2021 Volvo XC40 vs 2021 Hyundai Palisade

The 2021 Volvo XC40 presented a more traditional SUV styling compared to other small luxury crossovers, featuring a tall, flat roof and an upright rear hatch. It seamlessly integrated with the rest of the Volvo lineup, showcasing familial styling elements like the “Thor’s Hammer” LED headlights and a simple oval grille. Gasoline models offered a white contrasting roof for a retro touch. The XC40 Recharge differentiated itself with a blanked-off grille, subtle “Recharge” badging, and unique alloy wheels. It also featured a gloss black roof and mirror caps, a distinct rear bumper, and a model-exclusive Sage Green Metallic color. Despite these differences, the XC40 Recharge maintained a subtle appearance, appealing to electric-car drivers who preferred not to stand out.

The interior of the XC40 was minimalist yet premium, with high-quality materials such as real metal trim on the dashboard 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. Unlike many competitors, Volvo did not compromise on interior design to meet a price point, offering a sophisticated and cohesive cabin experience.

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy distinguished itself with a unique grille pattern, revised exterior lighting, additional lower body trim, and exclusive 20-inch wheels. It also featured upgraded interior detailing and a simulated suede headliner. The Limited trim adopted an exterior look similar to the Palisade SEL with option packages, with standard LED headlights across models. The Calligraphy trim appeared more luxurious than other Palisades, drawing attention with its unconventional styling. Inside, the Calligraphy’s cabin was lavish, with a Beige over Navy Blue color scheme, quilted Nappa leather, and a suede headliner, offering a sense of luxury at a competitive price.

The Palisade’s interior was spacious and accessible, with eight-way power-adjustable front seats, heated and ventilated front and second-row seats, and separate climate controls for third-row passengers. The second-row captain’s chairs provided ample legroom and support, sliding to accommodate passengers and cargo. The third-row seat was more accommodating than most in its class. The Palisade offered generous in-cabin storage, with a large front center console and door panel storage. Cargo space was ample, with 18 cubic feet behind the third-row seats, expanding to 86.4 cubic feet with the second-row seats folded. The hands-free Smart Liftgate added convenience, automatically opening when detecting the key fob.

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 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 an electric motor on each axle for AWD, producing 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 Hyundai Palisade was equipped with a 3.8-liter V6 engine producing 291 horsepower, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and FWD, with optional AWD. Drivers could choose between Eco, Comfort, Smart, and Sport driving modes, with AWD models adding Snow mode and a Lock function for improved traction. The Palisade AWD achieved an EPA-estimated 21 mpg in combined driving, with a test average of 21.1 mpg. The Palisade offered a firmer ride, providing excellent body-motion control and a communicative driving experience. It was sure-footed and confidence-inspiring on twisty roads, though not encouraging aggressive driving. The Palisade was undemanding to drive, with ample power, easy corner judgment, and agreeable steering and brake modulation. It offered a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds, with a new seven-pin trailer pre-wiring connector for 2021.

Volvo claimed no difference in passenger or cargo space between the Recharge and gasoline XC40 models, though the XC40 Recharge was not particularly spacious. It had less legroom and headroom compared to competitors like the Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach-E, and a smaller cargo area. The frunk was also small, with much of the space occupied by 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, including a removable trash bin in the center console, a bag hook in the glovebox, and extra-large door bins due to relocated speakers. A wireless charging pad was optional, with a single USB-C port standard, though second-row occupants lacked phone-charging options.

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade excelled in interior size, seating, and accessibility. It offered eight-way power-adjustable front seats, heated and ventilated front and second-row seats, and separate climate controls for third-row passengers. The second-row captain’s chairs provided ample legroom and support, sliding to accommodate passengers and cargo. The third-row seat was more accommodating than most in its class. The Palisade offered generous in-cabin storage, with a large front center console and door panel storage. Cargo space was ample, with 18 cubic feet behind the third-row seats, expanding to 86.4 cubic feet with the second-row seats folded. The hands-free Smart Liftgate added convenience, automatically opening when detecting the key fob.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge featured the Android Automotive OS infotainment system, offering Google apps like Google Assistant and Google Maps. It included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity, with a 9-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The Recharge had OTA update capability, lacking a start button, and allowing for future feature updates. The gasoline models continued with the previous system.

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade offered two infotainment systems, with 8-inch and 10.25-inch touchscreens. Both allowed pairing of two smartphones to Bluetooth, with the 8-inch system offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Calligraphy trim included SiriusXM, navigation, Blue Link services, and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. It featured wireless charging, a Driver Talk intercom, Quiet Mode, and an available HUD. A surround-view camera system aided parking and maneuvering.

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 Recharge model was expected to perform well in crash tests, with a safety cage around the battery and a redesigned front crash structure. Standard safety features included lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, and more. The Recharge model had Volvo’s latest sensor suite, allowing for future driver aid advancements.

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade excelled in safety, with adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping systems. It included a rear occupant alert system, active blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warning systems, and a Safe Exit Assist system. The Limited and Calligraphy trims featured a Blind View Monitor and Highway Drive Assist, offering adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance. The Palisade earned top safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, with Blue Link services providing automatic collision warning and emergency assistance.