2021 Volvo XC40 vs 2021 Chevrolet Blazer

The 2021 Volvo XC40 had a traditional SUV styling with a tall, flat roof and upright rear hatch, fitting seamlessly into the Volvo lineup with its “Thor’s Hammer” LED headlights and simple oval grille. Gasoline models offered a white contrasting roof for a retro look. The XC40 Recharge featured a blanked-off grille, “Recharge” badging, model-specific alloy wheels, a gloss black roof, and a model-exclusive Sage Green Metallic color. The interior was minimalist yet premium, with real metal trim and a combination of Nappa leather and Nubuck textile upholstery, creating a coherent and high-quality design.

The 2021 Chevrolet Blazer, on the other hand, was designed to turn heads with its aggressive styling. It featured a wedgy profile, slim-cut windows, sawblade 20-inch wheels, and an angry front end with thin lights and a tall, black grille. The Blazer borrowed design cues from the Camaro, including a snarling face, chopped roof, and muscled body, making it look sporty and memorable. However, the interior was a letdown, with low-rent materials, featureless seats, and an undersized central screen, which felt inappropriate for its price point.

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 boasted 402 hp and 486 lb-ft, thanks to its dual electric motors and 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 and one-pedal driving capability. It also had a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds.

The 2021 Chevrolet Blazer offered three engines with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The base 2.5-liter inline-four engine, found in the L and 1LT trims, was underpowered with 193 hp and 188 lb-ft. The 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine, standard on the 2LT, 3LT, and Premier trims, provided 227 hp and 258 lb-ft. The preferred engine was the 3.6-liter V6 on the RS trim, delivering 308 hp and 270 lb-ft. The RS trim featured a sport-tuned suspension, brakes, and steering, along with a mechanical torque-vectoring rear axle. However, the transmission calibration had issues, particularly in Sport mode, and the manual mode was convoluted. The AWD V6 drivetrain had an EPA fuel economy of 19 mpg city, 26 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined.

The 2021 Volvo XC40, both gasoline and electric models, had limited interior space compared to competitors like the Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach-E. It had less legroom and headroom, and a smaller cargo area. The frunk was also small due to powertrain hardware. However, Volvo compensated with 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, and a wireless charging pad was optional.

The 2021 Chevrolet Blazer comfortably seated four, with seats mounted lower into the floor for easy entry and exit. However, sightlines were poor due to the low roof height. The Blazer had large side-view mirrors and an optional rear-view mirror camera for improved visibility. Cargo space was 64 cubic feet with the rear seat folded and 30 cubic feet when raised. The Blazer could tow up to 4,500 pounds with the trailering package, AWD, and V6 engine. Controls were simple and handy, with features like movable rings around the front air vents for temperature control and a hands-free power tailgate.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge featured the Android Automotive OS infotainment system with Google apps, including Google Assistant and Google Maps. It also supported Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth. The system included a 9-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The Recharge had OTA update capability for both the infotainment system and other vehicle functions. It lacked a start button, allowing drivers to simply shift out of park with the key fob on their person.

The 2021 Chevrolet Blazer came with an 8-inch touchscreen running Chevrolet Infotainment 3, which included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The RS trim with the Driver Confidence II package added features like wireless phone charging, LED headlights, 360 cameras, adaptive cruise control, and the Safety Alert Seat. The infotainment system had a "Plus" version with navigation, 4G WiFi, onboard apps, and better voice recognition. It also offered unique GM features like cloud account settings transfer, contactless payments, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. Driver assists were standard on most trims, including forward automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and automatic high beams.

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. It came with a long list of standard safety features, including lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, and rear parking sensors. 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, scalable for future advanced driver aids.

The 2021 Chevrolet Blazer scored an overall five stars from the NHTSA and top "Good" ratings in all crash tests from the IIHS, but received "Marginal" and "Poor" ratings for headlights. It had a standard driver's knee airbag but lacked an inboard side airbag and rear emergency braking. The enhanced forward emergency braking used radar in addition to the camera for better accuracy, but was only available on top trims with the Driver Confidence II package.