2021 Subaru Outback vs 2021 Volvo XC40

The 2021 Volvo XC40, with its traditional SUV styling, stood out among most small luxury crossovers. Its tall, flat roofline and upright rear hatch gave it a robust and sturdy appearance. The familial styling cues, such as the “Thor’s Hammer” LED headlights and distinctive oval grille, linked it closely with the rest of the Volvo lineup. The gasoline models offered an optional white contrasting roof, imparting a slightly retro vibe.

The electric XC40 Recharge distinguished itself with a blanked-off grille, subtle “Recharge” badging, and specific alloy wheels, with 19-inch wheels being standard and 20-inch wheels optional. Further enhancements included a gloss black roof and mirror caps, and a specially designed rear bumper due to the absence of exhaust tips. It featured a unique Sage Green Metallic color, making it stand out subtly without shouting its electric credentials. Placed conveniently, the charging port was where the fuel filler would typically be found.

Volvo’s Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) platform underpinned the XC40, designed to accommodate both gasoline and electric powertrains. This avoided the issues associated with retrofitting electric powertrains into existing designs. Inside, the XC40 boasted a delightfully minimalist design with high-quality materials that lent it a premium feel. The real metal trim on the dashboard and the combination of Nappa leather and Nubuck textile upholstery were notable.

The interior design was cohesive, with every element from the portrait-oriented touchscreen to the air vents melding into a seamless and pleasing whole, a rarity in this segment where most automakers compromise on interior quality to meet specific price points.

The 2021 Subaru Outback, redesigned for the 2020 model year, retained a familiar and comfortable feeling, akin to a well-loved Subaru of a decade earlier. The analog gauges, steering wheel design, and seats seemed reminiscent of older models, maintaining continuity. However, unlike the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek's dated dashboard, the Outback's interior looked fresher, especially in the higher trims that featured an 11.6-inch portrait display instead of the dual 7-inch touchscreens found in the base trim.

The larger screen, standard on Premium and higher trims, was bright, sharp, and integrated seamlessly within polished black plastic and chrome trim, topped with contrasting leatherette in upper trims. Below the screen, modern essentials like USB ports and a parking brake switch were conveniently placed alongside a substantial PRNDL shifter and dual cupholders.

The 2021 Outback featured high gray cladding on its wheel arches, sills, and bumpers, signaling its rugged utility. The styling remained smooth and plain, designed more for function than flair. New for 2021 was the available Brilliant Bronze Metallic paint on the Premium trim and standard adaptive LED headlights. The Outback's essence as a lifted wagon remained, making it a unique alternative to typical crossovers or SUVs.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 offered a three-tiered powertrain lineup, with the electric Recharge sitting at the top. Gasoline models were equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base FWD T4 variant produced 187 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, while the AWD T5 model generated 248 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque.

The XC40 Recharge, sharing its powertrain with the Polestar 2, featured electric motors on both axles for AWD capability, delivering a combined output of 402 horsepower and 486 pound-feet of torque. Equipped with a 78-kilowatt-hour battery pack (75 kWh usable), it could achieve 0-60 mph in just 4.7 seconds, outperforming several competitors like the Tesla Model Y Long Range and Ford Mustang Mach-E Premium. The gas-powered T5 and T4 reached 0-60 mph in 6.1 and 8.1 seconds, respectively.

All XC40 versions were electronically limited to a top speed of 112 mph, part of Volvo's safety-initiative. The Recharge model emphasized a traditional luxury character, prioritizing comfort and quiet over outright performance. It also supported one-pedal driving via regenerative braking, enhancing driver convenience. Notably, the Recharge had a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds when properly equipped, an uncommon feature among electric vehicles.

Subaru’s 2021 Outback maintained an aging powertrain lineup, relying heavily on a 2.5-liter flat-four engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. Moving the substantial vehicle, especially when loaded, proved a strain for this engine, resulting in sluggish and noisy highway performance. However, opting for models equipped with the 2.4-liter turbocharged engine, available in the XT variants (Limited, Touring, and Onyx Edition), drastically changed the performance dynamics. This engine offered 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque at a low 2,000 rpm, allowing the Outback to keep pace with traffic with ease.

While speed wasn't the Outback’s strong suit, it delivered significantly enhanced performance and refinement with the XT’s turbocharged engine. Fuel efficiency also differed notably with the base engine offering 26 mpg city and 33 mpg highway, compared to 23 mpg city and 30 mpg highway for the turbo XT.

