2021 Volvo XC40 vs 2021 Honda Passport

The 2021 Volvo XC40 had a traditional SUV styling that set it apart from other small luxury crossovers. Its tall, flat roof and upright rear hatch gave it a classic look, while familial styling cues like the “Thor’s Hammer” LED headlights and simple oval grille aligned it with the rest of the Volvo lineup. Gasoline models offered a white contrasting roof for a retro touch. The XC40 Recharge, the electric variant, featured a blanked-off grille, subtle “Recharge” badging, and model-specific alloy wheels. It also had a gloss black roof and mirror caps, a unique rear bumper, 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. The design was coherent, with elements like the portrait-oriented touchscreen and air vents blending seamlessly.

The 2021 Honda Passport was essentially a shortened version of the Pilot, featuring two rows of seats instead of three. Its styling was similar to the Pilot, with a dash layout that mirrored its sibling. The Passport's interior was spacious, with high-quality materials throughout, despite the awkward “button shifter” design. It offered four trim levels: Sport, EX-L, Touring, and Elite. The Sport trim included features like 20-inch alloy wheels, LED fog lights, and a seven-speaker audio system. The EX-L added leather upholstery and a power moonroof, while the Touring trim offered front-and-rear parking sensors and a hands-free liftgate. The Elite trim topped the range with heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The Passport's content was neatly organized across these trims, with no additional option packages.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 offered a three-tiered powertrain lineup, with the electric Recharge at the top. The gasoline options included a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base FWD T4 produced 187 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, while the AWD T5 delivered 248 hp and 258 lb-ft. The Recharge shared its powertrain with the Polestar 2, featuring one electric motor per axle for AWD, with a combined 402 hp and 486 lb-ft. It had a 78-kilowatt-hour battery pack, with 75 kWh usable capacity, enabling a 0-60 mph time of 4.7 seconds. The T5 and T4 achieved 0-60 mph in 6.1 and 8.1 seconds, respectively. All versions were electronically limited to 112 mph. The Recharge emphasized luxury and comfort, offering excellent ride quality and one-pedal driving capability. It also had a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds.

The 2021 Honda Passport came standard with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. It offered standard FWD and optional AWD. The V6 provided strong acceleration, and the automatic transmission managed power effectively, though the stop-start system could be abrupt. The Passport's ride was comfortable and refined, with 8.1 inches of ground clearance and AWD models featuring Intelligent Traction Management with Snow, Sand, and Mud modes. FWD Passports could tow up to 3,500 pounds, while AWD models could tow up to 5,000 pounds.

The 2021 Volvo XC40, both in its Recharge and gasoline variants, offered no difference in passenger or cargo space. However, it was less spacious than competitors like the Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach-E, with less legroom and headroom, 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 with clever storage solutions, such as a removable trash bin in the center console and a bag hook in the glovebox door. The Harman Kardon audio system's speakers were moved to the dashboard, allowing for larger door bins. A wireless charging pad was optional, with a single USB-C port standard, though second-row occupants lacked phone-charging options.

The 2021 Honda Passport provided a generous 100.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded, and 50.5 cubic feet with the second row in use. An additional 2.5 cubic feet was available in an under-floor storage tray. The EX-L trim featured a power liftgate, while the Touring and Elite trims included a hands-free power liftgate. The upright seating position offered excellent visibility and a commanding road view. The center console had a deep bin and an open cargo tray below the shifter and cupholders. Both front and rear seats had deep in-door pockets for storage. The rear seats provided ample headroom and legroom, with the ability to recline and slide for added comfort.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge featured the Android Automotive OS infotainment system, introduced on the Polestar 2, while gasoline models retained the previous system. Android Automotive OS included Google apps like Google Assistant and Google Maps, with the ability to sync personal Google accounts. The system supported Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth, with a 9-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. Recharge models had OTA update capability, allowing for software updates without dealership visits. The Recharge lacked a start button, instead using a key fob for ignition. A Digital Key feature was planned for the Polestar 2, but not confirmed for the XC40.

The 2021 Honda Passport made Android Auto and Apple CarPlay standard, included with the new 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. This was an advantage over the Pilot, which required higher trims for these features. However, the Passport's infotainment system had dated graphics, a confusing menu layout, and a volume dial that seemed like an afterthought. Despite these drawbacks, the inclusion of a volume dial was appreciated, as the audio interface lacked a tuning dial.

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. These ratings were not applicable to the electric XC40 Recharge due to structural differences. Volvo expected the Recharge to perform well in crash tests, thanks to a safety cage around the battery and a redesigned front crash structure. The XC40 came with standard safety features like lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and automatic emergency braking. Optional features included traffic-sign recognition and Volvo’s Pilot Assist system. The Recharge model had Volvo’s latest sensor suite, scalable for future driver aids.

The 2021 Honda Passport was equipped with advanced safety features such as automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, and adaptive cruise control. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring and parking sensors. The Passport received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and top "Good" scores in most IIHS crash tests, with "Acceptable" ratings for headlights and child-seat anchor ease of use, and an "Advanced" rating for front crash prevention tech.