2021 Subaru Crosstrek vs 2021 Volvo XC40

The 2021 Volvo XC40 radiated a classic SUV aesthetic, contrasting sharply with its many small luxury crossover competitors. Its tall, flat roof and upright rear hatch embraced traditional SUV styling, creating a robust silhouette that aligned seamlessly with the modern Volvo lineup. Features like the "Thor’s Hammer" LED headlights and a simplistic oval grille solidified its connection to familial design cues. A few gasoline XC40 models offered a white contrasting roof, lending a touch of retro flair.

The XC40 Recharge differentiated itself subtly from its gasoline counterparts with a blanked-off grille, modest "Recharge" badging, and exclusive alloy wheels, where 19-inch wheels were standard, and 20-inch options were available. Additional distinctions included a glossy black roof and mirror caps, a redesigned rear bumper to accommodate the absence of exhaust tips, and a unique color option—Sage Green Metallic. The charging port occupied the location traditionally reserved for the fuel filler, aligning with its electric identity. Despite these variations, the Recharge maintained a low profile for electric-car drivers who preferred not to make a statement.

Underneath, the XC40 utilized Volvo's Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) platform, also seen in the Polestar 2. This platform was engineered to support both gasoline and electric powertrains from inception, sidestepping the typical adaptations some automakers made to fit an electric motor into a conventional framework.

Interiors of the XC40 were intentionally minimalist yet luxurious, showcasing high-quality materials that elevated the cabin’s ambiance. Genuine metal trim adorned the dashboard, and the upholstery amalgamated Nappa leather with Nubuck textiles. The coherent interior design effortlessly unified elements like the portrait-oriented touchscreen and air vents, all enhancing the Volvo’s premium appearance.

Contrastingly, the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek echoing the strategy of the original Outback, transformed the Impreza hatchback into a rugged crossover. Subaru retained the all-wheel-drive (AWD) system standard on the Impreza, amping the Crosstrek’s visuals with black body cladding and model-specific 17-inch wheels, and increasing its ride height to offer 8.7 inches of ground clearance. These tweaks created a pronounced SUV appearance and enhanced its character compared to the base Impreza hatchback, further buoyed by Subaru’s bold color choices, like Plasma Yellow Pearl for the 2021 model.

Beneath the black cladding, the Crosstrek shared Subaru's Global Platform with models like the Legacy/Outback, offering a proven foundation marked by greatly refined handling and polish. Despite its crossover makeover, the interior largely mirrored the Impreza hatchback’s simplicity, with straightforward but functional designs.

The Crosstrek’s interiors included somewhat mismatched aesthetics in the Sport trim, like the contrasting Plasma Yellow Pearl accents against Horizon Blue Pearl exteriors. Simulated carbon-fiber trim in the Sport model seemed less premium, though the StarTex water-repellant upholstery added practical value for outdoor adventures.

For the 2021 XC40, Volvo equipped a tripartite powertrain lineup, with the electric Recharge sitting at the pinnacle. The gasoline variations featured a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base FWD T4 delivered 187 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, while the AWD T5 bolstered numbers to 248 hp and 258 lb-ft.

The Recharge variant mirrored the Polestar 2 and came with dual electric motors—one per axle—offering AWD with a combined output of 402 hp and 486 lb-ft. A 78-kilowatt-hour battery pack, with a usable capacity of 75 kWh, powered this setup, and Volvo strategically divided the battery modules under the floor and where the transmission tunnel usually resides.

Acceleration figures indicated zero to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds for the Recharge, 6.1 seconds for the T5, and 8.1 seconds for the T4. Top speeds across all variants were electronically limited to 112 mph, Volvo’s initiative to mitigate speed-related accidents.

Although the Recharge was 0.1 seconds quicker to 60 mph than a Tesla Model Y Long Range and Ford Mustang Mach-E Premium, it lagged behind the Musk-designed Model Y Performance and the Ford Mach-E GT Performance Edition, along with its mechanically similar kin, the Polestar 2. Nevertheless, the Recharge embraced a quiet, comfort-centric luxury ethos rather than vying for peak speed accolades. Optional 20-inch wheels notwithstanding, it delivered a smooth ride on rugged roads. It supported one-pedal driving via regenerative braking, with a traditional braking mode for unfamiliar drivers.

While towing isn’t a staple for electric cars, the Recharge supported a 2,000-pound towing capacity when properly equipped.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek offered variety with a new powertrain option for the Sport and Limited trims—a 2.5-liter boxer-four engine that churned out 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. The Base and Premium trims continued with the preceding 2.0-liter boxer-four producing 152 hp and 145 lb-ft. Since 2019, Subaru offered a plug-in hybrid Crosstrek, though updates for 2021 were pending.

The flat layout of the boxer engine was a hallmark of Subaru, providing a lower center of gravity for better handling. The raised ride height, however, balanced out some of these handling benefits.

