2021 Volvo XC40 vs 2022 Acura MDX

The 2021 Volvo XC40 had a traditional SUV styling with a tall, flat roof and upright rear hatch, fitting well within the Volvo family with its “Thor’s Hammer” LED headlights and simple oval grille. Gasoline models offered a white contrasting roof for a retro look. The XC40 Recharge featured a blanked-off grille, “Recharge” badging, model-specific alloy wheels, a gloss black roof, and a model-exclusive Sage Green Metallic color. The interior was minimalist yet premium, with real metal trim and a combination of Nappa leather and Nubuck textile upholstery, creating a coherent and pleasing design.

The 2022 Acura MDX, a pioneer in the three-row luxury crossover SUV category, was built on a new dedicated platform with a longer wheelbase, wider body, and increased dash-to-axle distance for a more elegant look. The MDX featured standard Jewel Eye LED headlights, expressive LED daytime running lights, and larger wheels and tires. Inside, the MDX had a modernized, spacious cabin with authentic materials like natural wood, genuine aluminum, and real leather. The center console housed multiple controls, including a unique gear selection and a 12.3-inch infotainment screen. The front seats were comfortable with a wide range of adjustments, and the steering wheel included redundant controls and paddle shifters.

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 per axle for AWD, producing a combined 402 hp and 486 lb-ft. The Recharge 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 zero to 60 mph in 6.1 and 8.1 seconds, respectively. All versions were electronically limited to 112 mph. The Recharge emphasized quiet and comfort, with excellent ride quality and one-pedal driving capability. It also had a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds.

The 2022 Acura MDX came with a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 290 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque, paired with a new 10-speed automatic transmission. The base and Tech trims had FWD, while SH-AWD was optional on these trims and standard on others. The SH-AWD system featured torque vectoring, enhancing cornering feel and control. The MDX had a reworked suspension with a double-wishbone setup in the front and revised rear multi-link suspension, improving ride quality and sporty handling. The new 10-speed transmission worked smoothly with the engine, offering five drive modes to tailor performance. The MDX impressed in comparison drives, feeling closer to the benchmark Audi Q7 and outperforming the Lexus RX L and Volvo XC90 in handling and ride quality.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge had the same passenger and cargo space as the 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 relocated Harman Kardon speakers. The storage cubby ahead of the shifter was well-shaped for a phone, with an optional wireless charging pad and a standard USB-C port. However, second-row occupants lacked phone-charging options.

The 2022 Acura MDX offered comfortable seating for the first two rows, with dual bucket sport seats in the front and a second row with a removable center section. The second row could slide and recline, providing flexible legroom for second- and third-row passengers. The third row was best suited for pre-teens and smaller individuals. The MDX had between 16.3 and 18.1 cubic feet of luggage space behind the third row, expandable to 39.1 to 48.4 cubic feet with the third row folded, and up to 71.4 to 95 cubic feet with the second row folded. The power tailgate featured “Grab ‘N Go” and Hands-Free Access functions, and the interior lighting offered 27 customizable themes.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge featured the Android Automotive OS infotainment system with Google apps, including Google Assistant and Google Maps. 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 had OTA update capability for the infotainment system and other vehicle functions. It also lacked a start button, allowing drivers to simply shift out of park with the key fob on their person.

The 2022 Acura MDX offered the ELS Studio 3D Premium Audio System with 16 speakers and 710 watts of amplification in the A-Spec and Advance Packages. The base MDX had a Premium Audio system with nine speakers, while the Tech Package included an ELS Studio system with 12 speakers. Navigation was standard on Tech and above trims, and all models featured a 12.3-inch infotainment screen and the Acura Precision Cockpit digital instrument panel. Amazon Alexa, wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Qi-compatible wireless charging were standard. The A-Spec and Advance trims included CabinTalk, a head-up display, and a surround-view camera system. The MDX also had a WiFi hotspot and OTA update capability.

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 XC40 came with standard safety features like 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 a safety cage around the battery and a redesigned front crash structure, with Volvo expecting it to perform well in crash tests.

Crash-test ratings for the 2022 Acura MDX were not yet released, but the outgoing model received high ratings, and Acura engineers targeted even better ratings for 2022. The MDX featured a higher percentage of high-strength steel and an advanced safety structure. The front end was redesigned for pedestrian safety, with low-speed braking control and collision mitigation throttle control. The AcuraWatch suite of safety and driver assistance technologies was standard, including collision mitigation braking, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, road departure mitigation, traffic sign recognition, driver attention monitor, and traffic-jam assist.