2021 Volvo XC40 vs 2021 Kia Sportage

The 2021 Volvo XC40 had a traditional SUV styling with a tall, flat roof and an upright rear hatch, blending seamlessly with Volvo's lineup, thanks to its signature “Thor’s Hammer” LED headlights and simple oval grille. A unique feature was the contrasting white roof on gasoline models, offering a touch of retro flair. The XC40 Recharge differentiated itself subtly with a blanked-off grille, “Recharge” badging, unique alloy wheels, and a distinctive Sage Green Metallic color. It also featured a gloss black roof and mirror caps, with a slightly adjusted rear bumper to eliminate exhaust tips and a charging port replacing the fuel filler.

Volvo's Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) underpinned both gasoline and electric models, originally designed for either powertrain, avoiding the forced accommodation of an electric setup.

Inside, the XC40 boasted a minimalistic yet luxurious design with high-quality materials. The real metal trim and Nappa leather mixed with Nubuck upholstery exuded a premium feel. The interior design was coherent and integrated, with a portrait-oriented touchscreen and strategically placed air vents creating a seamless harmony. Unlike its competitors, Volvo's interior wasn’t dumbed down to meet a price point; it remained true to its luxury status.

In contrast, the 2021 Kia Sportage presented a shorter wheelbase and overhangs, ideal for urban drivers. Its design, accented by the tiger-nose grille and bulbous headlights, was termed "Euro-focused" by Kia, despite some describing it as frog-like. The Sportage offered 17-, 18-, or 19-inch wheels and retained its 2020 headlights.

Inside, an 8-inch touchscreen flanked by air vents served as the centerpiece. Physical buttons and knobs for tuning and volume were conveniently placed below. The cabin, although not laden with cutting-edge technology, provided a pleasant and functional environment. A straightforward setup with cupholders between the front seats and an older Kia logo on the steering wheel completed the picture.

The performance spectrum for the 2021 Volvo XC40 was diverse, with three main powertrain options. The base FWD T4 model had a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine delivering 187 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, while the AWD T5 version offered 248 hp and 258 lb-ft. These gasoline engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

At the top was the XC40 Recharge, sharing its powertrain with the Polestar 2 and boasting a dual-motor setup for AWD, producing a combined 402 hp and 486 lb-ft. Its 78-kilowatt-hour battery pack (75 kWh usable) powered the setup, divided into modules under the floor and transmission tunnel.

Acceleration statistics were impressive, with the Recharge dashing from zero to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds, the T5 in 6.1 seconds, and the T4 in 8.1 seconds. All models were electronically capped at 112 mph, adhering to Volvo’s policy to mitigate speed-related crashes. The Recharge's towing capacity was notable at 2,000 pounds.

The 2021 Kia Sportage offered three trim levels: LX, EX, and SX Turbo, each available with FWD or AWD. The LX and EX trims were equipped with a 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine producing 181 hp and 175 lb-ft, while the SX Turbo featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged GDI four-cylinder engine with 240 hp and 260 lb-ft. All variants employed a six-speed automatic transmission.

Fuel economy ratings varied: the 2.4-liter FWD achieved 23 mpg city, 30 highway, and 26 combined, dropping slightly with AWD. The turbo models recorded 20/28/23 mpg for FWD and 19/24/21 mpg for AWD.

The Sportage's McPherson-strut front and multi-link rear suspension provided a smooth ride with manageable body roll. However, the steering lacked precision, and the tires couldn't fully harness the engine's power. Nevertheless, the Sportage offered a rewarding drive, especially in the SX Turbo trim, competing well with sporty crossovers like the Mazda CX-5.

Volvo stated that passenger and cargo space were consistent across both the gasoline and electric XC40 models. However, the XC40 Recharge fell short in legroom and headroom compared to the Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach-E, offering a significantly smaller cargo area. The Recharge's frunk was also minimal, with much of the space occupied by powertrain components.

The gasoline XC40 was more competitive against rivals like the Audi Q3 and BMW X1 regarding interior space. Volvo compensated for space limitations with ingenious storage solutions: a removable trash bin in the center console, a bag hook in the glovebox door, and extra-large door bins due to repositioned Harman Kardon speakers. The storage cubby in front of the shifter was well-designed for a phone, with an optional wireless charging pad and a single USB-C port. However, rear passengers lacked phone-charging options.

The 2021 Kia Sportage, smaller by compact crossover standards, offered commendable interior space. The SX Turbo trim featured a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and eight-way power adjustment for the passenger, with heated and ventilated front seats. The rear provided decent legroom and headroom, though cargo space lagged. It offered 30.7 cubic feet behind the second row, expandable to 60.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, falling short compared to competitors.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge introduced the Android Automotive OS infotainment system, featuring Google apps like Google Assistant and Google Maps, distinct from the previous system in gasoline models. This setup allowed Android phone users to sync their accounts for enhanced customization. Conventional Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth were still available, but the Google features were intrinsic to the system, displayed through a 9-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.

OTA update capability in the Recharge targeted any software-controlled vehicle function, a step forward popularized by Tesla. The XC40 Recharge also omitted a start button, relying on the key fob's presence to shift out of park.

The 2021 Kia Sportage featured an 8-inch touchscreen managing its infotainment system. Standard connectivity included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and USB ports, with most trims offering Kia’s UVO Link services. The SX Turbo added wireless charging and an eight-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system.

The Sportage’s technology, though not groundbreaking, was user-friendly with logical menus, physical buttons, and convenient knobs, ensuring ease of use without causing frustration.

The gasoline-powered 2021 Volvo XC40 achieved the highest “Top Safety Pick+” rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall crash test rating from the NHTSA. These accolades didn't apply to the XC40 Recharge, given structural changes due to the battery pack, though Volvo anticipated high performance thanks to added safety cages and redesigned structures.

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 encompassed traffic sign recognition, reverse automatic emergency braking, driver-alertness monitor, run-off road mitigation, oncoming lane mitigation, and the Pilot Assist system combining adaptive cruise control with automated lane centering.

The Recharge benefited from Volvo’s latest sensor suite, scalable for future advancements and leveraging cloud data for improved driver aids performance.

The 2021 Kia Sportage excelled in safety, offering a comprehensive suite of ADAS as standard: forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, automatic high beams, and a driver-monitoring system. The SX Turbo trim added adaptive cruise control, praised for its smooth operation.

The SX Turbo trims earned Top Safety Pick status from the IIHS due to upgraded headlights, with all trims performing well in NHTSA crash tests.