2020 Dodge Durango vs 2021 Volvo XC40

The 2020 Dodge Durango carried its styling over from a 2014 update, with its third generation dating back to a complete redesign in 2011. The connections to the Charger muscle sedan were evident, but the Durango was based on a decade-old platform. Its cabin design was straightforward but felt somewhat dated, especially compared to the Jeep Grand Cherokee, which shared the same platform but had more significant interior updates. The Durango was in desperate need of a refresh, which was expected for the 2021 model year.

The Durango offered various trims, including SXT, GT, Citadel, R/T, and SRT. The SXT came with 18-inch wheels and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The GT added 20-inch wheels and a sport-inspired grille, while the R/T featured a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine and additional luxury features. The Citadel was the luxury trim with premium leather upholstery, and the SRT had a unique, aggressive look with performance enhancements.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 had more traditional SUV styling with a tall, flat roof and upright rear hatch. It fit nicely with the rest of the Volvo lineup, featuring “Thor’s Hammer” LED headlights and a simple oval grille. The XC40 Recharge, the electric variant, was distinguished by a blanked-off grille, subtle “Recharge” badging, and model-specific alloy wheels. It also had a gloss black roof and mirror caps, a different rear bumper, and a model-exclusive color—Sage Green Metallic.

The XC40’s interior was minimalist yet premium, with high-quality materials like 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. Unlike many competitors, Volvo did not compromise on interior design to meet a specific price point.

The 2020 Dodge Durango offered a range of engines. The SXT, GT, and Citadel came standard with a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 293 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. The R/T trim featured a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 with 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque, which was also available on the Citadel. The top-tier SRT trim had a 6.4-liter Hemi V8, branded the "392," delivering 475 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. All engines were paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, with rear-wheel drive (RWD) or available all-wheel drive (AWD) depending on the trim.

The V6 engine provided decent power, making the Durango competitive among three-row family SUVs. The 5.7-liter V8 in the R/T offered confident acceleration, while the SRT’s 392 V8 was a powerhouse, delivering strong low-end power and impressive high-speed performance. The SRT also featured a performance-tuned suspension and Brembo performance brakes, enhancing its car-like handling and minimizing body roll.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 had 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 shared its powertrain with the Polestar 2, featuring one electric motor for each axle, providing AWD and a combined 402 hp and 486 lb-ft. The 78-kilowatt-hour battery pack offered 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. All versions were electronically limited to 112 mph. The Recharge emphasized quiet and comfort over speed, with excellent ride quality even on rough roads. It also featured one-pedal driving using regenerative braking and had a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds when properly equipped.

The 2020 Dodge Durango provided 17.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 47.7 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 84.5 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded. This was comparable to the Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot. The Durango’s towing capacity ranged from 6,200 pounds to 8,700 pounds, depending on the configuration. The cabin offered plenty of space, with comfortable front seats and a second row that could be configured with a bench or captain's chairs. The third row was more cramped and best suited for children.

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 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 with clever storage solutions, such as a removable trash bin in the center console, a bag hook in the glovebox, and extra-large door bins. The storage cubby ahead of the shifter was well-shaped for a phone, with an optional wireless charging pad and a standard USB-C port.

The 2020 Dodge Durango’s SXT and GT trims came with a 7-inch touchscreen, while an 8.4-inch touchscreen was optional on the GT and standard on higher trims. The Uconnect infotainment system was user-friendly, with a tablet-inspired layout and dock icons for easy navigation. The Durango included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, making it simple to switch between CarPlay and Uconnect screens. Higher trims featured navigation, SiriusXM Travel Link, and an Alpine premium audio system, with an optional 19-speaker Harman Kardon system.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge featured the Android Automotive OS infotainment system, with Google apps like Google Assistant and Google Maps built-in. The system included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity. The standard setup had a 9-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. Recharge models also had OTA update capability, allowing for software updates without visiting a dealership. The Recharge lacked a start button, instead using a key fob for automatic start when shifting out of park.

The 2020 Dodge Durango came with front- and side-impact airbags, electronic stability control, hill-start assist, and trailer sway control. Rear parking sensors were available on the SXT and standard on higher trims. Optional safety features included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-path detection. The Durango earned a four-star rating from the NHTSA and a Moderate score in driver’s side small-front overlap testing from the IIHS.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 gasoline model received the highest “Top Safety Pick+” rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. The XC40 Recharge had a safety cage around the battery and a redesigned front crash structure, expected to perform well in crash tests. Standard safety features included lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, and rear parking sensors. Optional features included traffic-sign recognition, reverse automatic emergency braking, and Volvo’s Pilot Assist system. The Recharge also had a scalable sensor suite for future driver aids.