2022 Chevrolet Traverse vs 2021 Volvo XC40

The 2021 Volvo XC40 had a traditional SUV styling with a tall, flat roof and upright rear hatch, fitting seamlessly into the Volvo lineup 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, subtle “Recharge” badging, and model-specific alloy wheels, with a gloss black roof and mirror caps, 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 high-quality design.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse, despite being a glorified minivan, offered a stylish and practical SUV alternative. Prices started at $33,700 for the base LS with FWD, while the High Country trim cost $53,400. The 2022 model received a light restyle with new headlights, taillights, and grille designs, along with redesigned wheels and updated color choices. The RS trim featured blacked-out trim and dark gray 20-inch wheels. Inside, the Traverse RS had black leather upholstery with red and light gray contrast stitching, a black headliner, and gloss black trim. The design was simple and logical, with matte-finish black switchgear and easy-to-use stereo and climate controls.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 offered three powertrain options, with the electric Recharge at the top. The gasoline models included a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine with 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 featured dual electric motors providing AWD, with a combined 402 hp and 486 lb-ft, powered by a 78-kilowatt-hour battery pack. The Recharge could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds, while the T5 and T4 took 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 and one-pedal driving capability. It also had a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse had a single engine option: a 3.6-liter V6 producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Traverse had a tow rating of 5,000 pounds when properly equipped and offered various driving modes, including Tow/Haul, Snow, and Off-Road. The V6 engine provided adequate power, with an EPA fuel economy rating of 20 mpg in combined driving. The Traverse offered a firm yet compliant ride, with good road feel in town and a comfortable highway ride, though with noticeable road and wind noise. In the mountains, the Traverse felt athletic, with good steering and braking performance, though the RS trim’s tires and suspension could feel disconnected on undulating pavement.

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 single USB-C port. However, second-row occupants lacked phone-charging options.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse, in RS, Premier, or High Country trims, had captain’s chairs in the second row, reducing seating capacity to seven. The RS trim featured power-adjustable and heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and triple-zone climate control. The second-row Smart Slide function and long rear doors made third-row access easier. The Traverse offered generous legroom, headroom, and foot room in the second row, though the captain’s chairs lacked leg support. The third-row seat was accessible and reasonably comfortable for adults, with better accommodations than many rivals. The Traverse had abundant storage, including a hidden compartment behind the infotainment screen and another under the cargo floor. Cargo space was generous, with 23 cubic feet behind the third row, 57.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 98.2 cubic feet.

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 also had OTA update capability and lacked a start button, with the car starting automatically when the driver shifted out of park.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse LS and LT Cloth models had a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, while other trims had an 8-inch high-definition display. The Premier and High Country trims featured an 8-inch digital instrumentation panel. The infotainment system offered Bluetooth connectivity for two smartphones, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and connected services, including a WiFi hotspot. The 8-inch system could include navigation, SiriusXM 360L, and Alexa Built-in. The RS trim had a Bose premium sound system. The Traverse’s voice recognition system was responsive and accurate, and the available digital rearview mirror and surround-view camera enhanced visibility and maneuverability.

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 a long list of standard safety features, including lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, and more. The Recharge model had Volvo’s latest sensor suite, scalable for future advanced driver aids.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse came standard with Chevy Safety Assist, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and a following-distance indicator. Higher trims added adaptive cruise control, high-speed automatic emergency braking, and a rear pedestrian alert system. The Traverse received top “Good” ratings in most IIHS collision tests, except for an “Acceptable” rating in a new side-impact test. The NHTSA had not published 2022 crash-test ratings at the time of writing.