2021 Volvo XC40 vs 2022 Kia Sorento

Introduced for the 2019 model year, the Volvo XC40 enters 2021 with one major change—the addition of an all-electric powertrain option. The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge is the Swedish automaker’s first mass-market electric vehicle, in fact.

The Recharge will be sold alongside gasoline versions of the XC40, which carry over largely unchanged, and compete against small luxury crossovers like the Audi Q3, BMW X1, Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class, and Lexus UX. With its electric powertrain, the Recharge is a de facto Tesla Model Y competitor. It’s also priced similar to high-end versions of the Ford Mustang Mach-E, although the two electric crossovers have somewhat different philosophies.

In addition to that zero-emission powertrain, the Recharge gets an Android-based operating system, over-the-air (OTA) software update capability for all vehicle systems, and some updates to driver-assist tech. These changes don’t apply to gasoline 2021 XC40 models, but Volvo does plan to add the Android operating system to more vehicles in the future.

Since the Recharge is the main new thing for the 2021 XC40, that’s what we focused on for this review. While the gasoline XC40 is available in three trim levels—Momentum, R-Design, and Inscription—with front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), the Recharge is only offered in a single trim level, with standard AWD.

Kia redesigned the popular Sorento last model year and for 2022 the midsize, three-row crossover SUV gets a few changes.

For starters, the appealing X-Line package is now available with S and EX trim in addition to the SX Prestige. All 2022 Kia Sorento models except for the base LX trim now have a standard 10.25-inch infotainment system with navigation and UVO connected services. Additionally, the top-of-the-line SX Prestige adds a more comfortable driver’s seat and heated second-row captain’s chairs as standard equipment.

The big news, however, pertains to a new all-wheel-drive option for the efficient Sorento Hybrid and the debut of the Sorento Plug-in Hybrid, which can travel 32 miles on electricity before switching to gas-electric hybrid propulsion and returning 34 mpg in combined driving.