Compare the2022 Subaru Crosstrek HybridVS 2022 Volvo XC40 Recharge

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Crosstrek Hybrid are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The XC40 Recharge doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Both the Crosstrek Hybrid and the XC40 Recharge have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, with its optional vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, with its optional vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Crosstrek Hybrid its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2021, a rating granted to only 74 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The XC40 Recharge has not been tested, yet.

Subaru’s powertrain warranty covers the Crosstrek Hybrid 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Volvo covers the XC40 Recharge. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the XC40 Recharge ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 2 times as many Subaru dealers as there are Volvo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Crosstrek Hybrid’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru 24th in initial quality. With 28 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volvo is ranked 29th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru 17th in reliability. With 18 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volvo is ranked 25th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 10 places higher in reliability than Volvo.

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Crosstrek Hybrid lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability without compromising ground clearance. The XC40 Recharge doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

On the EPA test cycle the Crosstrek Hybrid running on electricity gets better mileage than the XC40 Recharge (99 city/80 hwy vs. 92 city/79 hwy MPGe).

The Crosstrek Hybrid’s maximum EPA estimated driving range on a full tank of fuel and a full charge is 475.2 miles, after which it can be refueled at any gas station in minutes. The XC40 Recharge’s range is only 223 miles, after which the minimum recharge time is 40 minutes for only a 80% charge at a specially configured quick charge station not available in most areas. A full recharge at a conventional charging station can take up to 8 hours.

The Crosstrek Hybrid’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the XC40 Recharge are solid, not vented.

For better maneuverability, the Crosstrek Hybrid’s turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the XC40 Recharge’s (35.4 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Crosstrek Hybrid has a 1.6 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the XC40 Recharge (8.7 vs. 7.1 inches), allowing the Crosstrek Hybrid to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1000 pounds less than the Volvo XC40 Recharge.

The front grille of the Crosstrek Hybrid uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The XC40 Recharge doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Crosstrek Hybrid has 2.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the XC40 Recharge (100.7 vs. 98).

The Crosstrek Hybrid has .8 inches more front headroom, 2.2 inches more front legroom, .4 inches more front hip room and .6 inches more rear legroom than the XC40 Recharge.

The Crosstrek Hybrid’s cargo area is larger than the XC40 Recharge’s in almost every dimension:

The Crosstrek Hybrid has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The XC40 Recharge doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Crosstrek Hybrid’s exterior PIN entry system. The XC40 Recharge doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Volvo On Call can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Crosstrek Hybrid has standard extendable sun visors. The XC40 Recharge doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Insurance will cost less for the Crosstrek Hybrid owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Crosstrek Hybrid will cost $1035 less than the XC40 Recharge over a five-year period.

The Crosstrek Hybrid will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Crosstrek Hybrid will retain 53.08% of its original price after five years, while the XC40 Recharge only retains 40.59%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid will be $18587 less than for the Volvo XC40 Recharge.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Subaru Crosstrek outsold the Volvo XC40 by almost five to one during the 2021 model year.