2020 GMC Acadia vs 2021 Volvo XC40

The 2020 GMC Acadia was positioned as a premium brand, intended to be nicer than Chevys but not as luxurious as Cadillacs. Despite this marketing, the Acadia shared its platform, powertrains, and assembly location with the Cadillac XT5. The 2020 Acadia came in various trims, including the luxurious Denali, which featured all-wheel drive, Satin Steel Metallic paint, and a Technology Package, bringing the price to $52,385. The design changes were most noticeable in the front, with squared-off headlights and a boxier grille. Inside, the cabin had minor updates like new electronic transmission shift switches and real open-pore wood trim for Denali models. However, the mix of soft surfaces and hard plastic panels, along with some contrast stitching and bronze-tinted plastic metallic accents, did not fully establish the Acadia as a premium choice.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 had a more traditional SUV styling with a tall, flat roof and upright rear hatch, fitting well with the rest of the Volvo lineup. The XC40 Recharge, the electric variant, featured a blanked-off grille, subtle “Recharge” badging, and model-specific alloy wheels. It also had a gloss black roof and mirror caps, a different rear bumper, and a model-exclusive color—Sage Green Metallic. The interior was minimalist yet premium, with real metal trim on the dashboard and a combination of Nappa leather and Nubuck textile upholstery. The design was coherent, with elements like the portrait-oriented touchscreen and air vents melding together seamlessly. Unlike many competitors, Volvo did not dumb down the interior design to meet a specific price point.

The 2020 GMC Acadia offered three engine options. Lower trims had a 193-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. The SLT trim featured a new turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 230 hp and 258 pound-feet of torque. The AT4 and Denali variants came with a 310-hp 3.6-liter V6 engine. All engines were paired with a new nine-speed automatic transmission, and the Acadia was available with front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), except for the AT4, which had a standard dual-clutch AWD system. The V6 engine and nine-speed automatic provided smooth, refined power and up to 4,000 pounds of towing capacity. The test vehicle averaged 20.1 mpg in combined driving. The Acadia’s ride and handling were finely tuned, making it easy to drive but somewhat forgettable in terms of driving character.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 had a three-tiered powertrain lineup, with the electric Recharge on top. The gasoline options included a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine and eight-speed automatic transmission. The base FWD T4 had 187 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, while the AWD T5 had 248 hp and 258 lb-ft. The Recharge had 402 hp and 486 lb-ft, thanks to one electric motor for each axle and 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. All versions were electronically limited to 112 mph. The Recharge emphasized quiet and comfort over speed, with excellent ride quality even on rough roads. It also featured one-pedal driving and a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds.

The 2020 GMC Acadia could seat five, six, or seven passengers, depending on the trim level and configuration. The Denali trim provided 6-passenger seating with standard second-row captain’s chairs, which could be replaced with a bench seat at no extra cost. The front seats were wide, supportive, and 10-way power-adjustable with heating and ventilation. The second-row captain’s chairs were also heated and comfortable, with air conditioning vents, USB ports, and a household-style power outlet for rear passengers. The third-row seat was roomier than expected but had limited space between the seat and the back of the SUV. Cargo volume was 12.1 cubic feet behind the third-row seat, 41.7 cubic feet with the third-row seat folded down, and 79 cubic feet with the second-row seats folded down.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge had no difference in passenger or cargo space compared to the gasoline models. However, it had less legroom and headroom than competitors like the Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach-E. The Recharge’s frunk was also small, with much of the space occupied by powertrain hardware. 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 GMC Acadia included essential infotainment features like Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and GMC Connected Services with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The 8-inch touchscreen had a higher resolution display, a simplified user experience, and improved voice recognition. The test vehicle had navigation and a Bose premium sound system, with voice-recognition technology that worked well most of the time. The infotainment system was easy to understand and use, even without the owner’s manual. Additional technology upgrades included new USB-C ports, a more powerful wireless charging pad, a high-definition surround-view camera, and a rear camera mirror that provided an unobstructed wide-angle view.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge featured the Android Automotive OS infotainment system, which included Google apps like Google Assistant and Google Maps. The system also supported 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 was the first XC40 variant to get OTA update capability, allowing for updates to any vehicle function controlled by software. Recharge models lacked a start button; instead, drivers simply got in the car with the key fob and shifted out of park. The Polestar 2 would soon get a Digital Key feature, but it was not yet confirmed for the XC40.

The 2020 GMC Acadia came with standard safety features like a rear-seat reminder system and Teen Driver technology. Standard GMC Connected Services included automatic collision notification and SOS emergency calling, but the free trial period was short. The base Acadia SL and up had a standard blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic warning system. However, forward collision warning and low-speed automatic emergency braking were only available on SLT or AT4 trims and cost extra. The Denali trim had an enhanced automatic emergency braking system. The NHTSA gave the Acadia 5-star ratings in most assessments and a 4-star rollover resistance rating. The IIHS had incomplete data for the Acadia but gave it high marks in other tests.

The gasoline 2021 Volvo XC40 received the highest “Top Safety Pick+” rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA. These ratings did not apply to the electric XC40 Recharge, but Volvo expected it to perform well in crash tests. The XC40 came with standard safety features like lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, 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 had Volvo’s latest sensor suite, capable of pulling data from the cloud to improve driver aids.