2021 Volvo XC40 vs 2021 Nissan Armada

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 with high-quality materials, including 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 Nissan Armada underwent a significant facelift, aligning it with Nissan's new signature exterior design. Available in S, SV, SL, and Platinum grades, the Armada featured a new grille, front fenders, bumpers, and LED headlights and taillights, giving it a modern look while retaining its traditional beefy styling. Depending on the trim level, the Armada rode on 18-, 20-, or 22-inch aluminum alloy wheels. The SUV also had body-color over fenders, dark-painted roof rails, and an acoustic windshield and front side windows. The Midnight Edition Package added dark accents, including black exterior logos and painted mirrors. The interior, however, remained dated despite tech upgrades, with some design choices making it appear past its prime.

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 pound-feet of torque, while the AWD T5 had 248 hp and 258 lb-ft. The electric Recharge model shared its powertrain with the Polestar 2, featuring one electric motor for each axle, providing AWD and a combined 402 hp and 486 lb-ft. The Recharge had a 78-kilowatt-hour battery pack, with 75 kWh of usable capacity, and could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds. The T5 and T4 models achieved the same sprint in 6.1 and 8.1 seconds, respectively. All versions were electronically limited to 112 mph. The XC40 Recharge emphasized quiet and comfort, with excellent ride quality even on rough roads, and was capable of one-pedal driving. It also had a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds.

The 2021 Nissan Armada was equipped with a 5.6-liter V8 engine paired with a seven-speed automatic transmission, delivering 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque on premium fuel. The Armada came standard with rear-wheel drive, with automatic four-wheel drive available. Despite its weight, the Armada was a capable off-roader with a skid plate, double-wishbone suspension, and up to 9.2 inches of ground clearance. It had a maximum towing capacity of 8,500 pounds. However, its fuel economy was low, with RWD models getting an EPA-estimated 14 mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the highway, and 4WD models getting 13 mpg in the city and 18 mpg on the highway. The Armada's handling had improved over the years, but it still felt like a big SUV, with a large turning radius and challenging maneuverability in tight spaces.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge had no difference in passenger or cargo space compared to gasoline models, but it was less spacious than competitors like the Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach-E. The XC40 had clever storage solutions, including a removable trash bin in the center console, a bag hook in the glovebox door, and extra-large door bins due to the relocation of the Harman Kardon system's speakers. However, second-row occupants lacked phone-charging options. The gasoline XC40 was more competitive on interior space compared to rivals like the Audi Q3 and BMW X1, but the overall utility was still limited.

The 2021 Nissan Armada offered practicality and functionality for families, with standard running boards and in-cabin handles for easy access. The broad interior featured a new 12.3-inch touchscreen, but some controls were hard to reach. The front seats were power-adjustable, with power lumbar support. The second row could be configured with captain’s chairs, reducing seating capacity from eight to seven. The third row was less comfortable for adults. The Armada had 16.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 49.9 cubic feet behind the second row, and 95.4 cubic feet with both rows folded. However, the high load floor made loading and unloading difficult. Small-item storage was limited, with the center console storage bin being the exception.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge featured the Android Automotive OS infotainment system, with Google apps like Google Assistant and Google Maps built-in. 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, allowing for updates to the infotainment system and other vehicle functions. The model lacked a start button, instead using a key fob for entry and shifting out of park.

The 2021 Nissan Armada had a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, the largest in its class, with navigation, a six-speaker stereo, satellite radio, Bluetooth, USB ports, a WiFi hot spot, NissanConnect Services, keyless entry with push-button start, Android Auto, and wireless Apple CarPlay as standard. Optional features included a wireless charging pad, a 13-speaker Bose audio system, a rearview camera mirror, and a second-row entertainment system. The Armada Platinum trim included these features as standard. The analog tachometer and speedometer were functional but not visually appealing, and the steering wheel allowed for limited control of the driver information screen and infotainment system.

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 electric XC40 Recharge had not been rated, but Volvo expected it to perform well due to 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, 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 Nissan Armada had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA in most categories, but it received a three-star rollover rating from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included Nissan Safety Shield 360, with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and rear automatic braking. Additional standard features included adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and rear door alert. Optional features included a rear camera mirror and surround-view camera system. The Armada did not offer advanced driving assist technologies like Nissan ProPilot Assist or Super Cruise.