2022 Toyota Highlander 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 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, “Recharge” badging, model-specific alloy wheels, and a gloss black roof. The interior was minimalist yet premium, featuring real metal trim and a combination of Nappa leather and Nubuck textile upholstery. The design was coherent, with elements like the portrait-oriented touchscreen and air vents blending seamlessly.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander had a modern, somewhat aggressive front-end design. Its flared fender arches and third-row window design made it appear smaller than it was. Inside, it offered ample cabin space and clever storage solutions. The XSE trim featured bold red leather upholstery, unique exterior styling, ambient interior lighting, and a sport-tuned suspension. The Highlander’s trim levels ranged from the base L to the top-tier Platinum, each adding more features and luxury. The interior was practical, with deep cargo pockets, multiple storage trays, and spacious second-row captain’s chairs, although the third row was less comfortable for adults.

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. The AWD T5 increased power to 248 hp and 258 lb-ft. The electric Recharge model shared its powertrain with the Polestar 2, featuring dual electric motors 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 luxury and comfort, offering excellent ride quality and one-pedal driving capability. It also had a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander came with a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered standard FWD and available AWD, with a tap-shift function and steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters on certain trims. The drive-mode button allowed for Sport, Normal, and Eco modes, while the AWD system had Mud/Sand, Rock, and Normal modes. The V6 provided better pickup at cruising speeds and a throaty exhaust note. The Highlander’s handling was commendable, with the XSE trim’s sport-tuned suspension reducing body roll while maintaining a comfortable ride. It could tow up to 5,000 pounds and had a max payload of 1,685 pounds in FWD L and LE trims.

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, and the frunk was limited in size. Despite this, Volvo included clever storage solutions like 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, and a wireless charging pad was optional. However, second-row occupants lacked phone-charging options.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander provided up to 84.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the second- and third-row seats folded. With the second-row seats in use, it offered 48.4 cubic feet, and with all seats deployed, 16 cubic feet behind the third row. The seats were easy to lower and lift, and trims above the base L came with a power liftgate. The cockpit featured an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and deep cargo pockets. The center dash had extra ledges and a large center console compartment. The XSE trim’s second-row captain’s chairs provided a center aisle to the third row, which was spacious for adults, though the third row was less comfortable for long trips.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge featured the Android Automotive OS infotainment system with Google apps like Google Assistant and Google Maps. It included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity. The standard setup had a 9-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The Recharge also offered OTA update capability for the infotainment system and other vehicle functions. It lacked a start button, allowing drivers to simply shift out of park with the key fob on their person.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander came standard with a WiFi hotspot, five USB ports, and an 8-inch touchscreen supporting Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. The system had a straightforward layout with hard buttons for ease of use. The XSE trim featured a wireless charging pad and a combination of USB and USB-C ports. A larger 12.3-inch touchscreen was available, along with an 11-speaker JBL premium stereo system.

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. It came with standard safety features like lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, and rear parking sensors. Optional features included traffic-sign recognition, reverse automatic emergency braking, and Volvo’s Pilot Assist driver-assistance system. 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 Toyota Highlander came standard with the Toyota Safety Sense suite, including forward collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, and automatic high beams. Trims above the base L included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. Optional features included front and rear parking sensors, rain-sensing windshield wipers, a surround-view parking monitor, a head-up display, and adaptive headlights. The lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist systems were very active, sometimes feeling too intrusive.