2022 Subaru Forester 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 thanks to its “Thor’s Hammer” LED headlights and simple oval grille. Gasoline models offered a retro look with a white contrasting roof. The XC40 Recharge, the electric variant, featured a blanked-off grille, subtle “Recharge” badging, and model-specific alloy wheels. It also had a gloss black roof and mirror caps, a different rear bumper, and a unique Sage Green Metallic color. The interior was minimalist yet premium, with high-quality materials like Nappa leather and Nubuck textile, and a coherent design that melded elements like the portrait-oriented touchscreen and air vents seamlessly.

The 2022 Subaru Forester came in various trims, including the new Wilderness model, which we tested in Bend, Oregon. The Wilderness trim featured a suspension lift, higher ride height, and massive protective cladding, giving it a rugged look. Inside, the Forester emphasized function over form, with a dark gray interior fitted with water-repellant StarTex simulated leather and copper-colored stitching. The cabin combined hard plastic and soft surfaces, exuding quality construction. The 8-inch Starlink infotainment system was user-friendly, though the three display screens could be less than ideal. Overall, the Forester felt well-made, with the Wilderness trim offering unique features like a matte-black hood decal and 17-inch matte-black alloy wheels.

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 XC40 Recharge shared its powertrain with the Polestar 2, featuring one electric motor per axle for 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 even on winter-ravaged roads, and was capable of one-pedal driving. It also had a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds.

The 2022 Subaru Forester continued with its 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. All Foresters had a CVT and AWD, with the Wilderness model featuring a design that increased initial torque supply by 25%. This CVT allowed the Wilderness to double its towing capacity to 3,000 pounds. The EPA estimated the Wilderness's fuel economy at 26 mpg combined, and our test drive averaged 25.9 mpg. The Forester's engine was adequate at sea level but felt sluggish at higher altitudes. The CVT featured eight programmed ratios and SI-Drive for a more lively response. The Wilderness trim also had a dual-function X-Mode system for better off-road performance and a re-tuned suspension for improved ride and handling. The Forester excelled in various driving environments, from town roads to off-road courses, though it lacked engine power and had excessive wind noise above 65 mph.

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. The cargo area was also smaller, and the frunk was limited in size 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, such as 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 to hold a phone, with a wireless charging pad optional and a single USB-C port standard. However, second-row occupants had no phone-charging options.

The 2022 Subaru Forester emphasized functionality, with easy entry and exit thanks to tall seating hip points. The StarTex upholstery was water-resistant, and the Wilderness trim included all-weather floor mats, a rubber cargo mat, and washable material on the rear seatbacks. The upgraded roof rails could accommodate a three-person roof tent. Comfort levels were high in both the front and back seats, with excellent visibility and rear air conditioning vents. Storage space was decent, with bins in each armrest, bottle holders in each door panel, and dual front seatback pockets. Cargo space measured 28.9 cubic feet without the panoramic sunroof and 26.9 cubes with it, expanding to 74.2 cubic feet (69.1 with the sunroof) with the rear seats folded down. The squared-off cargo area was usefully shaped, and the Wilderness trim included a full-size spare under the cargo floor.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge featured the Android Automotive OS infotainment system, with Google apps like Google Assistant and Google Maps built-in. 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 for any vehicle function controlled by software. It lacked a start button, allowing drivers to simply shift out of park with the key fob on their person.

The 2022 Subaru Forester included a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, HD Radio, and Starlink connected services. Premium trim and above offered a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot and remote engine starting. The Wilderness, Limited, and Touring trims had an 8-inch screen, with options for navigation and a Harman Kardon premium sound system. The Wilderness trim also included a 180-degree forward-view camera. The test vehicle had both navigation and the Harman Kardon audio system, though the voice recognition system was hit-and-miss. The PIN Code Access feature allowed drivers to leave the key fob in the SUV and use a PIN code to re-enter the vehicle.

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 in crash tests. 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 driver-assistance system. The Recharge model also had Volvo’s latest sensor suite, scalable for future advanced driver aids.

The 2022 Subaru Forester debuted the next-generation EyeSight 4.0 safety system, with a wider field of vision and a new Automatic Emergency Steering system. EyeSight 4.0 included automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. The Forester also had a rear-seat reminder system, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear automatic braking. Touring trim included DriverFocus, a facial recognition technology for monitoring drowsiness and distraction. The NHTSA gave the 2022 Forester a 5-star overall crash-test rating, with 5-star ratings in all evaluations except for rollover resistance. The IIHS had not rated the 2022 model, but it was expected to retain the 2021 model’s “Top Safety Pick+” rating.