Base and Premium trims featured a standard six-speed manual transmission but allowed for an upgrade to the CVT, mandatory for the Sport and Limited trims to access the larger engine. Every Crosstrek trim included AWD, an edge over many small crossovers. This AWD system, featuring torque vectoring and Subaru’s X-Mode, was adept on loose surfaces and incorporated hill descent control, with new Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud modes exclusive to the Sport trim.

Despite its rugged pretense, the Crosstrek was predominantly pavement-bound, mirroring the Impreza's predictable road manners albeit with noticeable body roll due to the higher center of gravity. The ride remained comfortable with low wind noise.

Our Sport trim test vehicle, equipped with the new 2.5-liter engine, exhibited modest acceleration gains over the base engine, accompanied by prominent droning from the CVT.

Volvo asserted that passengers and cargo space remained unchanged between the XC40 Recharge and the gasoline models. Despite this, the XC40 Recharge couldn’t compete with the roominess of competitors like the Tesla Model Y or Ford Mustang Mach-E, particularly falling short in front and rear legroom, headroom (against Tesla), and cargo space. Moreover, the Recharge's frunk was notably small due to essential powertrain components occupying the space.

Comparatively, the gasoline XC40 performed better against rivals like the Audi Q3 and BMW X1, underscoring the segment's generally limited utility space. Volvo innovated with practical storage solutions such as a removable trash bin in the center console, a bag hook in the glovebox door, and moving the Harman Kardon speakers to the dashboard to create substantial door bins. The phone storage area was well-designed, with an optional wireless charging pad, but rear passengers lacked charging options.

For the 2021 Crosstrek, passenger space echoed the Impreza hatchback, with pronounced front and rear legroom. It slightly edged out the Impreza in rear headroom. Both models shared the same cargo space: 20.8 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 55.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. This capacitated the Crosstrek with competitive passenger space among small crossovers, though it lagged behind in cargo space compared to the Honda HR-V, Kia Seltos, Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, and Nissan Rogue Sport.

Notably, CVT-equipped models introduced a rear-seat reminder to discourage leaving children or pets behind, sounding alerts when the ignition was turned off. Front-seat conveniences included a practical cubby hole with USB and auxiliary ports, but rear passengers were again left yearning for charging amenities. Overall storage was modest, befitting a compact car rather than a crossover.

Crosstrek’s driving position, while higher than an Impreza, didn’t soar above other vehicles like traditional crossovers. Nevertheless, it offered good visibility owing to ample side glass and a conventional front design.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge featured the Android Automotive OS infotainment system, unveiled with the Polestar 2. This integrated Google Assistant, Google Maps, and allowed Android smartphone users to sync personal Google accounts for a personalized experience. Standard features included a 9-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with high-quality graphics, although the Google-centric interface might divide opinion.

The gasoline models retained the previous system, including Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity. The XC40 Recharge introduced OTA updates, akin to Tesla, potentially for any vehicle function managed by software, with promising future advancements.

A distinctive absence of a start button characterized the Recharge: drivers could simply enter with a key fob and shift out of park. While the related Polestar 2 awaited a Digital Key feature via OTA updating, this feature was yet to be confirmed for the XC40.

In contrast, the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek used the Starlink infotainment system, featuring a standard 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto integration, and Bluetooth. The Premium and Sport trims added WiFi and SiriusXM radio, while the Limited trim (and optionally lower trims) had an 8-inch touchscreen with navigation.

Subaru’s infotainment saw information redundantly displayed across a secondary screen above the main touchscreen and the instrument cluster. The 8-inch touchscreen in the test car was praised for responsiveness and navigation. Larger knobs and buttons for fundamental functions like audio and climate control, supplemented by substantial buttons on the steering wheel for EyeSight driver-assist features, prioritized practical usability.

The 2021 gasoline Volvo XC40 received the prestigious “Top Safety Pick+” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It scored five stars in frontal and side crashes and four stars in rollover tests. The XC40 Recharge hadn’t been tested, but Volvo anticipated commendable results due to its protective battery cage and revised front crash structure.

Standard safety features for the XC40 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 enhancements encompassed traffic-sign recognition, reverse automatic emergency braking, driver-alertness monitoring, run-off road mitigation, oncoming lane mitigation, and the Pilot Assist system, integrating adaptive cruise control and lane centering. The Recharge improved upon this with a new sensor suite capable of future feature enhancements through data updates.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek garnered a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with five stars in side crash tests and four stars for frontal and rollover crashes. While the 2021 model hadn’t been tested by the IIHS, the similar 2020 model received a “Top Safety Pick” accolade with the highest ratings in crash tests and front-crash prevention tech (based on EyeSight equipped models).

For 2021, CVT-equipped Crosstreks gained standard adaptive cruise control with lane centering, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. The Limited trim, and optionally the Premium and Sport trims, included reverse automatic braking, lane-change assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert.

Subaru’s adaptive cruise control, while competent, struggled with lane centering in curves but excelled in straight-line drives. EyeSight’s cameras, however, risked function disruption from windshield wipers or direct sunlight. Prospective buyers had to weigh these limitations against the enhanced protection from grille-mounted sensors.