2020 Ford Escape vs 2021 Volvo XC90

The 2020 Ford Escape was a striking compact crossover, boasting a large grille reminiscent of the outgoing Fiesta and Focus hatchbacks, with headlights inspired by the Ford GT supercar. Its design was more curvaceous than its predecessor, which had a more upright rear end. Despite this change, the Escape remained one of the most attractive small SUVs on the market, trailing only behind the Mazda CX-5 and Jeep Cherokee. Inside, the Escape featured a modern cabin with a forward-looking design that retained essential controls. The test model included a fully digital instrument panel, a floating infotainment screen, and a sleek, contemporary design.

In contrast, the 2021 Volvo XC90 successfully reshaped Volvo's image with its design, maintaining traditional styling features like a boxy profile and a blunt front end with a rectangular grille. The XC90 added character with softer lines, more chrome, and distinctive LED headlights with “Thor’s Hammer” daytime running lights. The Inscription test car was the flashiest of the XC90 trims, featuring extra chrome trim and optional 21-inch alloy wheels. The XC90's interior embraced Swedish minimalism, offering thoughtfully arranged, high-quality materials. The matte-finish wood trim and optional wool upholstery added a unique touch, while the Orrefors crystal shifter provided a high-end feel.

The 2020 Ford Escape offered a diverse range of engine options, including a new three-cylinder engine producing 180 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque, standard in the S, SE, and SEL trims. The 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, available on the SEL and standard on the Titanium, delivered 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque, providing brisk acceleration. The Escape also featured two hybrid setups, with the 2.5-litre 4-cylinder engine hybrid producing 198 horsepower. The plug-in hybrid model was optional on the SE, SEL, and Titanium trims. The Escape's steering was direct and taut, offering an athletic feel, while the hybrid version was the most fuel-efficient, with consumption figures of 5.4 litres per 100 kilometres in the city.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 featured three powertrains based on a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base T5 engine was turbocharged, producing 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The T6 engine was both turbo- and supercharged, increasing output to 316 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid powertrain combined the T6 engine with electric assist, delivering 400 horsepower and 472 pound-feet of torque. The XC90 offered three drive modes—Pure, Hybrid, and Power—but struggled to accelerate on electric power alone. Despite this, the XC90 excelled in luxury, with excellent ride quality and a quiet cabin, although it wasn't tuned for sporty handling.

The 2020 Ford Escape's sleeker design resulted in reduced cargo space, offering 974 litres behind the second row and up to 1,852 litres with the rear seats folded. This was less than the outgoing model and competitors like the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester. However, the Escape prioritized passenger space, providing ample headroom and legroom for second-row passengers, along with commanding seating positions for the front occupants. The interior featured numerous storage solutions, including deep water-bottle holders and multiple trays and compartments.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 was available in six-seat or seven-seat configurations, with headroom and legroom in all three rows being 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 sunroof and the XC90's upright roof profile. The Inscription test car featured 10-way power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats with backrest massage, but storage space was limited. Cargo space was near the bottom of the segment, with 317 litres with all seats in place, 965 litres with the rear seats folded, and 1,815 litres with the second and third rows folded.

The 2020 Ford Escape's base trim featured a small 4.2-inch audio control screen, while the SE trim upgraded to an 8-inch Sync touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The Titanium trim included a head-up display (HUD) with a flip-up screen, which was less effective for taller drivers. The latest version of Sync allowed for multitasking, enhancing the user experience.

The 2021 Volvo XC90's Sensus infotainment system featured a 9-inch touchscreen, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility. The portrait-oriented touchscreen was user-friendly, although the text and typeface made reading some menus difficult while driving. The XC90 also offered a 19-speaker Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system and a head-up display. However, the wireless charging pad was too small for most phones, and the second-row USB-C ports limited charging options for newer phones.

The 2020 Ford Escape came with a comprehensive array of safety features, including front- and side-impact airbags, a reversing camera, traction control, and a tire-pressure-monitoring system. It earned the best overall score of Good from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) in all phases of testing. The Escape also featured Ford Co-Pilot360, a suite of advanced safety systems, including forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert.

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. It also received a “Superior” rating for front-crash prevention tech in vehicle-to-vehicle testing and an “Advanced” rating in vehicle-to-pedestrian testing. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded all XC90 models a five-star overall safety rating. The XC90 offered a comprehensive list of standard safety features, including lane-keep assist, lane departure warning, a driver-attention monitor, traffic-sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control.