2021 Volvo XC40 vs 2022 Hyundai Tucson

The 2021 Volvo XC40 boasted a more traditional SUV aesthetic compared to other small luxury crossovers. With a tall, flat roof and an upright rear hatch, it exuded a robust and solid look. It also mirrored the contemporary Volvo lineup with recognizable styling cues such as “Thor’s Hammer” LED headlights and an oval grille. Gasoline models sported a contrasting white roof for a hint of retro flair, adding a touch of distinctiveness.

The electric XC40 Recharge took a different path with a blanked-off grille, subtle “Recharge” badging, and unique alloy wheels available in 19 or 20 inches. Its gloss black roof and mirror caps, revised rear bumper to omit exhaust tips, and exclusive Sage Green Metallic color further set it apart. The charging port, cleverly placed where you’d expect the fuel filler, blended seamlessly with the design.

Built on Volvo’s Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) platform, shared with the Polestar 2, the XC40 was designed to integrate both gasoline and electric powertrains effortlessly. Inside, the XC40 offered a minimalist design adorned with high-quality materials, including real metal trim and a combination of Nappa leather and Nubuck textile upholstery. Every element, from the portrait-oriented touchscreen to the air vents, integrated harmoniously, making it a visually coherent and luxurious space.

Conversely, the 2022 Hyundai Tucson embraced a fresh platform introduced to the U.S. market in its long-wheelbase version, providing ample space for passengers and cargo. Up front, the Tucson sported Hyundai’s new design language with a parametric grille hiding LED daytime running lights, Bi-LED headlights, and LED front turn signals. When lit, the headlights and daytime running lights formed a unique shape resembling wings.

The side profile drew inspiration from the Hyundai Elantra, with a distinctive silver D-pillar connecting the window surrounds to the rear, creating a floating roof effect. At the rear, the Tucson featured toothy taillights illuminated by LEDs, adding flair and helping it stand out in a crowded segment.

The Tucson’s wheels ranged from 17 to 19 inches, with different designs across the trims. High-end models boasted premium fascias, front and rear skid plates, gloss black pillars, and a panoramic sunroof. Standard features included roof rails, body-color side-mirror housings, and laminate/acoustic glass, with additional amenities such as heated outside mirrors and front aero wipers in higher trims. Inside, the Tucson combined hard- and soft-touch surfaces with stain- and odor-resistant cloth seats, enhancing its appeal without straying from its budget-friendly roots.

In the realm of performance, the 2021 Volvo XC40 provided a varied line-up with three distinct powertrains. The gasoline models featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base T4 variant offered front-wheel drive (FWD) with 187 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. The all-wheel-drive (AWD) T5 version delivered a peppier output of 248 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque.

The standout XC40 Recharge, sharing its powertrain with the Polestar 2, boasted dual electric motors providing AWD with a remarkable 402 hp and 486 lb-ft of torque. A 78-kilowatt-hour battery offered 75 kWh of usable capacity. The Recharge could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds, whereas the T5 clocked 6.1 seconds, and the T4 trailed at 8.1 seconds. All variants were electronically limited to 112 mph. The Recharge also allowed for one-pedal driving and had commendable ride quality despite larger 20-inch wheels.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson, meanwhile, came with two main powertrain options: a 2.5-liter direct-injected four-cylinder engine and a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder hybrid. The ICE model provided 187 hp and 178 lb-ft, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The hybrid variant offered a combined 226 hp and 258 lb-ft from its system, making it more engaging to drive.

The Tucson’s hybrid shone against rivals like the Ford Escape Hybrid and Honda CR-V Hybrid, especially during demanding drives with elevation changes. Front-wheel-drive (FWD) models with the ICE engine garnered an EPA-estimated 26 mpg city, 33 mpg highway, and 29 mpg combined, while AWD models saw slightly lower figures. The hybrid variants excelled with 37 mpg city, 36 mpg highway, and 37 mpg combined, with the most efficient achieving 38 mpg across all categories.

