2021 Volvo XC40 vs 2020 Buick Encore GX

The 2020 Buick Encore GX was slightly larger than its predecessor, the Encore, with increased dimensions in length, width, height, and wheelbase. Buick invested considerable effort into revising the exterior styling, resulting in a more mature and complete appearance. The GX featured a larger grille, revised headlights and taillights, and a reworked rear end. Inside, the cabin offered a higher level of care, style, and fit and finish compared to the smaller Encore, though it wasn't as upscale as the Mazda CX-30. The interior felt nicer than the Hyundai Kona, making it a pleasant place to sit.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 had a more traditional SUV styling with a tall, flat roof and upright rear hatch, fitting well with the rest of the Volvo lineup. It featured "Thor’s Hammer" LED headlights and a simple oval grille. The XC40 Recharge, the electric variant, had a blanked-off grille, subtle "Recharge" badging, and model-specific alloy wheels. The interior was minimalist yet premium, with real metal trim and a combination of Nappa leather and Nubuck textile upholstery. The design was coherent, with elements like the portrait-oriented touchscreen and air vents melding together seamlessly.

The 2020 Buick Encore GX came standard with a 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) for the front-wheel-drive (FWD) model. The test model featured a 1.3-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine with 155 hp and 174 lb-ft of torque, sent through a CVT to the front wheels. This engine was also available with all-wheel drive (AWD), which came with a nine-speed automatic transmission and reduced torque to 162 lb-ft. The 1.3-liter engine provided solid power but felt underwhelming at low speeds. Despite occasional engine vibrations, the overall driving experience was smooth, with responsive steering and a well-weighted suspension.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 offered a three-tiered powertrain lineup, with the electric Recharge at the top. The gasoline options included a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base FWD T4 had 187 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, while the AWD T5 had 248 hp and 258 lb-ft. The Recharge model shared its powertrain with the Polestar 2, featuring one electric motor per axle for AWD, producing a combined 402 hp and 486 lb-ft. The Recharge had a 78-kilowatt-hour battery pack, with 75 kWh of usable capacity. Volvo quoted zero to 60 mph times of 4.7 seconds for the Recharge, 6.1 seconds for the T5, and 8.1 seconds for the T4. The XC40 emphasized quiet and comfort, with excellent ride quality even on rough roads.

The 2020 Buick Encore GX offered increased space in the rear seats and cargo area compared to the standard Encore. It had 23.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 50.2 cubic feet with the seats folded. The added rear legroom allowed for easier folding of the rear seats, and the rear load floor could be lowered for more space. The front cabin featured a redesigned shifter and cup holders, creating additional trays and cubby space. The in-door cubbies were deep, and the center console compartment was spacious.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge had no difference in passenger or cargo space compared to the gasoline models. However, it had less legroom and headroom than competitors like the Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach-E. The cargo area was also smaller, and the frunk was limited in size due to powertrain hardware. The gasoline XC40 was more competitive in interior space compared to rivals like the Audi Q3 and BMW X1. Volvo compensated for the lack of space with clever storage solutions, including a removable trash bin in the center console, a bag hook in the glovebox door, and extra-large door bins. The storage cubby ahead of the shifter was well-shaped to hold a phone, with an optional wireless charging pad and a standard USB-C port.

The 2020 Buick Encore GX came standard with GM’s latest touchscreen infotainment system, featuring an intuitive layout, crisp graphics, and responsive performance. The system allowed for customization of the main menu and included Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Optional features included a wireless charging pad, navigation, and a rear camera mirror. The available head-up display (HUD) projected information via a small plastic display that deployed from the dash, offering a cost-effective alternative to windshield projection.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge featured the Android Automotive OS infotainment system, introduced on the Polestar 2. This system used Google apps, including Google Assistant and Google Maps, and allowed Android phone users to sync their personal Google accounts. The system included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity, with a 9-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The Recharge also had OTA update capability, allowing for updates to any vehicle function controlled by software. The Recharge lacked a start button, instead allowing the driver to shift out of park with the key fob on their person.

The 2020 Buick Encore GX came standard with forward-collision alert, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, pedestrian detection, and a following distance indicator. It also included the Teen Driver System, which allowed for speed and volume limitations for a secondary set of keys. Optional safety features included blind-spot monitoring with lane change alert and rear cross-traffic alert. The test model featured a surround-view camera system with high-quality cameras and a high-resolution display, providing clear images for parking and maneuvering.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 received the highest "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA. The electric XC40 Recharge had not been rated, but Volvo expected it to perform well in crash tests due to a safety cage around the battery and a redesigned front crash structure. The XC40 came with a long list of standard safety features, including lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, rear parking sensors, hill-start assist, and hill-descent control. Optional features included traffic-sign recognition, reverse automatic emergency braking, a driver-alertness monitor, run-off road mitigation, oncoming lane mitigation, and Volvo’s Pilot Assist driver-assistance system. The Recharge model also had Volvo’s latest sensor suite, capable of future updates for more advanced driver aids.