2021 Ford Explorer vs 2021 Volvo XC40

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, while the XC40 Recharge featured a blanked-off grille, “Recharge” badging, and model-specific alloy wheels. The Recharge also had a gloss black roof, mirror caps, and a unique rear bumper, along with 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 Ford Explorer had a family resemblance to other Ford SUVs, with sporty, raked belt lines and distinctive visages. It offered six trim levels, each with varying grille designs and prices ranging from $32,925 to $52,730. The Explorer featured three rows of seats as standard, with cloth upholstery on the base model and more luxurious finishes as you moved up the trims. The dash was clean, with an 8-inch LCD touchscreen and large knobs and buttons for the audio system and climate controls. The center console housed a rotary gearshift, freeing up space for storage, and the XLT trim, which was the most popular, offered better equipment and finishes.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 had a three-tiered powertrain lineup, with the electric Recharge at the top. The gasoline options included a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base FWD T4 produced 187 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, while the AWD T5 had 248 hp and 258 lb-ft. The Recharge, sharing its powertrain with the Polestar 2, had one electric motor for each axle, providing AWD and a combined 402 hp and 486 lb-ft, powered by 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, and was capable of one-pedal driving. It also had a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds.

The 2021 Ford Explorer, weighing 4,345 pounds at its lightest, had a base 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. The Limited Hybrid trim offered a V6 hybrid drivetrain with 310 hp and 331 lb-ft of torque. Higher trims featured a 3.0-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6, delivering 365 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque, while the sport-oriented ST trim offered 400 hp and 415 lb-ft. All trims had a 10-speed automatic transmission with SelectShift capability. The Explorer excelled in towing, with capacities ranging from 5,000 to 5,600 pounds, depending on the trim and engine, making it suitable for towing an 18-foot dual axle Airstream.

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 the Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach-E, and a smaller cargo area. The frunk was also small due to powertrain hardware. The gasoline XC40 was more competitive in interior space compared to rivals like the Audi Q3 and BMW X1. Volvo compensated for the lack of space 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 due to the relocated Harman Kardon system's speakers. A wireless charging pad was optional, and a single USB-C port was standard, but second-row occupants lacked phone-charging options.

The 2021 Ford Explorer had seating for seven in the base trim, with captain’s chairs in the second row for other trims, reducing capacity to six. It offered 39 inches of legroom for second-row passengers, which was competitive but not class-leading. With the third row deployed, the Explorer provided 21 cubic feet of cargo space, but the overall cargo volume with the rear seats folded was 81 cubic feet, which was less impressive compared to some competitors.

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 standard setup included a 9-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The Recharge had OTA update capability for 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 Ford Explorer offered an 8-inch touchscreen as standard, with AM/FM radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 4G WiFi hotspot, Ford’s Sync 3 infotainment system, and a six-speaker audio system. Higher trims featured a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system and HD radio, with an optional upgrade to a 10.1-inch touchscreen and up to 14 speakers. The Explorer provided multiple charging options, including two USB ports in the center console, five 12-volt power points, and a 110-volt AC power outlet in the ST trim.

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 Ford Explorer was also rated as a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS, with top “Good” scores on all crash tests. It offered the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite of technology as standard, including auto high-beam headlights, blind-spot monitoring, lane keeping assist, forward-collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. Higher trims included the Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist+ suite, with adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, and speed sign recognition.