2021 Volvo XC40 vs 2022 Honda Odyssey

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 high-quality design.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey, while adhering to the classic minivan design, had a sense of style with kinked sliding doors and dramatic hockey-stick character lines. The Elite trim level featured dark gray 19-inch aluminum wheels. The interior was spacious and practical, with quality leather, supportive front seats, and a tri-zone automatic climate control system. The Odyssey’s Magic Slide second-row seats and comfortable third-row seats made it a versatile choice for families. The cargo space was impressive, with 32.8 cubic feet behind the third row, 88.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 144.9 cubic feet with the second row removed.

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 had a combined 402 hp and 486 lb-ft, with a 78-kilowatt-hour battery pack. 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 and one-pedal driving capability. It also had a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey had a 3.5-liter V6 engine making 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. It was FWD only, with an EPA fuel economy estimate of 22 mpg in combined driving. The Odyssey was enjoyable to drive, with quick acceleration, responsive handling, and remarkable composure on mountain roads. However, repeated use of the brakes on downhill grades caused pedal vibration and an audible grumble. The Odyssey averaged 22.6 mpg during a test drive in Southern California.

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. Clever storage solutions included 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 have phone-charging options.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey offered easy access with wide-opening doors and a lower ride height. The interior featured quality leather, supportive front seats, and a tri-zone automatic climate control system. Storage space was abundant, with numerous places to stash items. The Magic Slide second-row seats and comfortable third-row seats provided versatility and comfort. The Odyssey had 32.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 88.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 144.9 cubic feet with the second row removed.

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, allowing the driver to simply shift out of park with the key fob on their person.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey Elite was packed with technology, but its infotainment features were increasingly outclassed by rivals. Starting with the EX trim, it had an 8-inch touchscreen, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Touring trim added navigation, HondaLink connected services, CabinWatch, and CabinTalk. The rear-seat entertainment system had a single 10.2-inch display, HDMI inputs, and a USB port. The Elite trim added an 11-speaker premium audio system and a wireless charging pad. However, the infotainment system was underwhelming, with a small screen and a lack of modern features.

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. Standard safety features included lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, and more. 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.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey had Honda Sensing as standard, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. It also had automatic high-beam headlights and a rear-seat reminder system. However, Honda Sensing lacked refinement, with some features responding too sharply or abruptly. The Odyssey earned an overall five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.