2022 Land Rover Defender vs 2021 Volvo XC40

The 2021 Volvo XC40 presented a more traditional SUV styling compared to other small luxury crossovers, featuring a tall, flat roof and an upright rear hatch. It seamlessly integrated with the rest of the Volvo lineup, showcasing familial styling elements like the “Thor’s Hammer” LED headlights and a simple oval grille. Gasoline models offered a white contrasting roof for a retro touch. The XC40 Recharge differentiated itself with a blanked-off grille, subtle “Recharge” badging, and unique alloy wheels. It also featured a gloss black roof and mirror caps, a distinct rear bumper, 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 pleasing design.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender retained its distinctive exterior styling, with a boxy profile, tailgate-mounted spare tire, and flat hood, reminiscent of the original version and classic Series Land Rovers. Despite these retro elements, it boasted a modern design with rounded corners for improved aerodynamics and recessed LED headlights for a unique personality. The interior offered more headroom and legroom than its predecessor, with a comfortable driving position and good visibility. The rugged character was emphasized with bare metal and exposed screws, complemented by leather and suede upholstery. The Defender maintained its off-road capability while providing a comfortable on-road experience, with a suspension that absorbed bumps effectively and minimized noise from the large tires.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 offered a three-tiered powertrain lineup, with the electric Recharge at the top. The gasoline options included a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base FWD T4 produced 187 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, while the AWD T5 delivered 248 hp and 258 lb-ft. The Recharge shared its powertrain with the Polestar 2, featuring dual electric motors for AWD, generating a combined 402 hp and 486 lb-ft. It had a 78-kilowatt-hour battery pack, with 75 kWh usable capacity, enabling a 0-60 mph time of 4.7 seconds. All versions were electronically limited to 112 mph. The Recharge emphasized luxury and comfort, with excellent ride quality and one-pedal driving capability. It also had a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender introduced a new V8 engine, joining two existing powertrains. The base model had a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The mid-level option was a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six mild-hybrid powertrain, producing 395 hp and 406 lb-ft. All models featured a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission and standard 4WD with a two-speed transfer case. The V8 engine delivered 518 hp and 461 lb-ft, achieving 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds. V8 models included an electronic active rear differential, Dynamic drive mode, and unique suspension tuning for sportier handling. The Defender excelled in off-road capability, with a 4WD system, good approach and departure angles, and up to 11.5 inches of ground clearance. It also offered an 8,201-pound towing capacity.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 offered 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, with a tiny frunk due to powertrain hardware. The gasoline XC40 was more competitive in interior space against rivals like the Audi Q3 and BMW X1. Volvo compensated with clever storage solutions, including a removable trash bin, a bag hook in the glovebox, and large door bins. The center console had a well-shaped storage cubby, with an optional wireless charging pad and a standard USB-C port.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender featured 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats, providing comfort despite limited cargo space in the two-door Defender 90. The four-door Defender 110 offered more versatility, with two-row and three-row configurations. Three-row models had 11.4 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats in place, expanding to 70.4 cubic feet with seats folded. Two-row versions offered 18.1 cubic feet with seats up, and 51.7 cubic feet with seats folded. The interior emphasized functionality, with a large center-console storage bin and optional refrigeration. Land Rover also offered optional exterior cargo solutions, like a basket-style roof rack and side-mounted cargo boxes.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge featured the Android Automotive OS infotainment system, integrating 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 was the first XC40 variant with OTA update capability, allowing updates for the infotainment system and other software-controlled functions. It lacked a start button, using a key fob for ignition. The Polestar 2's Digital Key feature was expected in a future update, but not confirmed for the XC40.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender came with the Pivi Pro infotainment system, featuring a 10-inch central touchscreen and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster was standard on all trims except the base model. An 11.4-inch touchscreen was newly available for 2022. The interface had a distinctive look with muted colors, though the screen required a firm touch. Optional features included a 14-speaker Meridian audio system, head-up display, and a surround-view camera system, useful for off-roading.

The gasoline 2021 Volvo XC40 received a “Top Safety Pick+” rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA. The electric XC40 Recharge had not been rated, but Volvo expected good performance due to a safety cage around the battery and a redesigned front crash structure. Standard safety features included lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, and more. Optional features included traffic-sign recognition, reverse automatic emergency braking, and Volvo’s Pilot Assist system. The Recharge model had Volvo’s latest sensor suite, scalable for future driver aids.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender included standard driver-assist tech like lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, and traffic-sign recognition. Blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control were optional. The IIHS and NHTSA had not published safety ratings for the Defender, which was common for luxury vehicles.