2020 Ford Explorer vs 2021 Volvo XC40

The 2020 Ford Explorer was praised for its handsome exterior, which refined its upscale, utilitarian design by slimming down the body panels and creating a lower, more athletic appearance. The widened headlights, large grille, and distinctive "Explorer" lettering on the hood gave it a recognizable and bold face. However, the interior was a letdown, with materials that felt subpar for its price range, which could exceed $60,000. The leather felt like low-grade vinyl, and the abundance of hard plastic detracted from the overall luxury feel. Despite some nice touches like aluminum speaker covers and white stitching, the Explorer's interior struggled to justify its cost compared to competitors like the Kia Telluride and Toyota Highlander.

The 2021 Volvo XC40, on the other hand, offered a more traditional SUV styling with a tall, flat roof and upright rear hatch, fitting well within the Volvo family with its "Thor’s Hammer" LED headlights and simple grille. The XC40 Recharge variant featured subtle differences like a blanked-off grille and model-specific alloy wheels. Inside, the XC40 boasted a minimalist design with high-quality materials, including real metal trim and a combination of Nappa leather and Nubuck textile upholstery. The interior design was coherent and premium, with a portrait-oriented touchscreen and well-integrated air vents, setting it apart from competitors who often compromise on interior quality to meet price points.

The 2020 Ford Explorer offered a range of powertrains, with the ST trim standing out for its performance. It featured a 3.0-litre EcoBoost twin-turbo V6 engine producing 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The rear-wheel-drive chassis provided balanced weight distribution, enhancing handling and ride quality. The Explorer ST was praised for its nimble handling, flat cornering, and superb brake feel. The 2.3-litre turbo inline four-cylinder engine, producing 300 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, was the standard option, while a hybrid variant combined a 3.3-litre V6 with an electric motor for a net 318 hp. However, the hybrid's fuel efficiency gains were minimal compared to the cost. The Explorer's towing capacity varied from 2,268 to 2,540 kilograms, depending on the engine.

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 with 187 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque for the T4, and 248 hp and 258 lb-ft for the T5. The Recharge model shared its powertrain with the Polestar 2, featuring dual electric motors for a combined 402 hp and 486 lb-ft of torque, powered by a 78-kilowatt-hour battery pack. The Recharge could accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds, while the T5 and T4 took 6.4 and 8.5 seconds, respectively. The XC40 emphasized comfort and quietness, with excellent ride quality even on rough roads. The Recharge model also offered one-pedal driving and a towing capacity of 900 kilograms.

The 2020 Ford Explorer provided ample interior space, with generous headroom and legroom for passengers, and a large cargo area. The second row featured air vents, USB ports, and a panoramic moonroof, enhancing comfort. The third row could accommodate six-foot-tall adults for short trips, although the bench was flat for long-distance comfort. Cargo space behind the third row was 509 litres, expanding to 1,359 litres behind the second row and 2,491 litres with all seats folded. The Explorer's controls were intuitive, with physical knobs and switches for climate and stereo, although the thick D-pillars and fuzzy 360-degree cameras were drawbacks.

The 2021 Volvo XC40, while not particularly spacious, offered clever storage solutions to compensate for its limited interior space. The centre console included a removable trash bin, and the glovebox door featured a bag hook. The Harman Kardon audio system's speakers were moved to the dashboard, allowing for larger door bins. The storage cubby ahead of the shifter was well-designed for holding a phone, with an optional wireless charging pad. However, second-row occupants lacked phone-charging options. The XC40's cargo space was smaller than competitors like the Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach-E, and the frunk was limited due to powertrain hardware.

The 2020 Ford Explorer came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen featuring Sync 3 infotainment, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 4G Wi-Fi hotspot. Keyless entry, remote start, and 3-zone climate control 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. While the interface was high-resolution and well-organized, it lacked innovation, with system updates only possible through an external Wi-Fi connection. The Co-Pilot360 Assist+ semi-automated driving system was available but fell short compared to competitors.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge introduced the Android Automotive OS infotainment system, featuring Google apps like Google Assistant and Google Maps. The system included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio, with a 9-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The Recharge model also offered OTA update capability, allowing for software updates without visiting a dealership. The lack of a start button in the Recharge model simplified the driving experience, while the Digital Key feature was expected in a future update.

The 2020 Ford Explorer came standard with Ford Co-Pilot 360, which included forward automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, auto high beams, and lane-keep assist. Adaptive cruise control with steering assist and reverse braking were also standard. The Explorer received a five-star safety rating from the NHTSA and was rated as a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA for the gasoline model. The electric XC40 Recharge was expected to perform well in crash tests due to its safety cage around the battery 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.