2022 Kia Sportage vs 2021 Volvo XC40

The 2021 Volvo XC40 had a more traditional SUV styling compared to other small luxury crossovers, featuring a tall, flat roof and an upright rear hatch. It seamlessly fit into the Volvo lineup with familial styling cues like “Thor’s Hammer” LED headlights and a simple oval grille. Gasoline models offered a white contrasting roof for a retro look. The XC40 Recharge distinguished itself with a blanked-off grille, subtle “Recharge” badging, and model-specific alloy wheels. It also featured a gloss black roof and mirror caps, a different rear bumper, 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. The design was coherent, with elements like the portrait-oriented touchscreen and air vents melding into a pleasing whole.

The 2022 Kia Sportage, while stylish, had a controversial tiger-nose grille that some found less appealing. However, other design details were spot-on, from the four-dot running light signature to the Volkswagen-style symmetry of the back door shut line. The SX Turbo's 19-inch wheels gave it a planted stance. Inside, the Sportage featured Germanic design cues with a black dashboard, polished metallic accents, and plain white markings on a black background. The SX Turbo included metal pedal covers and offered black, gray, and beige color options. Buttons and knobs made it easy to adjust settings, and the transmission shifter's solid operation imparted a sense of quality.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 offered a three-tiered powertrain lineup. The base FWD T4 had a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine with 187 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque, while the AWD T5 had 248 hp and 258 lb-ft. The electric Recharge model shared its powertrain with the Polestar 2, featuring one electric motor per axle for AWD, delivering 402 hp and 486 lb-ft. The Recharge had a 78-kWh battery pack, with 75 kWh usable, and could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds. The T5 and T4 did it in 6.1 and 8.1 seconds, respectively. All versions were electronically limited to 112 mph. The XC40 emphasized quiet and comfort, with excellent ride quality even on rough roads. The Recharge model also offered one-pedal driving and a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds.

The 2022 Kia Sportage had a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine making 181 hp and 175 lb-ft of torque. The SX Turbo model featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with 240 hp (237 hp with AWD) and 260 lb-ft of torque. Both engines used a six-speed automatic transmission, with optional AWD including a locking center differential. The SX Turbo accelerated quickly, with maximum torque available from 1,450 to 3,500 rpm. The Sportage had a MacPherson strut front suspension and an independent multi-link rear suspension, with the SX Turbo getting upgraded brakes and exclusive 19-inch wheels. The ride was smooth and compliant, with a hint of body roll. The Sportage felt athletic and sporty, though not as refined as the Mazda CX-5 Turbo.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 had no difference in passenger or cargo space between the Recharge and gasoline models. However, it had less legroom and headroom compared to the Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach-E, and a smaller cargo area. The frunk was also small. The gasoline XC40 was more competitive on interior space compared to rivals like the Audi Q3 and BMW X1. Volvo included 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. A wireless charging pad was optional, and a single USB-C port was standard, though second-row occupants lacked phone-charging options.

The 2022 Kia Sportage, despite being on the smaller side of the compact crossover scale, had a remarkably roomy passenger compartment. The SX Turbo trim offered perforated leather upholstery, ten-way power adjustment for the driver, and eight-way power adjustment for the front passenger. The front seats were heated and ventilated, and a heated flat-bottom steering wheel was standard. Rear seat legroom was generous, and the seat was comfortable, with air conditioning vents and a USB charging port for rear passengers. The Sportage had generous interior storage space but a maximum cargo volume of 60.1 cubic feet, falling short of segment leaders. The 30.7 cubic feet behind the back seat was acceptable. The Sportage also featured Kia's smart liftgate technology, which could be turned off if not needed.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge featured the Android Automotive OS infotainment system, with Google apps like Google Assistant and Google Maps built-in. It also included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity. The standard hardware setup included a 9-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The Recharge model had OTA update capability for the infotainment system and other vehicle functions. It also lacked a start button, allowing the driver to simply shift out of park with the key fob on their person.

The 2022 Kia Sportage came with a standard 8-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Most trim levels had UVO Link connected services and satellite radio, while the SX Turbo included wireless smartphone charging and an 8-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system. The infotainment system was easy to use, with knobs for stereo volume and radio tuning, and logical onscreen menus. However, the UVO Link system was falling behind in terms of technological sophistication, with a small screen, no WiFi hotspot, hit-and-miss voice-recognition technology, and wired smartphone mirroring.

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. The XC40 came with a long list of standard safety features, including lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, and more. The Recharge model had Volvo’s latest sensor suite and was expected to perform well in crash tests.

The 2022 Kia Sportage had forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, automatic high-beam headlights, and a driver monitoring system as standard. The SX Turbo also had adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability. The Sportage received good crash-test ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS, with the SX Turbo earning an Acceptable headlight rating, qualifying it for an IIHS Top Safety Pick.