Compare the2023 Volvo XC40 RechargeVS 2022 Mercedes EQB

Both the XC40 Recharge and EQB have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The XC40 Recharge has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The EQB’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The XC40 Recharge has a standard Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS), which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the WHIPS allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. At the same time the pretensioning seatbelts fire, removing slack from the belts. The EQB doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The XC40 Recharge has standard Post-impact braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The EQB doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The XC40 Recharge has a standard CTA Auto Brake that use rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The EQB doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The XC40 Recharge’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the EQB.

Both the XC40 Recharge and the EQB 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, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors 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 standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the XC40 Recharge its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 95 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The EQB has not been tested, yet.

The XC40 Recharge’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the EQB’s (12 vs. 5 years).

Volvo pays for scheduled maintenance on the XC40 Recharge for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Volvo will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Mercedes doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the EQB.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Volvo vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Volvo 2 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

The XC40 Recharge’s electric motors produces 177 more horsepower (402 vs. 225) and 198 lbs.-ft. more torque (486 vs. 288) than the EQB 300’s standard electric motor. The XC40 Recharge’s electric motors produces 114 more horsepower (402 vs. 288) and 102 lbs.-ft. more torque (486 vs. 384) than the EQB 350’s standard electric motor.

As tested in Motor Trend the Volvo XC40 Recharge is faster than the EQB 350:

The XC40 Recharge stops much shorter than the EQB:

For better traction and acceleration, the XC40 Recharge has larger rear tires than the EQB (255/45R19 vs. 235/50R19).

The XC40 Recharge’s standard 235/50R19 front and 255/45R19 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series front and 45 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the EQB 300’s 55 series tires. The XC40 Recharge’s optional 235/45R20 front and 255/40R20 rear tires have a lower 45 series front and 40 series rear profile than the EQB’s optional 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the XC40 Recharge has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the EQB 300. The XC40 Recharge’s optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels optional on the EQB.

The XC40 Recharge has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The EQB’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the XC40 Recharge is .6 inches wider in the front and 1.2 inches wider in the rear than on the EQB.

The XC40 Recharge handles at .84 G’s, while the EQB 350 pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The XC40 Recharge executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.1 seconds quicker than the EQB 350 (26.3 seconds @ .7 average G’s vs. 27.4 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the XC40 Recharge’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the EQB’s (37.4 feet vs. 38.4 feet).

The XC40 Recharge is 9.6 inches shorter than the EQB, making the XC40 Recharge easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The XC40 Recharge has .8 inches more front shoulder room and 1.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the EQB.

The XC40 Recharge has a much larger cargo volume than the EQB with its rear seat up (16 vs. 5.1 cubic feet).

A control in the cargo area automatically lowers the XC40 Recharge’s optional rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The EQB doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Optional Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) on the XC40 Recharge uses the Dynamic Stability and Traction Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The EQB doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are optional on the XC40 Recharge to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The EQB doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the XC40 Recharge has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the EQB only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The XC40 Recharge offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The EQB doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The XC40 Recharge has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the EQB. The XC40 Recharge also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated second row seats aren’t available in the EQB.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the XC40 Recharge second among small premium suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The EQB isn’t in the top three.