Despite its robust power, the Outback was designed as a long-distance cruiser, equipped with long-travel springs and high ground clearance of 8.7 inches for tackling rough roads effortlessly. Subaru’s electronically-variable AWD system was highly praised, providing consistent four-wheel drive and proactive torque distribution. The Outback's X-Mode optimizations and extra driving modes available on the Onyx Edition added further versatility, making it highly capable off-road.

Volvo asserted that the XC40 Recharge maintained the same passenger space and cargo volume as its gasoline counterparts; however, it was notably less spacious than some rivals. Compared to competitors like the Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach-E, the XC40 offered less legroom in both front and rear seats, less headroom than the Tesla, and a substantially smaller cargo area. The frunk was also limited in size due to powertrain hardware under the hood.

The gasoline versions of the XC40 were more competitive, especially against models like the Audi Q3 and BMW X1. Despite the overall limited space, Volvo enhanced practicality with clever storage solutions. These included a removable trash bin in the center console, a bag hook in the glovebox, large door bins, and a well-designed storage cubby for a phone with an optional wireless charging pad.

The 2021 Subaru Outback delivered ample space and utility with impressive interior accommodations. It boasted 76 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded, and 33 cubic feet with the seats raised, offering a wide and flat cargo area free of intrusions. The Outback's high ground clearance of 8.7 inches not only made it capable off-road but also facilitated a commanding driving position.

Both headroom and legroom were abundant in all seating positions, featuring comfortable and supportive seats. The panoramic visibility, thanks to thin pillars and extensive glass areas, enhanced the driving experience. The numerous storage options included large door pockets and multiple compartments in the front center console, adding to the practicality.

Nevertheless, some essential features were restricted to higher trims. Features like push-button start, rear climate vents, and a moonroof required higher trim levels or came in expensive option packages. Additionally, the unique integrated roof rails and crossbars exemplified Subaru’s practical and thoughtful engineering, saving money and adding convenience for outdoor enthusiasts.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge debuted with the Android Automotive OS infotainment system, initially seen in the Polestar 2. This system featured Google apps integration, including Google Assistant and Google Maps, providing a highly user-friendly experience for Android phone users. The standard inclusions were Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth hands-free connectivity. The hardware comprised a 9-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.

The inclusion of OTA updates for infotainment and other vehicle functions was a significant advancement. While not detailed, future capabilities seemed promising.

Recharge models simplified the driving experience by eliminating the need for a start button; drivers only needed the key fob to shift out of park. However, features like the Digital Key, allowing smartphone use in place of a key fob available in the Polestar 2 via OTA update, were not yet confirmed for the XC40.

Subaru’s 2021 Outback exhibited an antiquated infotainment interface that did not reflect the modern technology within. The graphics and typefaces resembled those of older gaming consoles rather than contemporary systems. Despite this, the system offered useful features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and an optional navigation system, which appeared more current. Subaru’s dual-screen setup in the base model was far less efficient compared to higher trims' single large screen.

The Subaru EyeSight suite of driver aids was standard, including adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and forward automatic emergency braking. These systems provided good semi-automated control on highways, although their functionality diminished in certain scenarios due to reliance on camera systems alone, unlike competitors that additionally used radar.

The gasoline model of the 2021 Volvo XC40 earned a top “Top Safety Pick+” rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA. It received five stars in frontal and side-crash tests, but four stars in rollover tests. The structural differences in the XC40 Recharge, including a battery safety cage and redesigned front crash structure, left its specific safety ratings pending, though expectations of high performance remained.

Volvo excelled in offering a comprehensive suite of standard safety features in the XC40, such as lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, and more. The Recharge model featured an advanced sensor suite capable of future scalability, potentially enhancing driver assistance systems through updates.

The 2021 Subaru Outback was built on a stronger and stiffer chassis compared to previous models. It featured additional airbags and a variety of advanced driver assists, depending on the trim. Available features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear emergency braking, and a driver-attention monitor.

The 2020 Outback, structurally identical to the 2021 model, had earned IIHS’s “Top Safety Pick+” rating, indicating strong performance in crash safety tests. Similarly, the NHTSA awarded it five stars overall, though it had four stars for front passenger frontal crash protection and rollover tests.