2022 Lexus NX vs 2021 Volvo XC40

The 2021 Volvo XC40 had a more traditional SUV styling compared to other small luxury crossovers, featuring a tall, flat roof and an upright rear hatch. It seamlessly fit into the Volvo lineup with familial styling cues 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, subtle “Recharge” badging, and model-specific alloy wheels. It also featured 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, real metal trim, and a combination of Nappa leather and Nubuck textile upholstery.

The redesigned 2022 Lexus NX, available in four model series, showcased a design that was unmistakably Lexus, thanks to its jutting spindle grille and new block lettering on the tailgate. The NX was longer, wider, and taller than its predecessor, offering more passenger and cargo space. Most models featured NuLuxe simulated leather, while the Luxury trim included real leather and open-pore wood trim. The F Sport trim stood out with a unique mesh-pattern grille, body-color fender trim, 20-inch gloss black wheels, and black mirrors. Inside, the F Sport had sport-bolstered seats, a black headliner, and unique instrumentation. The interior design was simplified, with many functions integrated into the available 14-inch touchscreen, which could be challenging to use quickly.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 offered a three-tiered powertrain lineup, with the electric Recharge at the top. The two gasoline options included a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine and 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, sharing its powertrain with the Polestar 2, featured one electric motor for each axle, providing AWD and a combined 402 hp and 486 lb-ft. It 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. 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. It also had a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds.

The 2022 Lexus NX offered two electrified versions: the NX 350h hybrid with 239 horsepower and an EPA-estimated 39 mpg in combined driving, and the NX 450h+ plug-in hybrid with 302 hp and an estimated 36 miles of pure electric range. The NX 350 featured a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 275 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD. The base NX 250 had a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 203 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, with FWD and an optional AWD. Both the NX 250 and NX 350 had Normal, Sport, and Eco driving modes, while the NX 350 F Sport added Sport S, Sport+, and Custom modes, along with an adaptive variable sports suspension. The F Sport felt taut and lean on winding roads, while the NX 350 Luxury offered a softer driving character. Lexus estimated 25 mpg in combined driving for the NX 350.

Volvo claimed no difference in passenger or cargo space between the Recharge and gasoline XC40 models. However, the XC40 Recharge had less legroom and headroom compared to competitors like the Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach-E, and a smaller cargo area. The gasoline XC40 was more competitive on interior space compared to rivals like the Audi Q3 and BMW X1. Clever storage solutions included 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. A wireless charging pad was optional, and a single USB-C port was standard, though second-row occupants lacked phone-charging options.

Lexus claimed the new NX offered more interior room for people and cargo, though it didn’t necessarily feel that way from the driver’s seat. The new dashboard design created a more intimate and cozy feeling. The NX was comfortable, especially with heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The F Sport trim offered better bolstering for the front seats. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed roomy accommodations, with rear air conditioning vents, heated cushions, and USB charging ports. The panoramic glass sunroof extended over the back seat. The NX had a 14% increase in cargo space behind the back seat, totaling 22.7 cubic feet, and 46.9 cubic feet with the back seats folded down.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge featured the Android Automotive OS infotainment system, with Google apps like Google Assistant and Google Maps. It included conventional Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity. The standard hardware setup included 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, instead allowing the driver to simply get in and shift out of park.

The 2022 Lexus NX introduced the new Lexus Interface infotainment system, with a 9.8-inch touchscreen display standard and a 14-inch screen optional. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Voice Assistant technology, and readiness for five connected service subscription plans. A 10-speaker sound system was standard, with a 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium surround system optional. The new Voice Assistant and Intelligent Assistant systems responded to natural voice commands. The NX also featured User Profiles for storing preferences and settings, digital key capability, and additional technologies like a digital mirror and a 10-inch head-up display. The larger 14-inch touchscreen collected fingerprints and dust and lacked a way to show multiple data panels simultaneously.

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, rear parking sensors, hill-start assist, and hill-descent control. Optional features included traffic-sign recognition, reverse automatic emergency braking, a driver-alertness monitor, run-off road mitigation, oncoming lane mitigation, and Volvo’s Pilot Assist driver-assistance system. The Recharge model also had Volvo’s latest sensor suite, scalable for future advanced driver aids.

The 2022 Lexus NX came with the standard Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, which included features like Risk Avoidance Emergency Steer Assist, Oncoming Vehicle Detection, Oncoming Pedestrian Detection, and Curve Speed Management. The Emergency Driving Stop System brought the NX to a stop if the driver was unresponsive. The NX also had standard blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, and Safe Exit Assist technology. Premium trim added rear pedestrian detection, an adaptive front lighting system, semi-autonomous parking assist, and rear cross-traffic braking. The Vision Package included a panoramic view monitoring system, front cross-traffic alert, and lane-change assistance.