2022 Toyota Highlander vs 2021 Volvo XC40

The 2021 Volvo XC40 presented a traditional SUV aesthetic, characterized by its tall, flat roof and upright rear hatch, aligning with Volvo's signature design elements like the “Thor’s Hammer” LED headlights and a simple oval grille. The gasoline models offered a retro touch with an optional white contrasting roof. The XC40 Recharge differentiated itself with a blanked-off grille, unique badging, and model-specific alloy wheels, alongside a gloss black roof and mirror caps. Its design subtly indicated its electric nature without being overt. The interior was minimalist yet luxurious, featuring high-quality materials such as Nappa leather and Nubuck textile, with a coherent design that integrated elements like the portrait-oriented touchscreen seamlessly.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander boasted a modern and somewhat aggressive front-end design, with flared fender arches and a distinctive third-row window. Despite its spacious interior, the exterior design cleverly made it appear more compact. The XSE trim stood out with its bold red leather interior, contrasting with a navy blue exterior, and featured unique styling elements and a sport-tuned suspension. The Highlander offered a range of trims, each adding more features, from the base LE with standard AWD and an 8-inch touchscreen to the luxurious Platinum trim with a panoramic moonroof and a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen. The interior was designed for practicality, with clever storage solutions and ample space for passengers and cargo.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 offered a versatile powertrain lineup, with the electric Recharge model at the top. The gasoline options included a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base T4 produced 187 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, while the T5 delivered 248 hp and 258 lb-ft. The Recharge model, sharing its powertrain with the Polestar 2, featured 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 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds, while the T5 and T4 took 6.4 and 8.5 seconds, respectively. All models were electronically limited to 180 km/h. The XC40 Recharge emphasized luxury and comfort, offering excellent ride quality and one-pedal driving capability, with a towing capacity of 900 kilograms.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander was equipped with a 3.5-litre V6 engine, producing 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD. The transmission featured a tap-shift function and drive-mode options, including Sport, Normal, and Eco modes, alongside AWD settings for different terrains. The V6 engine provided strong performance, particularly at highway speeds, with a throaty exhaust note. The Highlander handled well in various scenarios, with the XSE trim's sport-tuned suspension reducing body roll while maintaining comfort. It offered a towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms and a max payload of 775 kilograms, making it a capable choice for those needing to haul heavier loads.

The 2021 Volvo XC40, while not the most spacious in its class, offered clever storage solutions to maximize utility. The interior space was competitive among gasoline models, with features like a removable trash bin in the centre console and a bag hook in the glovebox door. The Harman Kardon audio system's speakers were moved to the dashboard, allowing for larger door bins. However, the XC40 Recharge had less legroom and cargo space compared to rivals like the Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach-E, with a small frunk due to powertrain hardware.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander excelled in interior space, offering up to 2,387 litres of cargo space with the second- and third-row seats folded. With all seats in use, it provided 453 litres of cargo space. The Highlander featured quick-release latches for easy seat adjustments and a power liftgate on higher trims. The interior was designed for practicality, with deep cargo pockets, multiple storage compartments, and cupholders throughout. The XSE trim's second-row captain’s chairs added convenience and space, though the third row was best suited for short trips.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge featured the Android Automotive OS infotainment system, integrating Google apps like Google Assistant and Google Maps. It included a 9-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, with OTA update capability for software-controlled functions. The system supported Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM, though the Google-centric interface might not appeal to all users. The Recharge model also lacked a start button, relying on the key fob for activation.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen supporting Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM, complemented by hard buttons for ease of use. The XSE trim included a wireless charging pad and multiple USB ports, with an optional 12.3-inch touchscreen and an 11-speaker JBL stereo system available. The infotainment system was user-friendly, though it lacked wireless smartphone integration.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 received top safety ratings, with the gasoline model earning a “Top Safety Pick+” from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. It came with a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and automatic emergency braking. The Recharge model featured Volvo’s latest sensor suite, scalable for future driver aids.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander was equipped with the Toyota Safety Sense suite, offering features like forward collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, and dynamic radar cruise control. It included standard blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, with additional safety features available on higher trims. The Highlander was rated as a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS, though some driver-assistance systems were noted for being overly active.