2023 Honda CR-V 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 developed new vehicle platforms from scratch, leading to today's lineup of sedans and crossover SUVs. 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 comfortable during a week of high temperatures and humidity.

The 2023 Honda CR-V adopted a cleaner, slightly meaner look with its blunt nose, long hood, and stretched wheelbase. While it lacked the personality of the previous generation, its conservative styling promised to age well. Both the CR-V EX and CR-V EX-L featured 18-inch alloy wheels and dark-tinted rear privacy glass. Inside, the EX-L version offered leather-wrapped seats, steering wheel, and shift knob, while the EX had cloth upholstery. The dashboard, modeled after the latest Civic, included metal mesh trim that incorporated the air vents.

The interior of the CR-V exuded quality and simplicity, with both trim levels featuring a digital instrumentation display. The CR-V EX-L boasted a larger touchscreen infotainment system, a power-adjustable front passenger seat, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and a power rear liftgate. Prices for the CR-V EX started at $31,110 for front-wheel drive (FWD) and rose to $35,260 for the CR-V EX-L with all-wheel drive (AWD), plus a $1,245 destination charge. Our EX-L AWD test vehicle, with Radiant Red Metallic paint and Gray leather seats, had an MSRP of $36,900.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 offered three powertrains. The T5 models featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter gasoline four-cylinder engine, producing 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The T6 models had a supercharged and turbocharged version of the same engine, delivering 316 hp and 295 lb-ft. The T8 models combined a supercharged/turbocharged gasoline engine with an electric motor, achieving a combined 455 hp and 523 lb-ft of torque. T5 models were available in FWD with optional AWD, while T6 and T8 models were AWD only. All XC90 models used an 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 had a 27 mpg combined rating on gas and 55 MPGe with an 18-mile EV range. The extended range variant offered 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 full took about five hours at 240 volts (Level 2).

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

The 2023 Honda CR-V EX and EX-L shared a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 190 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 179 pound-feet of torque between 1,700 rpm and 5,000 rpm. This engine was paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), powering either the front or all four wheels. The CVT, however, was noticeable during hard acceleration, such as merging onto freeways or climbing grades, producing a droning noise that detracted from the driving experience.

Despite the CVT's drawbacks, the CR-V was dynamically satisfying to drive, with Honda refining the suspension, steering, and brakes to near perfection. The CR-V handled speed bumps, broken pavement, and curves with ease, providing a smooth and engaging ride. The EPA estimated our test vehicle to achieve 29 mpg in combined driving, and we averaged 29.1 mpg on a mountainous evaluation route in Southern California.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 offered six-passenger and seven-passenger configurations, with captain's chairs or three-across seating in the second row. Access to the third row was easy with a one-handed slide and fold of the second row. The third row was suitable for kids but lacked legroom and thigh support for adults. 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. Towing capacity ranged from 4,000 to 5,000 pounds, depending on the configuration and powertrain.

The XC90's interior space was well-utilized, with ample storage options, comfortable seating, and a spacious cabin enhanced by a standard laminated panoramic moonroof. The air-conditioning system performed admirably during a heat wave, cooling the cabin quickly and effectively.

Honda claimed the 2023 CR-V was the roomiest yet, but the standard 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat felt relatively low, giving the SUV a car-like feel. Outward visibility was excellent, and the redesigned seats were comfortable. Heated front seats were standard, but ventilated front or heated rear seats were not available. The second row felt more spacious, with a high seating position, ample thigh support, and rear legroom. Taller passengers might find headroom limited, but adjustable seatback recline positions helped resolve this issue. Our EX-L test vehicle included rear air conditioning vents, but a USB charging port was an extra-cost accessory.

The CR-V offered plenty of storage options, including a large bin under the center armrest, door armrest trays, door panel storage bins, and a tray forward of the shifter with an available wireless charging pad. However, most storage locations were lined with hard plastic, potentially causing unwanted noise. The CR-V EX-L's cargo area, accessed via a power liftgate, provided 39.3 cubic feet of space with the rear load floor panel in its lowest position. Folding the back seat down increased cargo space to 76.5 cubic feet.

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 our test car was glitchy and slow to respond. It worked better when connected to an iPhone 11 Pro using Apple CarPlay. The nine-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen was mounted in 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, free for four years.

Every 2023 CR-V had a 7-inch digital instrumentation panel, fitting in with the SUV's user-friendly layout and controls. The EX trim featured a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with large volume and tuning knobs, clearly marked buttons, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The EX-L trim added a larger 9-inch touchscreen display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, wireless charging, and an upgraded eight-speaker sound system. However, to get a Bose premium sound system, HondaLink subscription services, and a navigation system with real-time traffic, buyers needed to opt for the top-of-the-line CR-V Sport Touring Hybrid.

While the EX-L's larger display lacked a tuning knob, the technology list was still short compared to competitors. The new infotainment systems represented a significant improvement over the previous generation, but many rivals offered more robust features at a more accessible price. Honda's tech updates brought the CR-V up to par with competitors without exceeding them.

Volvo's commitment to safety was evident in the 2022 XC90, which came with a long list of safety 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 safety features to keep the car in its lane with minimal driver intervention on highways. The 2022 XC90 received the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ designation and a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA.

The 2023 Honda CR-V featured improved driver assist systems under the Honda Sensing umbrella, including adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. Additional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, seatbelt reminder, rear-seat reminder, driver monitoring, and traffic sign recognition. New camera and radar units contributed to more accurate operation, and the Traffic Jam Assist system provided added driving assist in low-speed situations.

While the new tech met current standards, there was room for improvement, particularly with lane-centering assist. The CR-V's Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure and new front airbag designs aimed to reduce injury potential in crashes. However, the 2023 CR-V had not yet been re-tested by NHTSA or IIHS for crashworthiness.