2021 Volvo XC40 vs 2021 Volvo XC90

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 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 Volvo XC90, debuting as a 2016 model, reshaped Volvo’s image with more character while retaining traditional styling features like a boxy profile and blunt front end. The details made the difference, with softer lines, more chrome, and distinctive LED headlights with “Thor’s Hammer” daytime running lights. The Inscription trim level was the flashiest, with extra chrome trim and optional 21-inch alloy wheels. The XC90 shared Volvo's Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform with other "90" and "60" series models. The interior embodied “Swedish minimalism” with thoughtfully arranged, nice-looking materials, including matte-finish wood trim and optional wool upholstery. The Orrefors crystal shifter added a high-end touch to the otherwise restrained interior.

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 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, enabling AWD and a combined 402 hp and 486 lb-ft. The 78-kilowatt-hour battery pack provided electricity, with 75 kWh of usable capacity. The Recharge could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds, the T5 in 6.1 seconds, and the T4 in 8.1 seconds. All versions were electronically limited to 112 mph. The Recharge emphasized quiet and comfort, with excellent ride quality even on winter-ravaged roads. It also had a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds when properly equipped.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 had three powertrains built around a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and eight-speed automatic transmission. The base T5 engine was turbocharged, producing 250 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The T6 engine was both turbocharged and supercharged, upping output to 316 hp and 295 lb-ft. The T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid powertrain combined the T6 engine with electric assist, producing 400 hp and 472 lb-ft. The T5 came standard with FWD, with AWD optional on the T5 and standard on the T6 and T8. The XC90 struggled to accelerate away from stops on electric power alone, often requiring the gasoline engine’s assistance. The XC90 excelled at luxury, with excellent ride quality and a quiet cabin. Most models had a 5,000-pound maximum towing capacity, with the base FWD T5 rated at 4,000 pounds.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 had no difference in passenger or cargo space between the Recharge and gasoline models. However, it had less legroom and headroom compared to the Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach-E, and a smaller cargo area. The frunk was also very small. The gasoline XC40 was more competitive on interior space compared to rivals like the Audi Q3 and BMW X1. Volvo included clever storage solutions, such as 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 to hold a phone, with an optional wireless charging pad and a standard USB-C port. However, second-row occupants didn’t have phone-charging options.

The three-row 2021 XC90 was available in six-seat or seven-seat configurations. Headroom and legroom in all three rows were about average for the segment, with the third row being tight for adults. The seats in the second and third rows felt hard and lacked support. An optional power moonroof extended across the first two rows, giving the interior a more spacious feel. Standard four-zone climate control could be augmented with a filtration system. The Inscription trim had 10-way power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats with backrest massage, but no power-adjustable steering wheel. Storage space was limited, with a shallow center console storage bin. Cargo space for the T8 Recharge model was near the bottom of the segment, with 11.2 cubic feet with all seats in place, 34.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, and 64.1 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded. Volvo offered a hands-free power tailgate.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge featured the Android Automotive OS infotainment system, while gasoline models continued with the previous system. Android Automotive OS used Google apps, including Google Assistant and Google Maps, and allowed Android phone users to sync their personal Google accounts. The system included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth, 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 also lacked a start button, with the car starting when the driver shifted out of park. The related Polestar 2 would soon get a Digital Key feature, but Volvo hadn’t confirmed it for the XC40.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 featured the Sensus infotainment system, which was user-friendly and functional. It came standard with a 9-inch touchscreen, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, Bluetooth, and a built-in WiFi hotspot. Two front USB-A ports and two rear USB-C ports were standard. A 19-speaker Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system and head-up display were available. The portrait-oriented touchscreen was easy to use, with a tablet-like interface. However, the amount of text and typeface made reading some menus difficult while driving. The wireless charging pad added for 2021 was too small for most phones, and the second-row USB-C ports meant drivers with newer phones might not be able to plug in up front.

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. These ratings didn’t apply to the electric XC40 Recharge, but Volvo expected it to perform well in crash tests. The XC40 came with a long list of standard safety features, including lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, and rear parking sensors. Optional features included traffic-sign recognition, reverse automatic emergency braking, and Volvo’s Pilot Assist driver-assistance system. The Recharge model had Volvo’s latest sensor suite, scalable for future advanced driver aids.

The 2021 XC90 received the highest “Top Safety Pick+” rating from the IIHS for non-hybrid models, with top “Good” scores in all crash tests and a “Superior” rating for front-crash prevention tech in vehicle-to-vehicle testing. The NHTSA gave all 2021 XC90 models a five-star overall safety rating. The XC90 offered more standard safety features than most competitors, including lane-keep assist, a driver-attention monitor, traffic-sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, and Volvo’s Pilot Assist driver aid. Pilot Assist was one of the first systems of its kind and remained one of the best, with smooth operation and quick reactions to other vehicles.