2022 GMC Terrain vs 2021 Volvo XC40

The 2021 Volvo XC40 had a more traditional SUV styling compared to other small luxury crossovers, featuring a tall, flat roof and an upright rear hatch. It seamlessly fit into the current Volvo lineup with familial styling cues like the “Thor’s Hammer” LED headlights and a simple oval grille. Gasoline models offered a white contrasting roof for a retro look. The XC40 Recharge distinguished itself with a blanked-off grille, subtle “Recharge” badging, and model-specific alloy wheels. It also featured 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 high-quality materials, 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 2022 GMC Terrain received updates to its front styling, wheel designs, taillights, and interior trim. The new AT4 trim level featured a bolder grille design, black 17-inch alloy wheels with sport-terrain tires, and AT4 badges. The test vehicle came with Ebony Twilight metallic paint, a black leather interior, and several packages, bringing the MSRP to $41,810. More affordable SLE and SLT trims were available, with standard FWD and optional AWD. The Terrain Denali added a layer of luxury. However, the Terrain’s entry-level status was evident in the quality of materials and execution of details. The optional head-up display projected data onto a clear plastic panel rather than the windshield, and the pushbutton transmission controls were not intuitive. Despite these drawbacks, the Terrain offered a good ride and decent handling on pavement, though it struggled off-road.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 offered a three-tiered powertrain lineup, with the electric Recharge at the top. The two 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. The 78-kilowatt-hour battery pack offered 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 XC40 Recharge emphasized quiet and comfort, with excellent ride quality even on rough roads. It also offered one-pedal driving and a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds.

The 2022 GMC Terrain featured a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque. The previously available turbocharged 2.0-liter engine was discontinued. The 1.5-liter engine could handle a trailer weighing up to 1,500 pounds. The nine-speed automatic transmission kept the Terrain in the torque band once rolling, though there was a delay off the line. The Terrain AT4 could switch between FWD and AWD modes, with an Off-Road mode and Hill Descent Control system available. The AT4 offered 7.9 inches of ground clearance, less than some competitors. The Terrain AT4 provided a good ride and decent handling on pavement, though it struggled off-road. The sport-terrain tires didn’t offer much grip, and the powertrain lacked excitement. However, the Terrain AT4 met expectations for fuel economy, with an EPA rating of 26 mpg.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge had no difference in passenger or cargo space compared to gasoline models. However, it had less legroom and headroom than competitors like the Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach-E. The cargo area was also smaller, and the frunk was very small. The gasoline XC40 was more competitive on interior space compared to rivals like the Audi Q3 and BMW X1. Volvo compensated for the lack of space with 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 a wireless charging pad optional and a single USB-C port standard. However, second-row occupants didn’t get any phone-charging options.

The 2022 GMC Terrain offered a roomy interior for a compact crossover, with numerous comfort-enhancing features and storage solutions. The Terrain AT4 included power-adjustable front seats, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and dual-zone automatic climate control with rear air-conditioning vents. The eight-way power driver’s seat allowed for a comfortable driving position, and the climate control system was effective. The AT4 trim featured perforated leather upholstery with caramel-color contrast stitching and piping. The back seat was roomy, with plenty of legroom and foot room, and a rear USB charging port. The Terrain offered various storage slots and spots, though the storage tray forward of the cupholders was disappointing. Cargo space measured 29.6 cubic feet behind the back seat, expanding to 63.3 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down. The front passenger seat could also be folded down for longer items.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge featured the Android Automotive OS infotainment system, while gasoline models continued with the previous system. The 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 hands-free phone connectivity. The standard hardware setup included a 9-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The Recharge also had OTA update capability, allowing for updates to the infotainment system and other vehicle functions. Recharge models lacked a start button, instead allowing the driver to shift out of park with the key fob on their person.

The 2022 GMC Terrain offered two infotainment systems. The SLE trim came with a 7-inch touchscreen, while the SLT, AT4, and Denali trims featured an 8-inch touchscreen. Both systems included Bluetooth smartphone connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and GMC Connected Services through OnStar. The larger screen offered connected navigation, natural voice recognition, and a Bose premium sound system. The voice recognition system was excellent, responding quickly and accurately to prompts. The head-up display was part of the Tech Package, which also included front and rear park assist sensors and a surround-view camera system. The Terrain also featured a Tire Fill Alert system and a remote engine starting system.

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 in crash tests. The XC40 came with a long list of standard safety features, including lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency braking, rear parking sensors, hill-start assist, and hill-descent control. Optional features included traffic-sign recognition, reverse automatic emergency braking, a driver-alertness monitor, run-off road mitigation, oncoming lane mitigation, and Volvo’s Pilot Assist driver-assistance system. The Recharge model also featured Volvo’s latest sensor suite, scalable for future advanced driver aids.

Every 2022 GMC Terrain came with a GMC Pro Safety Package, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and a following distance indicator. The GMC Pro Safety Plus Package, available on SLE, SLT, and AT4 trims, added adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-change assist, rear parking sensors, and a Safety Alert Seat. The Terrain AT4 had all these features, which worked effectively and subtly. The IIHS awarded the 2022 Terrain mostly “Good” crash-test scores, though it received a “Marginal” rating in a new side-impact test. The NHTSA had not evaluated the 2022 Terrain’s crashworthiness at the time of the review.