Compare the2022 Toyota Rav4 PrimeVS 2022 Volvo XC40 Recharge

Both the Rav4 Prime and the XC40 Recharge have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear 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, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view 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, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Rav4 Prime the rating of “Top Pick” for 2021, a rating granted to only 145 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The XC40 Recharge has not been tested, yet.

Toyota’s powertrain warranty covers the Rav4 Prime 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 4 times as many Toyota dealers as there are Volvo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Rav4 Prime’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota 13th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 53 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volvo is ranked 29th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 45 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volvo is ranked 25th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in reliability. Volvo is ranked 18th.

On the EPA test cycle the Rav4 Prime running on electricity gets better mileage than the XC40 Recharge (105 city/84 hwy vs. 92 city/79 hwy MPGe).

The Rav4 Prime’s maximum EPA estimated driving range on a full tank of fuel and a full charge is 580 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 Rav4 Prime’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 Rav4 Prime SE’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the XC40 Recharge’s (36.1 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Rav4 Prime SE has a greater minimum ground clearance than the XC40 Recharge (8 vs. 7.1 inches), allowing the Rav4 Prime to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Rav4 Prime XSE’s minimum ground clearance is 1.1 inches higher than on the XC40 Recharge (8.2 vs. 7.1 inches).

The Toyota Rav4 Prime may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 to 500 pounds less than the Volvo XC40 Recharge.

The front grille of the Rav4 Prime 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 Rav4 Prime has .1 inches more front legroom, 1.1 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom, 1.7 inches more rear legroom and .1 inches more rear shoulder room than the XC40 Recharge.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Rav4 Prime’s rear seats recline. The XC40 Recharge’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Rav4 Prime has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the XC40 Recharge with its rear seat up (33.5 vs. 20.1 cubic feet). The Rav4 Prime has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the XC40 Recharge with its rear seat folded (69.8 vs. 46.6 cubic feet).

The Rav4 Prime’s cargo area is larger than the XC40 Recharge’s in almost every dimension:

The Rav4 Prime’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the XC40 Recharge’s (2500 vs. 2000 pounds).

A Trailer Sway Control is standard on the Rav4 Prime, using the Vehicle Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. A trailer sway program costs extra on the XC40 Recharge.

The Rav4 Prime 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.

The Rav4 Prime offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The XC40 Recharge doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Rav4 Prime has standard extendable sun visors. The XC40 Recharge doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Rav4 Prime XSE keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The XC40 Recharge doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Rav4 Prime has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning costs extra on the XC40 Recharge.

The Rav4 Prime XSE offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet in the cargo area, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The XC40 Recharge doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Insurance will cost less for the Rav4 Prime owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Rav4 Prime will cost $240 to $385 less than the XC40 Recharge over a five-year period.

The Rav4 Prime will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Rav4 Prime will retain 55.43% to 55.74% 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 Toyota Rav4 Prime will be $16654 to $19032 less than for the Volvo XC40 Recharge.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Toyota Rav4 Prime, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Toyota Rav4 outsold the Volvo XC40 by almost 15 to one during the 2021 model year.