2020 Honda Pilot vs 2021 Volvo XC40

The 2020 Honda Pilot shared the dynamic styling of the current Honda lineup, featuring thin LED headlights and a multi-tiered grille. The subtle uptick in the belt-line around the rear side windows masked the size of the Pilot, making it appear more svelte than it actually was. Inside, the Pilot boasted a modern cabin with a semi-digital instrument panel, combining analog fuel and engine-temperature gauges with a digital screen for other information. The cabin felt comfortable and spacious, though it used hard plastics in many areas, making it less upscale compared to rivals like the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 had a 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 was distinguished by a blanked-off grille, subtle “Recharge” badging, and model-specific alloy wheels. The interior was minimalist yet premium, with high-quality materials like real metal trim and a combination of Nappa leather and Nubuck textile. The design was coherent, with elements like the portrait-oriented touchscreen and air vents melding together seamlessly.

The 2020 Honda Pilot was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, available in both FWD and AWD configurations. The LX, EX, and EX-L trims featured a 6-speed automatic transmission, while the Touring, Elite, and Black Edition trims came with a 9-speed automatic transmission. The V6 provided stout acceleration, making it easy to move from a standstill or make passing moves on the highway. The Pilot’s ride was refined and comfortable, ideal for commutes and road trips, though it lacked athleticism. The Intelligent Traction Management System offered drive modes for various conditions, enhancing its capability slightly.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 had a three-tiered powertrain lineup, with the electric Recharge on top. The base FWD T4 featured a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine with 187 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, while the AWD T5 had 248 hp and 258 lb-ft. The Recharge, sharing its powertrain with the Polestar 2, had one electric motor for each axle, providing AWD and a combined 402 hp and 486 lb-ft. The Recharge could sprint from zero to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds, while the T5 and T4 took 6.1 and 8.1 seconds, respectively. The Recharge emphasized quiet and comfort over speed, with excellent ride quality even on rough roads. It also featured one-pedal driving and a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds.

The 2020 Honda Pilot offered a spacious 8-passenger cabin with second-row bench seating, while the Touring, Elite, and Black Edition trims featured second-row captain’s chairs, reducing seating capacity to seven. The third row was adult-friendly, and EX trims and higher provided one-touch fold-down rear seats for easier access. With the second and third rows folded, the Pilot offered 83.9 cubic feet of cargo space, competitive with rivals like the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade. The Pilot had plenty of storage spaces for family needs, and higher trims included features like a power liftgate and a conversation mirror.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge had no difference in passenger or cargo space compared to gasoline models, but it was less spacious than competitors like the Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach-E. The XC40 had clever storage solutions, such as a removable trash bin in the center console, a bag hook in the glovebox door, and extra-large door bins due to the relocated Harman Kardon speakers. 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. However, second-row occupants lacked phone-charging options.

The 2020 Honda Pilot’s LX trim featured a 5-inch color LCD screen with a 215-watt, 7-speaker stereo, Bluetooth connectivity, and a USB port. Higher trims had an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system lacked a tuning knob and had a confusing layout. All but the LX trim included HD Radio, SiriusXM, and Cabin Control Remote Capability. Navigation, a rear-seat entertainment system, and a wall-style power outlet were optional on the EX-L and standard on higher trims. The Touring, Elite, and Black Edition had a 590-watt, 10-speaker premium audio system and mobile hotspot capability.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge featured the Android Automotive OS infotainment system with Google apps like Google Assistant and Google Maps. It included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth, with a 9-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The Recharge also had OTA update capability for software-controlled vehicle functions. It lacked a start button, allowing drivers to simply shift out of park with the key fob on their person. The Polestar 2’s Digital Key feature was expected to be available via OTA update, but Volvo hadn’t confirmed it for the XC40.

The 2020 Honda Pilot came standard with the HondaSensing suite, including forward-collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. It also had front and side-impact airbags, child-seat anchors, Vehicle Stability Assist, and traction control. Optional safety features included front and rear parking sensors and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The Pilot earned a five-star overall crash test rating from the NHTSA and the best crash test score of Good from the IIHS, along with a Superior rating in crash prevention technology.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 gasoline model 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 due to a safety cage around the battery and a redesigned front crash structure. Standard safety features included 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, and Volvo’s Pilot Assist driver-assistance system. The Recharge also had a scalable sensor suite for future advanced driver aids.