2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid vs 2021 Volvo XC40

The 2021 Volvo XC40 had a traditional SUV styling with a tall, flat roof and upright rear hatch, fitting nicely 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 yet premium, with 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 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Limited, priced at $42,083, looked like a standard RAV4 despite being fully loaded. It lacked the larger wheels found on the non-hybrid RAV4 Limited and did not offer an Adventure trim level due to its electronic AWD system. The RAV4 Hybrid had a tough appearance, needing only bolder wheels to complete the look. Inside, it was stylish, functional, and practical, with a mix of impressive materials and glossy hard plastic. The test vehicle had a rattle from the license plate vibrating on the tailgate. The interior featured clear instrumentation, oversized climate control knobs, and an easy-to-use infotainment system. Storage was accommodating, with useful shelves and a roomy cargo area of 37.5 cubic feet, expandable to 69.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 offered a three-tiered powertrain lineup, with the electric Recharge on top. The gasoline options included a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base FWD T4 had 187 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, while the AWD T5 had 248 hp and 258 lb-ft. The Recharge 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. It had a 78-kilowatt-hour battery pack, with 75 kWh usable capacity, and could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds. The T5 and T4 models achieved 0-60 mph 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 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid combined a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gas engine with front and rear electric motors and a lithium-ion battery pack, generating 219 horsepower. The front electric motor produced 149 pound-feet of torque, and the rear motor generated 89 lb-ft. It offered several driving modes, including Eco, Normal, Sport, Trail, and EV. The RAV4 Hybrid weighed between 3,690 and 3,780 pounds, providing lively acceleration despite the engine's unpleasant sound when revving. The EPA rated it at 40 mpg in combined driving, and it averaged 39.7 mpg in testing. The CVT operated transparently, and the regenerative braking system was smooth. The RAV4 Hybrid had a MacPherson strut front, multi-link rear suspension, and Active Cornering Assist, but the all-season tires lacked grip. It handled well on roads and had 8.1 inches of ground clearance for off-road capability.

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. It had less legroom and headroom and a smaller cargo area. The frunk was also small, with much of the space occupied by powertrain hardware. The gasoline XC40 was more competitive on interior space compared to rivals like the Audi Q3 and BMW X1. Volvo compensated with clever storage solutions, including 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 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid offered comfort with an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, a tilt/telescopic steering wheel with a heated rim, and heated and ventilated front cushions. The rear seats provided decent legroom, excellent foot space, and good leg support, with a reclining backrest and heated cushions. The dashboard had clear instrumentation, oversized climate control knobs, and an easy-to-use infotainment system. Storage was accommodating, with useful shelves and a center armrest with cupholders for rear-seat occupants. The cargo area measured 37.5 cubic feet, expandable to 69.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The test vehicle had a premium sound system’s subwoofer taking up space and an all-weather mat that was clunky.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge featured the Android Automotive OS infotainment system, with Google apps like Google Assistant and Google Maps. It included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity, with a 9-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The Recharge had OTA update capability for the infotainment system and other vehicle functions. It lacked a start button, requiring only the key fob to shift out of park. The Polestar 2’s Digital Key feature was expected in a future update, but not confirmed for the XC40.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid offered infotainment systems with either a 7-inch or 8-inch touchscreen, supporting Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and SiriusXM. It included Safety Connect and WiFi Connect with trial periods. The test vehicle had an 11-speaker JBL premium audio system, dynamic navigation, and voice recognition with free updates. The 8-inch display was user-friendly, with shortcut buttons and stereo knobs. The dynamic voice recognition was fast and accurate, though it couldn’t adjust climate settings. The JBL sound system was satisfactory. The RAV4 Hybrid also offered a 360-degree camera system and a rearview camera mirror.

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, and more. Optional features included traffic-sign recognition, reverse automatic emergency braking, and Volvo’s Pilot Assist. The Recharge had Volvo’s latest sensor suite, scalable for future advanced driver aids.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and more. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic warning were standard on all but the Hybrid LE trim. Rear automatic braking was available on the Hybrid Limited. TSS 2.0 was generally effective, though lane-centering assistance and adaptive cruise control had some issues in heavy traffic. The RAV4 Hybrid earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and top marks from the IIHS, except for its headlights.