Compare the2023 Toyota Rav4 PrimeVS 2023 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.

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 Toyota Rav4 Prime is safer than the XC40 Recharge:

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 Rav4 Prime the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 53 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The XC40 Recharge has not been fully 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’ 2022 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 above average in initial quality. With 84 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volvo is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 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 above average in long-term dependability. With 34 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 Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota first in overall reliability. Volvo is ranked 14th.

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 range on a full tank and a full charge is 622 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 time to recharge is 40 minutes for only an 80% charge at a specially configured quick charge station not available in most areas. A full recharge at a professionally installed 220-volt 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.

The Rav4 Prime has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the XC40 Recharge; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

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 1.1 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the XC40 Recharge (8 vs. 6.9 inches), allowing the Rav4 Prime to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Rav4 Prime XSE’s minimum ground clearance is 1.3 inches higher than on the XC40 Recharge (8.2 vs. 6.9 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 headroom, .1 inches more front legroom, 1.1 inches more front shoulder room, 1.2 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. 16 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. 46.9 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Rav4 Prime easier. The Rav4 Prime’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 27.8 inches, while the XC40 Recharge’s liftover is 29.7 inches.

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 much higher standard payload capacity than the XC40 Recharge (1295 vs. 960 lbs.).

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 XSE 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 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.

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

The Toyota Rav4 outsold the Volvo XC40 by almost 22 to one during 2022.