2021 Volvo XC40 vs 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5

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, the electric variant, featured 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 yet premium, with high-quality materials like Nappa leather and Nubuck textile, and a coherent design that melded elements like the portrait-oriented touchscreen and air vents into a pleasing whole.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5, the first vehicle of Hyundai's new Ioniq sub-brand, presented a polished exterior with minimal character lines and a unique Parametric Pixel design. This design was evident in the extensive use of pixelated LEDs in the headlights, taillights, and other lighting elements. The Ioniq 5's aerodynamic wheels and ornamental design extended into the fender flares, and the vehicle featured a set of five horizontal lines creating silver-contrast plastic bits around its bottom half. Inside, the Ioniq 5 had a “Living Space” theme with a mellow, comfortable interior available in black, gray, and dark green hues. The cabin featured sustainable materials, including recycled fibers and bio-materials, and offered a “Relaxation” mode for the driver’s seat, providing a zero-gravity resting position.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 offered a three-tiered powertrain lineup, with the electric Recharge model at the top. The gasoline options 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 model 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 Recharge had a 78-kilowatt-hour battery pack, with 75 kWh of usable capacity, and could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds. The T5 and T4 models achieved the same sprint 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 even on rough roads, and was capable of one-pedal driving using regenerative braking. It also had a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 came in two drive configurations, three trims, and three powertrains. The base SE Standard Range had a single 128-kW rear-mounted electric motor with 168 horsepower and a range of 220 miles. The extended-range lineup included SE, SEL, and Limited RWD variants with a 168-kW rear motor producing 225 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, offering a range of 303 miles. The AWD variants featured a dual-motor system with a 74-kW front motor and a 165-kW rear motor, providing a total of 320 hp and 446 lb-ft of torque, with a range of 256 miles. The Ioniq 5 handled well on various road conditions, with four drive modes including Sport mode, which re-tuned the torque split and added weight to the steering wheel. The vehicle also featured paddle shifters for adjusting regenerative braking levels and had a quiet cabin with noise-reducing features.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge had the same passenger and cargo space as the gasoline models, but it was not particularly spacious. 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 small, with much of the space occupied by powertrain hardware. However, Volvo compensated 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 due to the relocation of the Harman Kardon system's speakers to the dashboard. The storage cubby ahead of the shifter was well-shaped to hold a phone, and a wireless charging pad was optional.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 sat on the Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), offering a longer wheelbase and maximizing interior space and utility. It had a longer wheelbase than the seven-passenger Hyundai Palisade and was roomier than competitors like the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Volkswagen ID.4. The Ioniq 5 offered a total interior volume of 133.7 cubic feet, with a passenger volume of 106.5 cu-ft. The interior featured soft touch points and useable spaces, such as a moveable center armrest and cubby, and a modern take on the retro front bench seat. The leatherette seats were comfortable and supportive, with added bolsters for snug security.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge featured the Android Automotive OS infotainment system, with Google apps like Google Assistant and Google Maps built-in. 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 for the infotainment system and other vehicle functions. It lacked a start button, allowing the driver to simply get in and shift out of park.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 was equipped with a next-generation high-voltage, energy-dense system with vehicle-to-load capabilities. It supported ultra-fast charging, reaching 80 percent battery capacity in 18 minutes, and could charge other devices or vehicles. The Ioniq 5 featured a redesigned Blue Link connected car app, a digital key, enhanced smartphone pairing, AI-powered voice recognition, and OTA updates. It had 12.3-inch screens for the instrument cluster and infotainment, with an anti-glare coating for clear visibility.

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

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 featured Hyundai SmartSense, a suite of advanced driving assistance systems. Standard features included blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, and front- and rear-collision avoidance. The Ioniq 5 also had Hyundai Highway Drive Assist I, a Level 2 semi-autonomous driving system with machine-learning adaptive cruise control. It offered a head-up display with augmented reality overlays, although this feature could be distracting.