2020 Ford Explorer vs 2021 Volvo XC40

The 2020 Ford Explorer was a striking vehicle, more handsome than the Land Rover Discovery. The 2020 model refined its upscale, utilitarian design by slimming down the body panels and giving it a lower, more athletic appearance. The widened headlights, extra-large grille, and italic "Explorer" lettering on the hood created a prominent and recognizable face. The ST version, with its black 21-inch rims, blacked-out trim, red brake calipers, rich Rapid Red paint, and quad exhaust pipes, was particularly eye-catching. However, the interior was a letdown. Despite the high price tag, the materials felt cheap, with low-grade vinyl and rough-grained plastic dominating the cabin. The switchgear felt solid, but the overall interior quality did not match the exterior's appeal.

In contrast, the 2021 Volvo XC40 had a more traditional SUV styling with a tall, flat roof and upright rear hatch. It fit nicely with the rest of the Volvo lineup, featuring "Thor’s Hammer" LED headlights and a simple oval grille. The XC40 Recharge distinguished itself with a blanked-off grille, subtle “Recharge” badging, and model-specific alloy wheels. The interior was delightfully minimalist, with high-quality materials like real metal trim and a combination of Nappa leather and Nubuck textile upholstery. The design was coherent, with every element melding together into a pleasing whole, giving it a premium feel that was often missing in this segment.

The 2020 Ford Explorer offered a range of engines and a rear-wheel-drive (RWD) chassis, providing more even weight distribution than its predecessor. The ST trim featured a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 with 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The ST's powertrain delivered smooth, uninterrupted power, and the suspension and steering were upgraded by Ford Performance. The Explorer also offered a 2.3-liter turbo inline-four with 300 hp and 310 lb-ft, and a gas-electric hybrid option with a net 318 hp. Towing capacity varied from 5,000 to 5,600 pounds, depending on the engine. The Explorer's seven drive modes catered to various driving conditions, making it a versatile performer.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 had a three-tiered powertrain lineup, with the electric Recharge on top. 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 Recharge featured one electric motor for each axle, providing AWD and a combined 402 hp and 486 lb-ft, with 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. The Recharge emphasized quiet and comfort, with excellent ride quality even on rough roads. It also offered one-pedal driving and a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds.

The 2020 Ford Explorer provided ample space for passengers and cargo. On a road trip to Maine, the Explorer comfortably accommodated three adults and their gear. The second row felt like first class, with air vents, USB ports, a center console, and a panoramic moonroof. The third row could fit six-foot-tall adults for short journeys. Cargo space measured 18 cubic feet behind the third row, 48 cubic feet behind the second row, and 88 cubic feet with all seats folded. The Explorer's physical knobs and switches made it easy to use, though the thick D-pillars and fuzzy 360-degree cameras were drawbacks.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge had the same passenger and cargo space as the gasoline models, but it was less spacious than competitors like the Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach-E. 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, and a wireless charging pad was optional. However, second-row occupants did not have phone-charging options.

The 2020 Ford Explorer came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen, Sync 3 infotainment, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and 4G WiFi. Factory navigation was standard on all models except the base XLT. Keyless entry, remote start, 3-zone climate control, and SiriusXM satellite radio were also standard. The Premium Technology Package for ST and Platinum models included a 10-inch vertical touchscreen and a 12-inch digital instrument cluster. The touchscreen was well-organized and high-res, but the instrument panel felt unfinished, with wasted screen space and limited customization options. The Co-Pilot360 Assist+ semi-automated driving system was not as effective as competitors' systems.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge featured the Android Automotive OS infotainment system, with Google Assistant and Google Maps built-in. The system included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity. The standard hardware setup included a 9-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The Recharge also had OTA update capability, allowing for updates to any vehicle function controlled by software. Recharge models lacked a start button, instead using a key fob to shift out of park. The Polestar 2's Digital Key feature, allowing the use of a smartphone in place of the key fob, was expected to be available in a future update.

The 2020 Ford Explorer came standard with Ford Co-Pilot 360, which included forward emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, auto high beams, and lane-keep assist. The Assist+ option added adaptive cruise control with steering assist and reverse braking. A passenger front knee airbag was standard. The Explorer received an Acceptable rating in the small overlap test on the driver's side from the IIHS, but the NHTSA had not yet tested it.

The 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 XC40 came with a long list of standard safety features, including 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 Volvo’s latest sensor suite, scalable for future advanced driver aids.