2021 Hyundai Kona vs 2021 Volvo XC40

The 2021 Volvo XC40 had a traditional SUV styling with a tall, flat roof and upright rear hatch, fitting seamlessly into the Volvo lineup with its “Thor’s Hammer” LED headlights and simple oval grille. Gasoline models offered a white contrasting roof for a retro look. The XC40 Recharge featured a blanked-off grille, subtle “Recharge” badging, and model-specific alloy wheels, with a gloss black roof and mirror caps, and a model-exclusive Sage Green Metallic color. The interior was minimalist yet premium, with real metal trim and a combination of Nappa leather and Nubuck textile upholstery, creating a coherent and pleasing design.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona had a funky, playful exterior with a busy front grille flanked by multiple lighting features and fog lights on some trims. The rear was more subdued with a standard crossover shape. Inside, the Kona maintained a fun attitude with neat seat patterns and standard cloth upholstery, with higher trims offering leather options. The interior was well-organized with an infotainment touchscreen mounted high on the dash and physical climate controls, making it simple and intuitive to use.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 offered three powertrain options, with the electric Recharge at the top. The gasoline models included a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base FWD T4 produced 187 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, while the AWD T5 had 248 hp and 258 lb-ft. The Recharge, sharing its powertrain with the Polestar 2, featured dual electric motors for AWD, delivering 402 hp and 486 lb-ft, powered by a 78-kilowatt-hour battery pack. The Recharge accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds, the T5 in 6.1 seconds, and the T4 in 8.1 seconds, with all versions electronically limited to 112 mph. The Recharge emphasized quiet and comfort, with excellent ride quality and one-pedal driving capability, and had a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona offered two powertrain options. The base model had a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The optional turbocharged 1.6-liter engine produced 195 hp and 195 lb-ft, mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. FWD was standard, with AWD available for an additional $1,400. The Kona handled confidently, feeling agile and engaging, with a balance of comfort and composure. Fuel economy for the base engine with FWD was 27/33/30 mpg city/highway/combined, and 25/30/27 mpg with AWD. The turbo engine with FWD achieved 28/32/30 mpg, and 26/29/27 mpg with AWD.

The 2021 Volvo XC40, both in gasoline and Recharge models, had no difference in passenger or cargo space. However, it was less spacious compared to competitors like the Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach-E, with less legroom and headroom, and a smaller cargo area. The frunk was also small due to powertrain hardware. The gasoline XC40 was more competitive in interior space against rivals like the Audi Q3 and BMW X1. Volvo compensated with clever storage solutions, including a removable trash bin, a bag hook in the glovebox, and extra-large door bins. The storage cubby ahead of the shifter was well-shaped for a phone, with an optional wireless charging pad and a standard USB-C port, though second-row occupants lacked phone-charging options.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona offered decent headroom and legroom for front-seat passengers, with controls and displays within easy reach. The front seats were wide and well-padded but lacked support for spirited driving. Back-seat passengers had good headroom but limited legroom, with large rear door openings for easier child seat loading. The Kona had limited cargo space, only surpassing the Mazda CX-3, but the rear seats folded to expand the space. Small-item storage was generous, with large door pockets and a spacious center console area.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge featured the Android Automotive OS infotainment system with Google apps, including Google Assistant and Google Maps, and allowed Android phone users to sync their personal accounts. The system included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth, with a 9-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The Recharge also had OTA update capability for the infotainment system and other vehicle functions. It lacked a start button, requiring only the key fob to shift out of park.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona came with an eight-inch infotainment touchscreen, Bluetooth, six speakers, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and USB inputs. Available tech included SiriusXM radio, navigation, wireless device charging, a Harman Kardon audio system, and a 10.25-inch touchscreen. The infotainment software was simple, colorful, and responsive, making it easy to navigate and use.

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. Standard safety features included 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, scalable for future advanced driver aids.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona earned a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, lane-following assist, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, a driver attention warning system, and rear occupant alert. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a head-up display, and parking sensors.