2021 Volvo XC40 vs 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe

The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe offered six distinct versions, each with unique styling cues. The base LS and popular LT trims featured different grille patterns, while the sporty RST had a slotted grille, blacked-out appearance, and 22-inch wheels. The rugged Z71 combined the LS grille with a blacked-out look, red tow hooks, a skid plate, and unique 20-inch wheels with all-terrain tires. The upscale Premier trim adopted the RST’s slotted grille with chrome accents and polished wheels, while the luxurious High Country boasted a chrome bar grille, 22-inch wheels with a bright finish, and body-color mirror caps. Standard LED headlights and expressive taillights added to the Tahoe's bold look.

The Tahoe’s interior was centered around a 10.2-inch infotainment screen and new electronic transmission controls. The Z71 trim we tested included leather seats, a power panoramic sunroof, and a power sliding floor console. The upper half of the cabin featured exposed stitching and soft-touch surfaces, while the lower half was covered in hard plastic. Prices ranged from $49,000 for the base LS to $76,225 for a fully-loaded Z71.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 had a more traditional SUV styling with a tall, flat roof and upright rear hatch. It featured familial styling cues like “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 slightly different rear bumper, and a model-exclusive color—Sage Green Metallic.

Inside, the XC40 had a minimalist design with high-quality materials, including real metal trim on the dashboard and a combination of Nappa leather and Nubuck textile upholstery. The interior design was coherent, with elements like the portrait-oriented touchscreen and air vents melding together seamlessly. Clever storage solutions, such as a removable trash bin in the center console and a bag hook in the glovebox door, added to its practicality.

The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe offered three engine options. The standard 5.3-liter V8 delivered 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque, while the High Country trim featured a 6.2-liter V8 with 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. A turbocharged 3.0-liter diesel inline six-cylinder, available for all trims except the Z71, provided 277 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. The Tahoe could tow up to 8,400 pounds and handle a payload of up to 1,834 pounds.

The major engineering change for the 2021 Tahoe was the adoption of an independent rear suspension, which improved ride quality and interior comfort. The Z71 trim included a 4WD system with a two-speed transfer case, hill descent control, and all-terrain tires. The test vehicle also had Magnetic Ride Control and Air Ride suspension, which adjusted vehicle height and improved ride quality. The 5.3-liter V8 and 10-speed automatic transmission provided refined and capable performance, with an EPA estimate of 18 mpg in combined driving.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 had a three-tiered powertrain lineup. The base FWD T4 featured a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine with 187 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque, while the AWD T5 had 248 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. The electric Recharge model had a combined 402 horsepower and 486 lb-ft of torque, with a 78-kilowatt-hour battery pack. The Recharge could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds, while the T5 and T4 took 6.1 and 8.1 seconds, respectively.

The XC40 Recharge emphasized quiet and comfort, with excellent ride quality even on rough roads. It also offered one-pedal driving using regenerative braking. The Recharge had a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds, making it a practical choice for electric car drivers.

The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe’s new independent rear suspension allowed for improved passenger comfort and cargo space. The test vehicle had heated power-adjustable front seats and a heated steering wheel. The power sliding storage console provided additional storage options. The second-row offered a choice between a 3-person bench seat or individual captain’s chairs, with easy access to the third-row seat. The third-row seat room was substantially improved, accommodating adults comfortably. The Tahoe offered 25.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat, 72.6 cubic feet with the rear seat folded, and a maximum of 122.9 cubic feet.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 had less legroom and headroom compared to some of its competitors, but it made up for it with clever storage solutions. The center console included a removable trash bin, and the glovebox door had a built-in bag hook. The Harman Kardon audio system’s speakers were moved to the dashboard, allowing for extra-large door bins. The storage cubby ahead of the shifter was properly shaped to hold a phone, with a wireless charging pad available as an option. However, second-row occupants did not have any phone-charging options.

The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe featured a standard 10.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, voice recognition, and Chevrolet Connected Services. The system was easy to use, with fast Bluetooth pairing and effective wireless Apple CarPlay streaming. The test vehicle had a mid-grade 9-speaker Bose audio system and a Rear Seat Media system. The Tahoe also offered a 15-inch head-up display as an option.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge had the Android Automotive OS infotainment system, featuring Google Assistant and Google Maps. The system included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity. The standard hardware setup included 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 model lacked a start button, with the car starting automatically when the driver shifted out of park.

The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe came with standard safety features like Teen Driver, rear-seat reminder, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, and low-speed automatic emergency braking. Higher trim levels offered additional features like lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, and rear pedestrian detection. Premier and High Country trims included adaptive cruise control, high-speed automatic emergency braking, and a Safety Alert Seat. The Tahoe had not been crash-tested by NHTSA or IIHS at the time of review.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 received the highest “Top Safety Pick+” rating from IIHS and a five-star overall crash-test rating from NHTSA. The XC40 Recharge had 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 model had Volvo’s latest sensor suite, allowing for future advanced driver aids.