2021 INFINITI QX80 vs 2021 Volvo XC40

The 2021 Volvo XC40 had a traditional SUV styling with a tall, flat roof and upright rear hatch, fitting nicely 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 INFINITI QX80 reflected its Nissan Armada origins, with a mix of Nissan and Infiniti styling elements. The body-on-frame construction was evident, but the front-end styling was all Infiniti, giving it an assertive look. Standard features included LED headlights, taillights, and fog lights, with automatic high beams and windshield-wiper interlock. The base Luxe trim rode on 20-inch wheels, while higher trims got 22-inch wheels. The interior design was closer to the Armada, with wood trim, contrast stitching, and standard leather upholstery. However, the dashboard and switchgear were recognizably Nissan, and the foot-operated parking brake was not high-end. Despite this, the interior felt luxurious, though it lacked exclusivity.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 offered a three-tiered powertrain lineup, with the electric Recharge on top. The 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 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. The Recharge could go from zero to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds, the T5 in 6.1 seconds, and the T4 in 8.1 seconds, all electronically limited to 112 mph. The 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 INFINITI QX80 came with a 5.6-liter V8 engine and seven-speed automatic transmission, with RWD standard and 4WD as a $3,100 option. The V8 produced 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque, which was less than some competitors but still sufficient. The engine was responsive, though transmission shifts could have been smoother. The QX80 had front and rear independent suspension with a rear auto-leveling feature, and Sensory models included Hydraulic Body Motion Control to limit body roll. The ride was comfortable, though some shudders were detectable over bumps. The QX80 felt less composed in corners but had speed-sensitive power steering for a relaxed driving style. It had a maximum towing capacity of 8,500 pounds and featured a 4WD drivetrain with low range and a forward skid plate for off-road capability.

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 competitors like the Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach-E. The cargo area was also smaller, and the frunk was very small. The gasoline XC40 was more competitive on interior space compared to rivals like the Audi Q3 and BMW X1. Volvo included 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, with a wireless charging pad optional and a single USB-C port standard. However, second-row occupants didn’t get any phone-charging options.

The 2021 INFINITI QX80 came standard in a seven-seat configuration, with second-row captain’s chairs and a center console. An eight-seat configuration was optional. Standard features included a 10-way-adjustable power driver’s seat and an eight-way front passenger’s seat, with two-way lumbar support and heating and cooling on Sensory models. The bottom cushions of the front seats lacked thigh support. Passenger space was competitive but not class-leading, with even the third-row seats having enough space for adults. Models with second-row captain’s chairs had a large console with storage space, climate controls, and USB ports, but third-row passengers didn’t get any charging ports. Cargo space was 16.6 cubic feet with all three rows in place, 49.6 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 95.1 cubic feet with both the third row and second-row captain’s chairs folded. The center console could open from both the front and back, but storage space was small, and the front-door cupholders weren’t well-shaped for drinks.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge featured the Android Automotive OS infotainment system, while gasoline models continued with the previous system. Android Automotive OS included Google apps like Google Assistant and Google Maps, with conventional Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity. The standard hardware setup included 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 car starting when the driver shifted out of park. The related Polestar 2 would soon get a Digital Key feature, but it wasn’t confirmed for the XC40.

The 2021 INFINITI QX80 had the Infiniti InTouch dual-screen infotainment system with 8.0-inch upper and 7.0-inch lower touchscreens, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, a built-in WiFi hotspot, and navigation. Standard features included Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a 13-speaker Bose audio system, with optional features like a 17-speaker Bose system and a Theater Package rear-seat entertainment system. The touchscreens were backed by analog controls, but the user interface was confusing. The Smart Rearview Mirror could switch to a streaming-video display, eliminating blind spots, and the Around View Monitor 360-degree camera system was available.

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 didn’t apply to the electric XC40 Recharge, but Volvo expected it to perform well in crash tests. Standard safety features included lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, 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.

The 2021 INFINITI QX80 received a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with five stars for side crash tests, four stars for frontal crash tests, and a three-star rollover rating. The IIHS hadn’t tested the QX80. Standard safety features included adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and Backup Collision Intervention.