2021 Volvo XC40 vs 2021 BMW X5

The 2021 Volvo XC40 had a 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. Gasoline models offered a white contrasting roof for a retro look. The XC40 Recharge 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 interior was minimalist with high-quality materials, including 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.

The 2021 BMW X5 was known for its high-quality craftsmanship and unmistakable BMW design, featuring the iconic kidney grille and adaptive LED headlights. The xLine models had matte aluminum grilles and satin aluminum finishes, while M Sport models had body-color matched trims and high-gloss black accents. The interior carried over many elements from other BMW models, with an abundance of black plastic, leather, and soft-touch materials. M Sport models had unique styling, including an M sports steering wheel and model-exclusive interior trim strips. The interior was spacious, though the front seats could feel hard on long trips. The split liftgate and vehicle height adjustment button made loading cargo easier.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 offered a three-tiered powertrain lineup. The base FWD T4 had 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 electric Recharge model had 402 hp and 486 lb-ft, with a 78-kilowatt-hour battery pack. 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. All versions were electronically limited to 112 mph. The XC40 Recharge emphasized quiet and comfort, with excellent ride quality even on rough roads. It also offered one-pedal driving and a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds.

The 2021 BMW X5 had multiple powertrain options, all paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base X5 sDrive40i/xDrive40i had a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine with 335 hp and 330 lb-ft of torque. The X5 M50i had a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 with 523 hp and 553 lb-ft, while the X5 M had 600 hp, increasing to 617 hp with the Competition Package. The X5 xDrive45e plug-in hybrid had 389 hp and 443 lb-ft, with a 24-kilowatt-hour battery providing up to 30 miles of all-electric range. The X5's steering and handling were less engaging than other BMW models, with a Lincoln-like ride quality. The xDrive45e's battery did not impede the drive experience, and charging was convenient with a five-hour charge time on a Level 2 charger. The X5 M was the least fuel-efficient, achieving 15 mpg combined, while the xDrive45e was rated at 50 MPGe.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 had no difference in passenger or cargo space between the Recharge and gasoline models. However, it had less legroom and headroom compared to competitors like the Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach-E. The cargo area was also smaller, with a very small frunk. The gasoline XC40 was more competitive on interior space compared to rivals like the Audi Q3 and BMW X1. Volvo included 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. The storage cubby ahead of the shifter was well-shaped for a phone, with a wireless charging pad optional and a single USB-C port standard.

The 2021 BMW X5 made good use of space, with cupholders at the front of the center console and a wireless phone charging pad. The seating was spacious and comfortable for short trips, though the front seats could feel hard on long drives. The rear seats were comfortable for kids and adults, with an available third row. The climate controls were easy to manage, and the split liftgate with full power functionality made loading cargo easier. The vehicle height adjustment button on the liftgate was helpful for loading heavy cargo. The X5 xDrive45e offered slightly less cargo space than the traditional X5, but the difference was negligible for most buyers. Moving children and cargo in and out of the second-row seats was challenging due to the narrow door openings.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge featured the Android Automotive OS infotainment system with Google apps, including Google Assistant and Google Maps. The system 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 the infotainment system and other vehicle functions. It lacked a start button, with the car starting automatically when the driver shifted out of park.

The 2021 BMW X5 had a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The standard features included a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, a 10-speaker sound system, voice recognition, Bluetooth, five USB ports, navigation, HD Radio, satellite radio, automatic climate control, proximity key, and a panoramic moonroof. Optional features included remote start, a head-up display, quad-zone automatic climate control, a wireless smartphone charger, massaging seats, a Wi-Fi hot spot, a 16-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, a 20-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system, rear sunshades, and a dual-panel panoramic roof. The BMW iDrive system required some getting used to but was easy to navigate after some practice.

The gasoline 2021 Volvo XC40 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 in crash tests. 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 driver-assistance system. The Recharge model had Volvo’s latest sensor suite, scalable for future advanced driver aids.

The 2021 BMW X5 came with standard safety features, including blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, rain-sensing windshield wipers, fatigue and focus alert, lane departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Driving Assistance Professional Package included adaptive cruise control with stop and go functionality, but it did not always react in time for a comfortable stop. The lane-keeping system struggled in sunlight and rain, causing the vehicle to swerve. The 2021 BMW X5 received nearly all Good ratings from the IIHS and a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.