2021 Volvo XC40 vs 2022 Volvo XC90

The 2021 Volvo XC40 had a traditional SUV styling with a tall, flat roof and upright rear hatch, fitting seamlessly into the Volvo lineup 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 distinguished itself with a blanked-off grille, "Recharge" badging, model-specific alloy wheels, and a gloss black roof and mirror caps. It also featured a unique rear bumper and 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 high-quality design.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 showcased a sleek and poised profile, with a long roofline and pronounced wheel arches that emphasized athleticism. The body had a superior fit and finish, with the "Thor's Hammer" LED headlights adding a nod to its Swedish heritage. Inside, the XC90 exuded "Scandinavian Modern" and "Swedish Luxury" with natural wood and metal trim, a sliding wood tambor cover on the center console, and a clear crystal gear selector handle. The interior offered a choice between Nappa leather and a tailored wool blend upholstery, with the latter being easy to care for and long-lasting. The XC90's interior was spacious and airy, enhanced by a standard laminated panoramic moonroof.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 offered three powertrains, with the electric Recharge at the top. The gasoline options included a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base FWD T4 produced 187 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, while the AWD T5 delivered 248 hp and 258 lb-ft. The Recharge, sharing its powertrain with the Polestar 2, had dual electric motors providing AWD and a combined 402 hp and 486 lb-ft, powered by a 78-kilowatt-hour battery pack. The Recharge accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds, the T5 in 6.1 seconds, and the T4 in 8.1 seconds, with all versions 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 Volvo XC90 offered three powertrains: the T5 with a turbocharged 2.0-liter gasoline four-cylinder engine, the T6 with a supercharged and turbocharged version of that engine, and the T8 plug-in hybrid with a combined 455 hp and 523 lb-ft of torque. The T5 produced 250 hp and 258 lb-ft, while the T6 delivered 316 hp and 295 lb-ft. The T8 used its electric motor to drive the rear wheels, providing AWD. All models used a conventional eight-speed automatic transmission. The T5 FWD achieved 21 mpg city/30 mpg highway/25 mpg combined, while the T8 had a 27 mpg combined rating on gas and 55 MPGe with an 18-mile EV range. The extended range variant offered a 26 mpg combined gasoline rating and a 66 MPGe rating with up to 36 miles of EV range. The XC90 handled like a smaller SUV, with minimal body roll and spirited acceleration, especially in the T8 Inscription extended range model.

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 the Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach-E, and a smaller cargo area. The frunk was also small due to powertrain hardware. 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 relocated Harman Kardon system's speakers. A wireless charging pad was optional, with a single USB-C port standard, but second-row occupants lacked phone-charging options.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 offered six-passenger and seven-passenger configurations, with easy access to the third row via a one-handed slide and fold of the second row. The third row was suitable for kids but lacked legroom and thigh support for adults. The XC90 could carry up to 15.9 cubic feet of luggage behind the third row, 41.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 85.7 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded. It could tow between 4,000 and 5,000 pounds, depending on configuration and powertrain. The interior featured ample storage space, comfortable seating, and an airy cabin enhanced by a standard laminated panoramic moonroof. The air-conditioning system performed well even during a heat wave, making the XC90 a comfortable sanctuary in any weather.

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 hands-free phone connectivity. The system included a 9-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, with top-notch graphics and menu layouts. The Recharge had OTA update capability for both the infotainment system and any vehicle function controlled by software. It also lacked a start button, allowing the driver to simply shift out of park with the key fob on their person.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 used the Sensus infotainment system with a nine-inch diagonal, portrait-oriented touchscreen interface. The system supported familiar smartphone gestures but was sometimes glitchy and slow to respond. It worked better with Apple CarPlay, and the XC90 also supported Android Auto. The 12.3-inch digital instrument panel offered easy configuration and crisp graphics. The $1,650 Advanced package included a head-up display, a 360-degree surround view camera system, and an advanced air cleaner. The standard Harman Kardon Premium Sound could be upgraded to a $3,200 Bowers & Wilkins system, known for its surround sound staging. The XC90 included two front USB-A ports, two rear USB-C ports, a WiFi hotspot, and the Volvo Care smartphone app with remote vehicle controls.

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 was expected to perform well in crash tests due to a safety cage around the battery and a redesigned front crash structure. Standard safety features included lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, 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 a scalable sensor suite for future advanced driver aids.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 continued Volvo's commitment to safety with a long list of features, including blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, parking assist, rain-sensing wipers, slippery road alert, lane-keeping aid, adaptive cruise control, oncoming lane mitigation, and road-sign recognition. Volvo's Pilot Assist system combined several safety features to keep the car in its lane and at a set speed or following distance with minimal driver intervention. The XC90 received the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ designation and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.