2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS vs 2021 Volvo XC40

The 2021 Volvo XC40 had a traditional SUV styling with a tall, flat roof and upright rear hatch, fitting well within the Volvo family with its “Thor’s Hammer” LED headlights and simple oval grille. Gasoline models offered a white contrasting roof for a retro look. The XC40 Recharge featured a blanked-off grille, subtle “Recharge” badging, and model-specific alloy wheels, with a gloss black roof and mirror caps. The interior was minimalist yet premium, with real metal trim and a combination of Nappa leather and Nubuck textile upholstery, creating a coherent and high-quality design.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 had a more subtle look compared to its flashier competitors, avoiding gaudy grilles and excessive chrome. The AMG GLS 63 and Maybach versions offered more visual drama with flared wheel arches, muscular grilles, and chrome accents. The interior of the GLS 450, while basic by GLS standards, still felt luxurious with leather upholstery, a panoramic roof, and ambient lighting. The digital instrument cluster and infotainment touchscreen were well integrated, and the overall interior quality was high, though perhaps too subdued for some tastes.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 offered three powertrain options. 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 featured dual electric motors providing AWD, with a combined 402 hp and 486 lb-ft, powered by a 78-kilowatt-hour battery pack. The Recharge could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds, while the T5 and T4 took 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, and had a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 had a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine with 362 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, assisted by the EQ Boost mild-hybrid system, which added 21 hp and 184 lb-ft in short bursts. The GLS 450’s engine provided ample power, and the electric assist was well integrated. The GLS 450 had a maximum towing capacity of 7,700 pounds. However, the air suspension exhibited poor body control, leading to excessive motion over bumps and in corners, which detracted from the overall comfort.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 had 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, and a smaller cargo area. The frunk was also very small. The gasoline XC40 was more competitive in interior space compared to rivals like the Audi Q3 and BMW X1. Volvo included clever storage solutions, such as 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 audio system’s speakers.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS came standard with seven seats, with an optional six-seat configuration featuring individual captain’s chairs. The second-row seats could slide forward and fold for third-row access, and the standard bench seat could slide to increase legroom. The GLS offered 17.4 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats in place, expanding to 84.7 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded. The air suspension could lower to facilitate loading and unloading. However, the touchscreen was difficult to reach, and some ergonomic issues were noted, such as grab handles with no clear purpose and undersized sun visors.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge featured the Android Automotive OS infotainment system with Google apps, including Google Assistant and Google Maps. The system included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity, with a 9-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The Recharge also had OTA update capability and lacked a start button, allowing drivers to simply shift out of park to start the car.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS featured the MBUX infotainment system with a 12.3-inch touchscreen, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, navigation, SiriusXM satellite radio, and natural-language voice recognition. A 13-speaker Burmester audio system was standard, with an optional head-up display. The voice recognition system was the easiest to use, while the touchpad controller was too sensitive. The touchscreen and instrument cluster had good graphics, but the navigation system had some issues, such as suggesting a longer route unnecessarily.

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, and more. The Recharge model had a safety cage around the battery and a redesigned front crash structure, with Volvo expecting it to perform well in crash tests.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS had standard safety features like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, a driver-attention monitor, and more. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and advanced driver-assistance features. Crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of publication.