Compare the2023 Mazda CX-50 VS 2023 Volvo XC40

The Mazda CX-50 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The XC40 doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the CX-50. But it costs extra on the XC40.

Both the CX-50 and the XC40 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, 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, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Mazda CX-50 is safer than the XC40:

	CX-50	XC40
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Neck Tension	290 lbs.	312 lbs.
Pelvis	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Pelvis Force	982 lbs.	1182 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	251	387
Neck Tension	89 lbs.	268 lbs.
Neck Compression	67 lbs.	89 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	1.02 in	1.1 in
Torso Max Deflection	.83 in	1.5 in
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	446 lbs.	692 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the CX-50 the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 53 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The XC40 has not been fully tested, yet.

Mazda’s powertrain warranty covers the CX-50 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Volvo covers the XC40. 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 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 2 times as many Mazda dealers as there are Volvo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the CX-50’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the CX-50’s reliability 13 points higher than the XC40.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. With 76 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mazda higher than Volvo.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda above average in long-term dependability. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Volvo is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda fourth in overall reliability. Volvo is ranked 14th.

The CX-50’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 9 more horsepower (256 vs. 247) and 62 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 258) than the XC40 B5’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the CX-50 with its standard engine gets better fuel mileage than the XC40 T5 (24 city/30 hwy vs. 23 city/30 hwy).

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the CX-50 (except Turbo)’s fuel efficiency. The XC40 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Mazda CX-50 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended with the 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder engine for maximum performance). The XC40 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The CX-50 has 1.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the XC40 (15.8 vs. 14.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The CX-50 stops much shorter than the XC40:

	CX-50	XC40
70 to 0 MPH	161 feet	185 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	118 feet	125 feet	Motor Trend

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-50’s wheelbase is 4.4 inches longer than on the XC40 (110.8 inches vs. 106.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the CX-50 is 2.1 inches wider in the front and 1.3 inches wider in the rear than the track on the XC40.

The CX-50 2.5 Turbo handles at .87 G’s, while the XC40 B5 Ultimate AWD pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the CX-50’s turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the XC40’s (36 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

For greater off-road capability the CX-50 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the XC40 (8.3 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the CX-50 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The CX-50 Premium/Turbo’s minimum ground clearance is .5 inch higher than on the XC40 (8.6 vs. 8.1 inches).

The CX-50 has 2.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the XC40 (100.3 vs. 98).

The CX-50 has .1 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more front legroom and 3.7 inches more rear legroom than the XC40.

The CX-50 has a much larger cargo volume than the XC40 with its rear seat up (31.4 vs. 20.4 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the CX-50 easier. The CX-50’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 28.4 inches, while the XC40’s liftover is 29.6 inches.

The CX-50’s cargo area is larger than the XC40’s in every dimension:

	CX-50	XC40
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	42.6”/75.4”	34.9”/65.7”
Max Width	55.6”	41.7”
Min Width	40.2”	39.5”
Height	30.2”	29.4”

The CX-50 Premium Plus/Turbo Premium has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, warning 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 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 CX-50 has standard extendable sun visors. The XC40 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the CX-50 Premium Plus/Turbo Premium keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The XC40 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Mazda CX-50 and the Volvo XC40, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Mazda CX-50 outsold the Volvo XC40 by 15% during 2022.