2021 Volvo XC40 vs 2021 Honda Pilot

The 2021 Volvo XC40 had a traditional SUV styling with a tall, flat roof and upright rear hatch, fitting well with the rest of the Volvo lineup. It featured “Thor’s Hammer” LED headlights and a simple oval grille, with gasoline models offering 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 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 melding together seamlessly.

The 2021 Honda Pilot aimed to solve the styling riddle with a rugged appearance from a 2019 refresh and a 2020 Black Edition for a blacked-out look. However, its exterior design remained an acquired taste. The Pilot was available in seven versions, ranging from the base LX to the upscale Black Edition, with prices from $32,250 to $49,920. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available for an extra $2,000 on most trims. The new Special Edition added black 20-inch alloy wheels, blacked-out exterior trim, wireless smartphone charging, and a hands-free power tailgate. The Black Edition featured exclusive black leather upholstery with red-tinted inserts, red contrast stitching, and red ambient lighting. Quality materials were evident throughout, but the Pilot’s flat dashboard and minivan-like front seat design did it no favors.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 offered a three-tiered powertrain lineup, with the electric Recharge at the top. The two gasoline options included a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine and eight-speed automatic transmission. The base FWD T4 had 187 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, while the AWD T5 had 248 hp and 258 lb-ft. The Recharge shared its powertrain with the Polestar 2, featuring one electric motor for each axle, enabling AWD and a combined 402 hp and 486 lb-ft. The 78-kilowatt-hour battery pack provided electricity, with 75 kWh of usable capacity. The Recharge could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds, the T5 in 6.1 seconds, and the T4 in 8.1 seconds. All versions were electronically limited to 112 mph. The XC40 Recharge emphasized quiet and comfort, with excellent ride quality even on winter-ravaged roads. It also offered one-pedal driving and a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds.

The 2021 Honda Pilot featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine with 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. A nine-speed automatic transmission powered the front wheels, with an available torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system. The Pilot offered a comfortable ride and unexpectedly athletic handling, thanks to its MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension. The torque-vectoring AWD system, 20-inch wheels, and 245/50 tires contributed to the fun on pavement. The well-weighted and responsive steering, along with properly calibrated brakes, added to the driving experience. However, the brakes could heat and start to rumble with prolonged use. Off-road capability was limited by the Pilot’s 7.3 inches of ground clearance and all-season tires. The EPA estimated 22 mpg in combined driving for the AWD model, with the test vehicle averaging 21.5 mpg.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge had no difference in passenger or cargo space compared to gasoline models. However, it had less legroom and headroom than competitors like the Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach-E. The cargo area was also smaller, and the frunk was very small due to powertrain hardware. The gasoline XC40 was more competitive on interior space compared to rivals like the Audi Q3 and BMW X1. Volvo compensated with clever storage solutions, including 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. However, second-row occupants lacked phone-charging options.

The 2021 Honda Pilot offered plenty of room for a family, with seating for up to eight people when equipped with a second-row bench seat. The test vehicle’s leather-wrapped, heated, and ventilated front seats were comfortable and supportive, with 10-way power adjustment for the driver’s seat. Second-row captain’s chairs were optional on the Touring trim and standard on Elite and Black Edition models, where they were also heated. These chairs were nearly as comfortable as the front seats and could slide forward for third-row access. The third-row seat comfort was mid-pack for midsize SUVs, with a low and flat bottom cushion. Storage was abundant, with compartments in the door panels, center console, and front seatback pockets. The Pilot included a power tailgate starting with the EX-L trim, with higher trims offering hands-free operation. Cargo space was 16.5 cubic feet behind the third-row seat, 46.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 83.9 cubic feet maximum.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge featured the Android Automotive OS infotainment system, while gasoline models continued with the previous system. Android Automotive OS used Google apps like Google Assistant and Google Maps, with Android phone users able to sync their personal Google accounts. 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 any vehicle function controlled by software. It lacked a start button, with the driver simply needing to shift out of park with the key fob present. The related Polestar 2 would soon get a Digital Key feature, but Volvo had not confirmed it for the XC40.

Most 2021 Honda Pilots included an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, text-messaging support, satellite radio, and a basic version of HondaLink connected services. The Special Edition added wireless phone charging, while the Touring trim included navigation, HondaLink subscription services, a WiFi hotspot, and a 10-speaker premium audio system. The infotainment system was adequate but had a small screen and lacked a tuning knob. The voice-recognition technology required specific prompts, and HondaLink services were limited to higher trims. The Touring trim added a rear-seat entertainment system, a 115-volt power outlet, an HDMI port, and a Cabin Talk feature. The rear-seat entertainment system played DVDs, Blu-Ray discs, and streaming audio apps.

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, but Volvo expected it to perform well in crash tests. The XC40 came with a long list of standard safety features, including 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 also had Volvo’s latest sensor suite, scalable for future advanced driver aids.

Honda Sensing was standard in every 2021 Pilot, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. Starting with EX trim, the Pilot also had a blind-spot monitoring/rear cross-traffic warning system. The Pilot used an older version of Honda Sensing, which worked but was not smooth or refined. The lane-departure warning system’s steering wheel wobble was also noticeable. The NHTSA gave the Pilot a five-star overall rating, despite four-star marks for front-passenger protection in a frontal impact. The IIHS gave the Pilot its highest “good” ratings, except for an “acceptable” score for front passenger small overlap frontal-impact protection. The standard headlights earned an “acceptable” rating, while higher trims earned a “good” rating.