2022 Hyundai Palisade vs 2021 Volvo XC40

The 2021 Volvo XC40 had a traditional SUV styling with a tall, flat roof and upright rear hatch, fitting well within the Volvo family thanks to features like “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, “Recharge” badging, model-specific alloy wheels, and a gloss black roof and mirror caps. It also featured a unique 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 integrated elements like the portrait-oriented touchscreen and air vents seamlessly.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade, introduced as Hyundai's SUV flagship, replaced the Santa Fe XL. It featured an elegant and striking exterior design with distinctive lines, a prominent grille, and sculpted wheel arches. The continuous strip of glass surfaces around the tailgate gave the impression of a floating rear roof. LED headlights, running lights, and taillights added to its signature look. Inside, the Palisade was polished and elegant, with a horizontally arrayed screen, a beefy center console, and high-quality materials. The second row offered either a bench or captain's chairs, and the third row was spacious enough for adults on short rides. Fit and finish were near-luxury levels, making the Palisade a worthy flagship.

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 the same sprint in 6.1 and 8.1 seconds, respectively. All versions were electronically limited to 112 mph. The XC40 emphasized quiet and comfort, with excellent ride quality even on rough roads, and the Recharge model offered one-pedal driving and a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade featured a naturally aspirated 3.8-liter V6 engine, producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. The V6 had gasoline direct injection, dual variable valve timing, and was Atkinson-cycle-capable, with auto-stop-and-go settings to save fuel. The EPA estimated FWD models could achieve up to 19 mpg city/26 mpg highway/22 mpg combined, while AWD models had 19 mpg city/24 mpg highway/21 mpg combined. The Palisade handled nicely with four-wheel independent suspension and stabilizer bars, and SEL Convenience trim levels and above had a self-leveling suspension system. It could tow up to 5,000 pounds with trailer brakes or 1,650 pounds without.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 had no difference in passenger or cargo space between the Recharge and gasoline models. However, it had less legroom and headroom compared to 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 with clever storage solutions, including a removable trash bin in the center console, a bag hook in the glovebox door, and extra-large door bins. A wireless charging pad was optional, and a single USB-C port was standard, but second-row occupants lacked phone-charging options.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade excelled as a minivan replacement, offering comfortable seating and easy access throughout the cabin. The third row had cupholders on each side, and the second-row captain's chairs were very comfortable. The front row had ample storage, including two compartments in the center console and door panel bottle holders. Luggage space measured 18.0 cubic feet behind the third row, 45.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 86.4 cubic feet with both second and third rows folded. An underfloor storage compartment added extra space, and roof rails could hold up to 220 pounds of cargo. The Palisade featured a compact shift-by-wire setup for its gear selector, intuitive controls, and a dual-panel sunroof on higher trims.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge featured the Android Automotive OS infotainment system with Google apps like Google Assistant and Google Maps. It 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 drivers to simply shift out of park with the key fob on their person.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade showcased Hyundai's technological leadership. The standard display audio system on S and SEL models had an 800 x 480 resolution screen, while Limited and Calligraphy models had a 1920 x 720 color touchscreen and a 630-watt Harman Kardon premium audio system. The infotainment system included wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, HD Radio, and satellite radio. The Palisade had multiple USB ports, a Qi wireless charging pad, and a 115-volt power outlet on higher trims. A rear-view monitor with parking guidance was standard, with surround view on higher trims. The Limited and Calligraphy models also featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and Hyundai's Blue Link connected car 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. Standard safety features included 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 Volvo’s latest sensor suite, scalable for future advanced driver aids.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA. It featured seven airbags, three-point seat belts, LATCH anchors, active head restraints, and a front crumple zone. Standard active safety features included anti-lock braking, electronic stability control, blind-spot collision avoidance, rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance, and forward collision-avoidance assist. Higher trims added forward-looking parking sensors, ultrasonic rear occupant alert, and Highway Driving Assist.