The upcoming plug-in hybrid model promised even more power with 261 hp and 224 lb-ft of torque, courtesy of a 13.8-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery, though full testing and range details were pending.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 offered no difference in passenger or cargo space between its Recharge and gasoline variants, yet it wasn’t particularly spacious. It trailed behind competitors like the Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach-E in both front and rear legroom, and lacked headroom compared to the Tesla. Its cargo area was also smaller, with a tiny frunk due to powertrain components occupying space under the hood.

Despite these limitations, Volvo compensated with innovative storage options. The center console featured a removable trash bin, and a glovebox door included a bag hook. Unique placements for the Harman Kardon audio system freed up door bin space, and a well-shaped storage cubby ahead of the shifter kept phones secure. A wireless charging pad was optional, complemented by a single USB-C port, though rear passengers had no phone-charging provisions.

In contrast, the 2022 Hyundai Tucson upped the ante with its new, more spacious platform. While not cheap on the inside, it went toe-to-toe with top competitors like the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V. Standard features included a six-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and lumbar support, with higher trims offering eight-way adjustments, memory settings, and ventilated front seats. The seating position was easy to adjust, and the steering wheel could be tilted and telescoped, wrapped in leather and heated in higher trims.

The Tucson's spacious cabin accommodated a family of four comfortably, outpacing the CR-V, RAV4, and Escape in passenger volume. It also boasted 74.8 cubic feet of cargo space, comparable to the Forester, RAV4, and CR-V, and significantly more than the Escape. The rear seats featured a 60-40 split-folding bench with a dual-level cargo floor in ICE models, standard remote release from the cargo area, and an optional hands-free liftgate in higher trims.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge adopted the Android Automotive OS from Polestar 2, integrating Google apps for a seamless experience. The infotainment system included Google Assistant for voice control and Google Maps for navigation, with the ability to sync personal Google accounts for further customization. Compatible with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth, its standout features were the built-in Google functionalities and OTA update capabilities.

The standard hardware featured a 9-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, with top-notch graphics and intuitive menus. The Recharge also ditched the traditional start button, utilizing a shift-and-go system facilitated by the presence of the key fob.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson came well-equipped with an 8-inch infotainment screen, six-speaker audio, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, HD Radio, and two USB ports. A 4.2-inch multi-information display was standard, with satellite radio, Blue Link app connectivity, additional USB outlets, rear air conditioning vents, and dual-zone automatic climate control available from the SEL/Blue trim upwards. Higher trims offered a fully digital instrument cluster and a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen, though it required wired connections for Apple and Android devices.

The larger infotainment system, integrated within a black plastic head unit, included all climate and media controls via touch-sensitive points. Though responsive, finding controls while driving proved challenging, relying more on steering wheel interfaces and voice commands.

The gasoline-powered 2021 Volvo XC40 earned top marks with a “Top Safety Pick+” from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, including five stars in frontal and side crash tests and four in rollover evaluations. Though the electric XC40 Recharge hadn’t been tested, Volvo’s implementation of a safety cage around the battery and a redeveloped crash structure suggested strong prospects in safety tests.

Standard safety features included lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency braking, rear parking sensors, and hill-start and descent control. Optional features encompassed traffic-sign recognition, reverse automatic emergency braking, driver-alertness monitoring, run-off road mitigation, oncoming lane mitigation, and Volvo’s Pilot Assist system for adaptive cruise control and lane-centering. The Recharge further benefitted from Volvo’s latest sensor suite designed for future scalability.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson had yet to undergo testing by the IIHS or NHTSA. Nevertheless, Hyundai’s SmartSense suite offered robust safety features. Standard inclusions were forward collision-avoidance with pedestrian/cyclist detection, lane-keep assist, automatic high beams, driver attention monitoring, rear occupant alert, speed limit assist, and leading vehicle departure alert.

Additional safety options comprised blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, surround-view cameras, parking sensors with collision avoidance, and remote parking assist. Hyundai’s comprehensive safety features rivaled those in luxury SUVs of similar size.

Hyundai’s warranty coverage was impressive, offering a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty, five-year/60,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty, seven-year anti-perforation warranty, and three years/36,000 miles of complimentary maintenance.