2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs 2021 Volvo XC90

The 2021 Volvo XC90 marked a significant shift in Volvo's design philosophy, moving away from its traditionally conservative styling. This model retained the brand's signature boxy profile and rectangular grille but introduced softer lines and more chrome detailing, giving it a more modern and distinctive appearance. The LED headlights, known as "Thor’s Hammer," added a unique touch to the vehicle's front end. The XC90 was available in various trims, with the Inscription model featuring extra chrome trim and optional 21-inch alloy wheels, making it the most visually striking of the lineup. Inside, the XC90 embraced "Swedish minimalism," offering a clean and thoughtfully arranged interior with high-quality materials like matte-finish wood trim and optional wool upholstery. The Orrefors crystal shifter added a touch of luxury, although it seemed slightly out of place in the otherwise understated cabin.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, in its second generation since 2014, continued to impress with its refreshed design from 2018. This refresh included the introduction of a dual-screen center console, a defining feature of Land Rover interiors. The Range Rover Sport offered a variety of trims, each with its own set of features, from the base SE with leather upholstery and dual-zone climate control to the high-performance SVR with a powerful V8 engine and sport seats. The interior was characterized by its dual-screen setup, which controlled climate and vehicle settings on the lower screen and infotainment on the upper screen. While the system had a learning curve, it offered a range of functions, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Range Rover Sport's interior combined luxury with functionality, providing ample space and comfort for passengers.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 offered three powertrains, all centered around a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base T5 model featured a turbocharged engine producing 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, with front-wheel drive standard and all-wheel drive optional. The T6 variant added a supercharger, boosting output to 316 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, with all-wheel drive as standard. The T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid, also known as Recharge, combined the T6 engine with electric assist, delivering a total of 400 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque. Despite the impressive power figures, the XC90's small engine struggled to provide the flexibility of larger engines found in competitors. The XC90 excelled in ride quality, thanks to its optional air-suspension system, and offered a quiet cabin. It had a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds, although the base T5 was limited to 4,000 pounds.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport boasted a range of powertrain options, starting with the base P360 mild-hybrid system, which combined a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six with a 48-volt electrical system, producing 355 horsepower and 365 pound-feet of torque. The HST model featured the P400 powertrain, delivering 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The HSE Silver Edition offered a plug-in hybrid option with 398 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque, as well as a diesel variant with 254 hp and 443 lb-ft. The HSE Dynamic and Autobiography trims came with a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 engine, generating 518 hp and 461 lb-ft, while the SVR and SVR Carbon Edition models boasted an even more powerful version with 575 hp and 516 lb-ft. All models featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time four-wheel drive. The Range Rover Sport excelled in off-road capabilities, thanks to its height-adjustable air suspension and Terrain Response system, and offered impressive towing capacities of up to 7,716 pounds.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 was available in six-seat or seven-seat configurations, with the option of second-row captain’s chairs or a bench seat. While headroom and legroom were average for the segment, the third row was tight for adults, and the seats lacked support. The interior felt spacious, thanks to an optional power moonroof and the vehicle's upright roof profile. The XC90 offered standard four-zone climate control and an optional air filtration system. Up front, the Inscription model featured 10-way power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats with massage, but lacked a power-adjustable steering wheel. Cargo space was limited, with 11.2 cubic feet behind the third row, 34.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, and 64.1 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded. A hands-free power tailgate was available.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport provided a maximum of 63.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 31.7 cubic feet with the second row in use. An optional third row increased seating capacity to seven, but offered only 10.8 cubic feet of cargo space when in use. The first and second rows provided ample headroom and legroom, while the third row was best suited for children. The Range Rover Sport's interior combined space with luxury, offering a comfortable and well-appointed environment for passengers.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 featured the Sensus infotainment system, which emphasized simplicity and functionality. It came standard with a 9-inch touchscreen, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, Bluetooth, and a built-in WiFi hotspot. The system included two front USB-A ports and two rear USB-C ports. A 19-speaker Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system and head-up display were available. The portrait-oriented touchscreen was user-friendly, although the text and typeface could be difficult to read while driving. The wireless charging pad was a welcome addition, but its size limited compatibility with larger phones.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport's interior was dominated by a dual-screen center console. The lower screen controlled climate and vehicle settings, while the upper screen housed the infotainment system. Although the system had a learning curve, it offered a range of functions, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The lower screen featured multifunction dials for controlling various settings, while the upper screen had simplified icons for easy navigation. The system included a real volume button, though its placement was less convenient. Overall, the infotainment system required some acclimation but offered a comprehensive set of features.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 received the highest "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS for non-hybrid models, with top "Good" scores in all crash tests and a "Superior" rating for front-crash prevention in vehicle-to-vehicle testing. The NHTSA awarded all XC90 models a five-star overall safety rating. The XC90 offered a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including lane-keep assist, driver-attention monitor, traffic-sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency braking, and Volvo's Pilot Assist driver aid. Pilot Assist was praised for its smoothness and quick reactions, although it had limitations in handling highway curves.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport came with a decent list of standard driver assistance features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and front-and-rear parking sensors. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, surround-view parking camera, traffic sign recognition, driver drowsiness monitoring, and park assist. A head-up display was also available.