano Gray paint and 21-inch RS Spyder Design wheels, looked terrific. Its sloping clamshell hood, swollen haunches, and rakish roofline conveyed a taut, athletic look. Inside, the Macan drew upon other Porsches with its ignition switch to the left of the steering wheel, large tachometer centered within the gauge cluster, flat and wide dashboard, and center console housing most of the secondary controls. The cabin, with red leather, gloss black interior trim, and silver metallic accents, had an undeniably upscale, sporty, and purposeful appearance.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 offered three powertrains. T5 models used a turbocharged 2.0-liter gasoline four-cylinder engine, producing 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. T6 models featured a supercharged and turbocharged version of the same engine, delivering 316 hp and 295 lb-ft. The T8 had a plug-in hybrid powertrain with a supercharged/turbocharged gasoline four-cylinder engine and an electric motor, or a turbo gas engine and an electric motor in the extended-range model, combining for 455 hp and 523 lb-ft of torque. T5 models were front-wheel drive (FWD) with available all-wheel drive (AWD), while 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 T5 FWD models to achieve 21 mpg city/30 mpg highway/25 mpg combined, and T5 AWD models at 20 mpg city/28 mpg highway/23 mpg combined. T6 AWD models were rated at 19 mpg city/27 mpg highway/22 mpg combined. The T8 received a 27 mpg combined rating on gas and 55 MPGe with an 18-mile EV range. The extended range variant achieved 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).

Driving the XC90 was a superb experience. Despite its size, the SUV handled like a smaller vehicle, with minimal and controlled body roll. Our test vehicle, a top-of-the-line T8 Inscription extended range, provided spirited acceleration. The electric motor delivered torque early, eliminating turbo lag and smoothing power delivery. While not a hot rod, the XC90 was fun to drive.

The 2022 Porsche Macan offered a range of powertrains. Base Macans had a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 261 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The Macan GTS inherited the 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 from the old Macan Turbo, with 434 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. Our Macan S test car featured a new engine for 2022, the twin-turbo 2.9-liter V6 from the previous year's Macan GTS, tuned to deliver 375 hp and 383 lb-ft. According to Porsche, it accelerated to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds with the optional Sport Chrono Package and launch control.

All Macans had Porsche’s seven-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic transmission and a fully variable all-wheel-drive (AWD) system designed to send more power to the rear wheels in most circumstances. Porsche re-tuned the 2022 Macan’s steering and suspension for improved ride and handling. The Macan S also received larger 20-inch standard wheels and a newly standard Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) adaptive damping suspension. Our test vehicle included the optional Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV+) and Porsche Surface Coated Brakes (PSCB).

Driving a Macan S was exhilarating. The twin-turbo V6 supplied seemingly limitless power, the dual-clutch transmission snapped off perfectly timed shifts, and the PTV+ system enhanced cornering performance. The Macan S offered unyielding grip and stability on twisty roads, thanks to the optional 21-inch wheels and performance tires, responsive steering, and PASM adaptive damping. The upgraded brakes delivered fantastic, fade-free performance under duress. However, the as-tested fuel economy of 18.1 mpg was close to the official EPA rating of 19 mpg.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 came in six-passenger and seven-passenger configurations, with either captain's chairs and a center console or three-across seating in the second row. The third row was accessible with a one-handed slide and fold of the second row, suitable for kids but not ideal for adults due to limited legroom and thigh support. The XC90 could carry up to 15.9 cubic feet of luggage behind the third row, 41.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 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 space was well-utilized, with ample storage options and comfortable, supportive seating. The standard laminated panoramic moonroof added to the airy, spacious cabin. During our test drives in a heat wave with 90% humidity, the air-conditioning system performed excellently, cooling rapidly and maintaining comfort.

The 2022 Porsche Macan offered comfort for the driver and front-seat passenger, especially with the optional Premium Package's 14-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation. However, the rear seats were cramped, with limited legroom for taller passengers. The new steering wheels, modeled after the 911 sports car, felt a bit thin and uncomfortable after extended driving. The redesigned center console with haptic touch controls looked clean but required the driver to look away from the road to use, creating glare during the day.

The Macan's cargo space measured 17.2 cubic feet behind the back seat, expandable to 53 cubic feet with the 40/20/40-split rear seat folded. While the new console design offered more storage space, it still lacked sufficient room for two smartphones and two iced lattes.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 featured the Sensus infotainment system, with a nine-inch diagonal, portrait-oriented touchscreen interface. The system supported familiar smartphone gestures but was glitchy and slow to respond. It worked better with Apple CarPlay, and the XC90 also supported Android Auto. The 12.3-inch digital instrument panel offered easy configuration and customization. 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 an optional $3,200 Bowers & Wilkins upgrade. 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 for remote vehicle controls.

The 2022 Porsche Macan featured a 10.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system called Porsche Communication Management (PCM). It included wireless Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM satellite radio, a navigation system, and connected services with available WiFi hotspot access. A 10-speaker sound system was standard, with optional Bose and Burmester audio systems. The touchscreen had touch-sensing virtual buttons and proximity sensing, making the user experience intuitive, though the voice recognition system was less reliable than competitors.

Once configured, the Macan's infotainment system required minimal interaction. Stereo volume and tuning controls were separate from the touchscreen, and the climate control system was also independent, providing easy access to frequently adjusted features.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 continued Volvo's commitment to safety, with a long list of features, including blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, parking assist, rain-sensing wipers, slippery road alert, lane-keeping aid, adaptive cruise control, oncoming lane mitigation, and road-sign recognition. The Pilot Assist system combined several features for highway driving with minimal driver intervention. The XC90 received the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ designation and a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA.

The 2022 Porsche Macan included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and a reversing camera. Blind-spot monitoring and lane-keeping assist were optional, with blind-spot monitoring included in our test vehicle's Premium Package. The Macan also offered a surround-view camera and optional Park Assist system. However, the Macan lacked more advanced driving assistance tech available in the larger Porsche Cayenne. Neither NHTSA nor IIHS had published safety ratings for the Macan.