2021 Volvo XC40 vs 2020 Toyota 4Runner

The 2020 Toyota 4Runner had a timeless design characterized by tall slab sides, a high beltline, short overhangs, and a near-vertical front fascia. Its utilitarian attitude was reminiscent of an XJ Jeep Cherokee, with flared wheel wells designed to accommodate bulky off-road tires and short overhangs for tackling steep pitches. The hood scoop, a visual cue for the off-road-focused TRD trim, was one of the few non-functional elements. The front end featured small, angular headlights, and the grille varied by trim, with body-color bars on most trims and blacked-out accents on the TRD Pro. The Limited trim had bright chrome bars. The trim lineup included SR5, SR5 Premium, TRD Off-Road, TRD Off-Road Premium, TRD Pro, and Limited, with the Nightshade Special Edition and Venture Special Edition adding unique aesthetics and off-road capabilities. The Limited trim, aimed at comfort, featured leather upholstery and an 8-inch touchscreen, but still had a utilitarian feel with plenty of plastic and a seating position designed for off-roading.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 had a more traditional SUV styling with a tall, flat roof and upright rear hatch, fitting nicely with the rest of the Volvo lineup. It featured “Thor’s Hammer” LED headlights and a simple oval grille, with gasoline models offering a white contrasting roof for a retro look. The XC40 Recharge, distinguished by a blanked-off grille, subtle “Recharge” badging, and model-specific alloy wheels, had a gloss black roof and mirror caps, a different rear bumper, and a model-exclusive Sage Green Metallic color. The charging port was located where the fuel filler would normally be. The interior was minimalist and 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, offering a luxury feel uncommon in this segment.

The 2020 Toyota 4Runner featured a straightforward approach with a 4-liter V6 engine producing 270 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque, managed by a 5-speed automatic transmission. This engine was designed for durability and off-road capability rather than fuel efficiency, with an EPA estimate of 16 mpg city, 19 highway, and 17 combined. The 4Runner had a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds and excelled off-road with its body-on-frame construction and advanced traction systems like Toyota’s CRAWL control and Multi-Terrain Select. The 4Runner’s on-road performance was less impressive, with significant body roll and vague steering, but its off-road prowess made it a favorite for wilderness adventures.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 offered a three-tiered powertrain lineup, with the electric Recharge on 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 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The Recharge, sharing its powertrain with the Polestar 2, had 402 horsepower and 486 pound-feet of torque from its dual electric motors, with a 78-kilowatt-hour battery pack providing electricity. The Recharge could accelerate 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, with excellent ride quality even on rough roads, and offered one-pedal driving using regenerative braking. It also had a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds, a rarity for electric cars.

The 2020 Toyota 4Runner offered excellent outward visibility and a relatively tidy turning radius of 18 feet, 7 inches. The interior featured large, chunky knobs for HVAC and stereo controls, and an 8-inch touchscreen with physical buttons for ease of use. The tall seating position provided a commanding view of the road, and power-retractable running boards aided entry and exit. The 4Runner offered an optional third row of seats, but these were best suited for short and occasional use due to their narrow and thin design. The third-row seats folded toward the floor and slid backward, but lacked legroom and comfort compared to competitors.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 had less legroom and headroom compared to the Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach-E, and a smaller cargo area. However, it offered 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 thanks to the relocation of the Harman Kardon system's speakers to the dashboard. 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. However, second-row occupants did not have phone-charging options.

The 2020 Toyota 4Runner featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, a significant update for the model. The system included Amazon Alexa, Bluetooth connectivity, a single USB media port, and various subscription services like Sirius XM Radio, Safety Connect, and WiFi Connect. Higher trims offered a JBL stereo and navigation system, though the onboard navigation was less efficient than smartphone-based systems. The 4Runner’s technological advancements were more focused on off-road capabilities, with features like advanced traction systems hidden in the powertrain.

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, with a 9-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The Recharge also had OTA update capability, allowing for updates to the infotainment system and other vehicle functions. The Recharge lacked a start button, instead allowing the driver to shift out of park with the key fob on their person. The Polestar 2’s Digital Key feature, allowing smartphone use in place of the key fob, was expected to be available via OTA update, though not yet confirmed for the XC40.

The 2020 Toyota 4Runner came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense P (TSS-P), including adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert, a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, and automatic high beams. It also had eight standard airbags. The 4Runner received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with three stars in the rollover test, and a Good rating in most IIHS crash tests, except for a Marginal rating in the small overlap front: driver-side test. The adaptive cruise control worked well, but the high center of gravity and imprecise steering made a more active lane-keeping assist system desirable.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 received the highest “Top Safety Pick+” rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with five stars in frontal and side-crash tests, and four stars in rollover tests. The XC40 Recharge was expected to perform well in crash tests due to its safety cage around the battery and 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, a driver-alertness monitor, run-off road mitigation, oncoming lane mitigation, and Volvo’s Pilot Assist system. The Recharge also had a scalable sensor suite for future advanced driver aids.