2021 Volvo XC40 vs 2022 Mazda CX-5

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, subtle “Recharge” badging, and model-specific alloy wheels. It also featured a gloss black roof, mirror caps, 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 upscale design.

The 2022 Mazda CX-5 featured new LED headlights and taillights, revised bumpers, a redesigned rear liftgate, and fresh alloy wheel designs. The top-of-the-line Signature trim had body-color lower exterior trim, enhancing Mazda’s premium brand aspirations. Inside, the Signature trim boasted premium Nappa leather upholstery, real wood trim, and polished metallic accents. The new seats provided better comfort and support, and the driving position was sportier. However, the back seat remained snug, and the control layout of the Mazda Connect infotainment system was a source of frustration due to the lack of a touchscreen and natural voice recognition.

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 6.1 and 8.1 seconds, respectively. All versions were electronically limited to 112 mph. The Recharge emphasized quiet and comfort, with excellent ride quality and one-pedal driving capability. It also had a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds.

The 2022 Mazda CX-5 2.5 S had a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque, paired with a revised six-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD. The EPA rated its fuel economy at 26 mpg combined. The 2.5 Turbo model, running on premium gas, produced 256 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque, or 227 hp and 310 lb-ft on regular gas. It also had standard AWD and a revised six-speed automatic, with an EPA rating of 24 mpg combined. The 2.5 Turbo trims and higher 2.5 S trims featured Mazda Intelligent Drive Select (Mi-Drive) with Normal, Sport, and Off-Road settings. The 2022 CX-5 had improved driving dynamics, reduced noise, vibration, and harshness, and a blend of compliance and composure that instilled trust in the driver.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge had the same passenger and cargo space as the gasoline models, but it was less spacious than competitors like the Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach-E. It had less legroom and headroom and a smaller cargo area. The frunk was also small due to powertrain hardware. The gasoline XC40 was more competitive in interior space compared to rivals like the Audi Q3 and BMW X1. Volvo compensated for the lack of space 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. The storage cubby ahead of the shifter was well-shaped for a phone, with an optional wireless charging pad and a single USB-C port. However, second-row occupants lacked phone-charging options.

The 2022 Mazda CX-5 addressed previous complaints about its ride and handling and front seats. The new seats provided better comfort and support, and the driving position was sportier. All trims except the base included a height-adjustable front passenger seat. The 2.5 Turbo test vehicle had leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The back seat remained snug but had heated outboard cushions and air conditioning vents. The control layout of the Mazda Connect infotainment system was frustrating due to the lack of a touchscreen and natural voice recognition. Storage space was adequate, with a small bin under the center armrest, wireless smartphone charging, and door armrest trays. Cargo space was 30.9 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 59.3 cubic feet with the back seat folded down, comparing favorably to entry-level luxury SUVs but less so to mainstream compact crossovers.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge featured the Android Automotive OS infotainment system with Google apps, including Google Assistant and Google Maps. It also supported Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth. The standard setup included a 9-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The Recharge had OTA update capability for the infotainment system and other vehicle functions. It lacked a start button, allowing the driver to simply get in and shift out of park. The gasoline models continued with the previous infotainment system.

The 2022 Mazda CX-5 retained the Mazda Connect infotainment system with a 10.25-inch display, which was not touch-sensitive. It lacked natural voice recognition, requiring the use of center console and steering wheel controls. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with text-messaging support, E911 automatic emergency notification, and Mazda Connected Services with a three-year trial subscription. The 2.5 S Premium trim and higher included a 10-speaker Bose premium sound system and SiriusXM satellite radio.

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. The electric XC40 Recharge had not been rated, but Volvo expected it to perform well 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, 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 had Volvo’s latest sensor suite, scalable for future advanced driver aids.

The 2022 Mazda CX-5 came with a comprehensive i-Activsense package, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Higher trims added adaptive headlights, a surround-view camera system, front and rear parking sensors, automatic rear braking, a driver monitoring system, and Traffic Jam Assist. The i-Activsense system operated mostly in the background, with alerts appearing in the head-up display when equipped. The CX-5 received a “Top Safety Pick+” rating from the IIHS.