2021 Chevrolet Suburban vs 2021 Volvo XC40

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban presented a bold and somewhat polarizing design, borrowing elements from the Camaro's styling. Its front end featured small headlights and a large, busy grille, which did not appeal to everyone. Despite the exterior's divisive appearance, the interior maintained a familiar layout with controls in their expected places, offering a user-friendly experience. The Suburban's trim levels ranged from the basic LS to the luxurious High Country, each adding more features and comfort. The High Country trim, in particular, offered upscale amenities but fell short of true luxury due to the presence of hard plastics and a lack of soft-touch materials.

In contrast, the 2021 Volvo XC40 embraced a more traditional SUV styling with a tall, flat roof and upright rear hatch, fitting seamlessly into Volvo's lineup with its signature "Thor’s Hammer" LED headlights and simple oval grille. The XC40 Recharge variant distinguished itself with a blanked-off grille and unique design elements, catering to those who preferred a subtle electric vehicle look. Inside, the XC40 boasted a minimalist design with high-quality materials, creating a premium feel. The interior design was coherent, with elements like the portrait-oriented touchscreen and air vents blending harmoniously, setting it apart from competitors who often compromised on interior design for cost reasons.

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban offered a range of powerful engines, starting with a standard 5.3-liter V8 producing 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. A more robust 6.2-liter V8 was available, delivering 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. The Suburban also introduced a Duramax turbodiesel engine, a 3.0-liter inline-six generating 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque, providing excellent pickup and V8-level torque. All engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, with options for rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. The Suburban's independent rear suspension improved ride quality, though it still exhibited some truck-like handling characteristics.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 offered a three-tiered powertrain lineup, with the electric Recharge model at the top. The gasoline options included a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine, with the base FWD T4 producing 187 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque, and the AWD T5 delivering 248 hp and 258 lb-ft. The Recharge model shared its powertrain with the Polestar 2, featuring dual electric motors for a combined 402 hp and 486 lb-ft of torque, powered by a 78-kilowatt-hour battery pack. The Recharge accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds, emphasizing comfort and quiet over speed. It also offered one-pedal driving and a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds, making it a versatile choice for electric car enthusiasts.

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban excelled in cargo space, offering a massive 144.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. Even with the second-row seats in use, it provided 93.8 cubic feet of cargo space, and 41.5 cubic feet behind the third row. Passengers enjoyed ample head- and legroom, with second-row captain's chairs providing impressive space. The control layout was similar to GM's pickup trucks, though the button shifter design was less intuitive. The power-sliding center console was a complex feature that added little value, but the Suburban's overall passenger and cargo space overshadowed these minor issues.

The 2021 Volvo XC40, while not as spacious as some competitors, offered clever storage solutions to maximize utility. The center console featured a removable trash bin, and a bag hook was integrated into the glovebox door. The Harman Kardon audio system's speakers were moved to the dashboard, allowing for larger door bins. The storage cubby ahead of the shifter was well-designed to hold a phone securely. However, the XC40 Recharge's frunk was small, and second-row occupants lacked phone-charging options, highlighting some limitations in interior space.

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban came standard with a 10.2-inch touchscreen running GM’s intuitive infotainment system, featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system's layout was sensible, with a helpful home button for easy navigation. Optional features included a navigation system, rear entertainment system, and a head-up display, enhancing the vehicle's tech offerings.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge introduced the Android Automotive OS infotainment system, featuring Google apps like Google Assistant and Google Maps. The system included a 9-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, offering top-notch graphics and menu layouts. The Recharge also featured OTA update capability, allowing for software updates without visiting a dealership. The lack of a start button and the potential for a Digital Key feature added to the XC40's modern tech appeal.

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban was equipped with automatic emergency braking, forward-collision avoidance with pedestrian detection, automatic high beams, and rear parking sensors. Optional safety features included adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and a surround-view monitor camera system. Unique options like the rear-view camera mirror and Safety Alert Seat provided additional safety enhancements.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 received top safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA for its gasoline models, though these ratings did not apply to the electric Recharge variant. The XC40 came with a comprehensive list of standard safety features, including lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and automatic emergency braking. Optional features included traffic-sign recognition, reverse automatic emergency braking, and Volvo’s Pilot Assist driver-assistance system. The Recharge model featured Volvo’s latest sensor suite, allowing for future advancements in driver aids.