Volvo XC60 vs Buick Envision

The 2021 Buick Envision had undergone a significant redesign after two consecutive years of facelifts. This two-row compact crossover, positioned between the smaller Encore GX and the larger Enclave, was sold exclusively in China and North America. The new Envision was lower and wider than its predecessor, boasting a more premium crossover styling that gave it a planted appearance on the street. It featured a more sculpted look compared to its cousin, the Cadillac XT4, but wasn't as sleek as the Acura RDX. The Envision came in three trim levels—Preferred, Essence, and Avenir—with the Avenir trim making its debut in this model year. The Avenir grade added several upgraded exterior elements, including a Black Ice Chrome mesh grille and 20-inch Avenir-specific pearl nickel wheels. Inside, it featured leather-appointed seating with diamond perforated leather inserts and a head-up display (HUD). The Envision also offered a Sport Touring package for the Preferred and Essence trims, which included darkened wheels and exterior accents.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 received subtle styling changes, including a new front fascia with "air blades" and a reworked front grille that moved sensors for driver-assist systems behind the heated Volvo logo. The rear bumper was redesigned to hide the tailpipes, and new wheel designs were introduced. The XC60 shared its Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform with the XC90, S90, S60, V90 Cross Country, and V60 Cross Country. The interior remained largely unchanged, retaining its clean design with a portrait-oriented touchscreen and minimal clutter. The B6 R-Design test car featured aluminum mesh speaker grilles and elaborately textured seats, adding some flair to the otherwise subdued interior. The Inscription trim level offered Nappa leather upholstery and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

The 2021 Buick Envision saw a significant change in its powertrain with the introduction of a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, replacing the previous 2.5-liter four-cylinder base engine. This new engine produced 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, a downgrade from the 252 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque of the 2020 model. Despite shedding 200 to 300 pounds depending on the trim level, the weight savings were not enough to compensate for the power loss. The Envision offered front-wheel drive (FWD) as standard, with all-wheel drive (AWD) available. The FWD models achieved an EPA-estimated 24 mpg in the city, 31 mpg on the highway, and 26 mpg combined, while the AWD versions fared slightly worse with 22 mpg in the city, 29 mpg on the highway, and 25 mpg combined. The Envision's drivability was more akin to a Lincoln, providing comfortable cruising without sporty driving dynamics. The typical GM drive mode selector allowed for a noticeable change in revs in Sport mode, but the engine and road noise permeated the cabin, making it less premium than it appeared.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 introduced new B5 and B6 mild-hybrid powertrains, replacing the previous T5 and T6 powertrains. Both powertrains combined a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a 48-volt electrical system and integrated starter generator, adding 13 horsepower in short bursts. The B6 powertrain also included an electric supercharger. The B5 produced 258 hp and 247 lb-ft of torque, while the B6 generated 295 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. Both powertrains used an eight-speed automatic transmission, with the B5 offering standard FWD or optional AWD, and the B6 available only with AWD. The B5 accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds (6.6 seconds with FWD), while the B6 achieved the same in 5.9 seconds. The XC60's standout features were its quiet cabin and comfortable ride, enhanced by the optional air suspension. Volvo also offered an XC60 plug-in hybrid with a combined output of 400 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque, achieving zero to 60 mph in 5 seconds. The Polestar Engineered version increased output to 415 hp and 494 lb-ft, with a zero to 60 mph time of 4.9 seconds.

The 2021 Buick Envision's redesign did not translate into a more functional cabin. Despite a longer wheelbase, the 2021 model had less headroom, legroom, and shoulder room in the front row, and rear-seat passengers lost two inches of legroom and nearly six inches of hip room. The cargo capacity also decreased, with 25.2 cubic feet of space behind the rear seat and 53.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The driver-centric cockpit made it difficult for the front seat passenger to use the climate controls and infotainment screen. Small-item storage was relatively good, and the Envision offered standard heated driver and front passenger seats, eight-way power-adjustable seats, and a heated steering wheel. Forward visibility was not great, especially for shorter drivers.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 remained competitive in passenger space, with above-average front-seat headroom but tied with the Audi Q5 for worst rear-seat headroom. Legroom in both rows was about average for the segment. The mild-hybrid models offered 21.6 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 49.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. Plug-in hybrid models had slightly less cargo capacity. The XC60 provided a commanding driving position with good forward and rear visibility, aided by large exterior mirrors.

The 2021 Buick Envision featured a standard 10.2-inch infotainment touchscreen, which was responsive to touch and displayed necessary functionalities cleanly. The driver could see station and song title information faster on the available 8.0-inch driver information display than on the infotainment screen. Standard features included USB ports, dual-zone automatic climate control, rearview camera, air ionizer, keyless entry, leather-wrapped steering wheel, OnStar and Buick Connected Services, remote start, two 12-volt power outlets, air quality indicator, one-touch up/down windows, wireless Apple CarPlay, and wireless Android Auto. Available features included navigation, driver massage, HD Radio, surround-view camera, HUD, a rearview camera mirror, and wireless device charging.

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. The new system included Android-specific features like Google Assistant for voice control and Google Maps for navigation. Android users could sync their profiles with the car, and the Google Play Store provided access to third-party apps. The system also enabled over-the-air (OTA) software updates. The digital instrument cluster could display a map between the speedometer and tachometer, with a "Calm" setting to minimize distraction.

The 2021 Buick Envision had not yet been rated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Standard safety features included forward-collision alert, front and rear park assist, lane change alert with blind-spot alert, lane-keep assist with lane-departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert, rear park assist, rear-seat alert, automatic emergency braking, and teen-driver monitoring. Adaptive cruise control and enhanced automatic park assist were available on Avenir models. The Envision did not have GM's Super Cruise hands-free advanced driver assist system or lane-centering technology.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 had not yet been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but the 2021 model received the IIHS's highest "Top Safety Pick+" rating and a five-star overall rating from NHTSA. 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 a Ready to Drive Notification and Emergency Stop Assist. Volvo's Pilot Assist driver-assistance system was available as part of an option package, combining adaptive cruise control and automated lane centering.