2021 Volvo XC40 vs 2021 Kia Sorento

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. The XC40 Recharge featured a blanked-off grille, “Recharge” badging, model-specific alloy wheels, a gloss black roof, 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, creating a coherent and high-quality design.

The 2021 Kia Sorento marked a significant design evolution from its predecessor, adopting a more athletic and muscular silhouette. The SX Prestige trim with the X-Line package added roof rails and a shark fin antenna. The front showcased an expansive tiger-nose grille and squinting headlights, while the side featured a silver accent between the front fender and door. The rear had large D-pillars and beautiful vertical taillights. The interior boasted high-value features like heated outside mirrors, second-row air vents, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and keyless entry. The upper trims offered 10-way driver’s seat adjustment with power lumbar support and heated seats.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 offered a three-tiered powertrain lineup. The base FWD T4 had a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine with 187 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque, while the AWD T5 had 248 hp and 258 lb-ft. The electric Recharge model featured dual electric motors providing AWD, with 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, the T5 in 6.1 seconds, and the T4 in 8.1 seconds. All versions were 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 Kia Sorento offered a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque for the LX and S trims. The turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine in the higher trims produced 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission and AWD. The Sorento also had a hybrid version with a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine and electric motor. The AWD system featured torque vectoring and a center-locking differential. The suspension provided a smooth ride, and the various drive modes significantly impacted performance. The Sorento weighed around 4,000 pounds and handled corners well without excessive head-tossing.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge had the same passenger and cargo space as the gasoline models, but it was less spacious than competitors like the Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach-E. The interior featured 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 an optional wireless charging pad and a single USB-C port. However, second-row occupants lacked phone-charging options.

The 2021 Kia Sorento, particularly in upper trims, was best considered a four-seater due to the tight third row. The second-row captain's chairs were comfortable, with ample legroom in the front and rear seats. Cargo space behind the third row was limited to 12.6 cubic feet, but total cargo volume was 75.5 cubic feet with the seats folded. The interior featured practical storage solutions, including a phone spot with an optional wireless charger, cupholders, and door pockets. The second-row seats had built-in cupholders in the rear doors.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge featured the Android Automotive OS infotainment system with Google apps, including Google Assistant and Google Maps. The system included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity, with a 9-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The Recharge also had OTA update capability and lacked a start button, allowing drivers to shift out of park with the key fob on their person.

The 2021 Kia Sorento had an 8-inch touchscreen display on lower trims and a 10.25-inch screen on higher trims. The larger screen required a physical connection for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the right third of the screen was underutilized. The Sorento had plenty of USB ports but no USB-C ports. The optional Bose stereo was adequate but not exceptional. The navigation system needed improvement, but most drivers would likely use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto for navigation.

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 XC40 came with standard safety features like 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 Kia Sorento had standard safety features like automatic emergency braking, driver-attention warning, lane-keeping assist, and auto high beams. The test car had a surround-view camera and adaptive cruise control. The NHTSA awarded the Sorento four out of five stars overall, with five stars in side-impact crash tests. The IIHS awarded a Top Safety Pick designation, with the SX trim levels receiving perfect ratings for their LED headlights.