2021 Volvo XC40 vs 2022 Honda Passport

The 2021 Volvo XC40 presented a more traditional SUV aesthetic compared to other small luxury crossovers, featuring a tall, flat roof and an upright rear hatch. It seamlessly integrated into the Volvo family with signature design elements like the “Thor’s Hammer” LED headlights and a simple oval grille. Gasoline models offered a retro touch with an optional white contrasting roof. The XC40 Recharge differentiated itself with a blanked-off grille, subtle “Recharge” badging, and unique alloy wheels, alongside a gloss black roof and mirror caps. Its design changes were subtle, making it an appealing choice for those seeking an electric vehicle without overtly showcasing it. The interior was minimalist yet premium, with high-quality materials such as Nappa leather and Nubuck textile, and a coherent design that melded elements like the portrait-oriented touchscreen and air vents into a pleasing whole.

The 2022 Honda Passport adopted a styling reminiscent of the Honda Ridgeline pickup truck, sharing a platform with the Ridgeline, Odyssey minivan, and Pilot SUV. The Passport was essentially a shorter Pilot without a third-row seat, featuring a new nose design for a tougher look. Available in three trims—Sport, TrailSport, and Touring—the Passport introduced the TrailSport trim, aimed at off-road enthusiasts, though it was more about aesthetics than capability. The TrailSport offered 20.5 centimetres of ground clearance and traction management modes for various conditions. The Passport's interior was spacious, with quality materials and thoughtful design, including orange contrast stitching and amber ambient lighting in the TrailSport trim. It provided ample storage and a generous cargo space, making it a practical choice for families.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 offered a three-tiered 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 shared its powertrain with the Polestar 2, featuring dual electric motors for all-wheel drive, generating a combined 402 hp and 486 lb-ft. It housed a 78-kilowatt-hour battery pack, with 75 kWh usable capacity, enabling a 0 to 100 km/h acceleration in 4.9 seconds. The T5 and T4 models achieved 6.4 and 8.5 seconds, respectively. All versions 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 Honda Passport retained its 3.5-litre V6 engine, producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive in Canada. The V6 was smooth and powerful, complementing the nine-speed automatic well. The Passport's fuel efficiency was rated at 11.3 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving, with the TrailSport trim averaging 11.0 L/100 km. The AWD system, Honda's Intelligent Variable Torque Management Four (i-VTM4), offered mechanical torque vectoring, delivering up to 70 percent of the engine's power to a single rear wheel when needed. The Passport excelled on roads and freeways, offering satisfying acceleration, a firm ride, and athletic handling. However, its brakes could heat up and vibrate on mountain descents, which was concerning given its 2,268-kilogram towing capacity.

The 2021 Volvo XC40, both in its Recharge and gasoline variants, offered no difference in passenger or cargo space. However, it was less spacious than competitors like the Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach-E, with limited legroom and headroom. The cargo area was also smaller, and the frunk was minimal due to powertrain hardware. Despite this, Volvo incorporated clever storage solutions, such as 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. A wireless charging pad was optional, with a single USB-C port standard, though rear passengers lacked charging options.

The 2022 Honda Passport offered easy access with large doors and a low step-in height. The front seats were large and comfortable, with adjustable armrests and good thigh support. Leather upholstery, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel were standard, with the TrailSport trim adding heated rear seats. The Passport's interior was spacious, with ample room for rear passengers and large side windows creating an open feel. Storage was abundant, with a massive centre console bin, door panel shelving, and rear door cupholders. The cargo space was generous, offering 1,430 litres behind the rear seat and 2,854 litres with the seat folded down, making it a practical choice for families.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge featured the Android Automotive OS infotainment system, offering Google apps like Google Assistant and Google Maps, while gasoline models retained the previous system. The system included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, and Bluetooth, with a 9-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The Recharge model introduced OTA update capability, allowing for software updates without dealership visits. It also lacked a start button, using a key fob for ignition, with a potential future Digital Key feature.

The 2022 Honda Passport's infotainment system met modern standards but was due for an upgrade. All trims included an 8-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, with satellite radio on the TrailSport trim. The Touring trim added navigation, a 10-speaker audio system, and HondaLink services, including a WiFi hotspot. The system had shortcut buttons and a volume knob but lacked a tuning knob. Apple CarPlay was preferred over the clunky navigation system. Wireless smartphone charging was standard on all but the base trim, though the Passport was not technologically advanced.

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 for gasoline models. The electric Recharge model was expected to perform well due to its safety cage and redesigned front crash structure. Standard safety features included lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, and more. The Recharge model featured Volvo’s latest sensor suite, scalable for future driver aids.

The 2022 Honda Passport included the Honda Sensing suite, with adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and more. However, some features were less refined, with lane-departure warning and lane-centring assist being intrusive. The adaptive cruise control was not smooth in traffic, and the blind-spot monitoring light was poorly placed. The Passport received five-star ratings from the NHTSA, except for front passenger protection in frontal impacts and rollover resistance, which received four stars. The IIHS gave it top ratings, except for an Acceptable rating in front-passenger protection in small overlap collisions.