2021 Cadillac Escalade vs 2022 Volvo XC40

Youthful aspiration often translates into adult acquisition. When the first Cadillac Escalade went on sale and quickly became an American popular culture icon, the oldest Millennials were just getting their driver’s licenses, and the youngest weren’t born yet. Today, this “digital native” generation raised on rap music is turning 40, moving to the suburbs, and raising families. Plus, it is poised to inherit a reported US$68 trillion globally from Baby Boomers by 2030, the largest wealth transfer in modern history. Despite suffering through the Great Recession and now a global pandemic, will Millennials spend their passed-down windfalls on a six-figure full-size SUV that burns almost 15 litres per 100 kilometres? Some will, and in so doing, they’ll get a mighty impressive and technologically sophisticated, fifth-generation Cadillac on 22s.

The 2022 Volvo XC40 Recharge AWD is an all-electric version of the XC40 subcompact crossover SUV. The Recharge was launched for the 2021 model year, so it doesn't get any significant changes for 2022. It comes with standard all-wheel drive (AWD; front-wheel drive is not offered in our market), and Natural Resources Canada says this plug-in electric vehicle can go up to 359 kilometres on a single charge. Is this the breakthrough EV we’ve been waiting for?