Compare the2023 Infiniti QX50VS 2023 Volvo XC40

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 QX50 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The XC40 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Infiniti QX50 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.

Both the QX50 and the XC40 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, 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, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Infiniti QX50 is safer than the Volvo XC40:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The QX50 comes with a full 4-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The XC40’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 10,000 miles sooner.

Infiniti’s powertrain warranty covers the QX50 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Volvo covers the XC40. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the XC40 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Infiniti vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. With 52 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Infiniti 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 Infiniti vehicles are more reliable than Volvo With 28 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Infiniti higher than Volvo.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Infiniti vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Infiniti 7 places higher in reliability than Volvo.

The QX50’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 74 more horsepower (268 vs. 194) and 59 lbs.-ft. more torque (280 vs. 221) than the XC40 B4’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The QX50’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 21 more horsepower (268 vs. 247) and 22 lbs.-ft. more torque (280 vs. 258) than the XC40 B5’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

The QX50 has 1.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the XC40 (16 vs. 14.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Infiniti QX50 higher (6 out of 10) than the Volvo XC40 (5). This means the QX50 produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the XC40 every 15,000 miles.

The QX50 has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The XC40 doesn’t offer a CVT.

For better stopping power the QX50’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the XC40:

The QX50’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 are solid, not vented.

The QX50 stops shorter than the XC40:

For better traction, the QX50 Sport/Sensory/Autograph’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the XC40 (255/45R20 vs. 245/45R20).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the QX50 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the XC40.

The QX50 has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The XC40 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the QX50 can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The XC40 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the QX50’s wheelbase is 3.8 inches longer than on the XC40 (110.2 inches vs. 106.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the QX50 is 1.4 inches wider in the front than the track on the XC40.

The QX50 AWD handles at .84 G’s, while the XC40 B5 Plus AWD pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The QX50 AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.4 seconds quicker than the XC40 B5 Plus AWD (26.7 seconds @ .66 average G’s vs. 28.1 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the QX50’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the XC40’s (36.4 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

For greater off-road capability the QX50 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the XC40 (8.6 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the QX50 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The design of the Infiniti QX50 amounts to more than styling. The QX50 has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .32 Cd. That is lower than the XC40 (.34) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the QX50 get better fuel mileage.

The QX50 uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The XC40 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The QX50 has 6.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the XC40 (104.4 vs. 98).

The QX50 has 2 inches more front headroom, .9 inches more front hip room, 1.2 inches more front shoulder room, 2.6 inches more rear legroom and .8 inches more rear shoulder room than the XC40.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the QX50’s rear seats recline. The XC40’s rear seats don’t recline.

The QX50 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the XC40 with its rear seat up (31.4 vs. 20.4 cubic feet). The QX50 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the XC40 with its rear seat folded (65.1 vs. 57.5 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the QX50 easier. The QX50’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 26.6 inches, while the XC40’s liftover is 29.6 inches.

The QX50’s cargo area is larger than the XC40’s in every dimension:

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Infiniti service is better than Volvo. J.D. Power ranks Infiniti 9th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With an 8% lower rating, Volvo is ranked 12th.

The QX50 Luxe/Sport/Sensory/Autograph’s standard Entry/Exit Assist raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The XC40 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The QX50 Sensory/Autograph has a standard 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 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 QX50 has standard extendable sun visors. The XC40 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the QX50 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The XC40 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the QX50 Sport/Sensory/Autograph 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 Infiniti QX50 and the Volvo XC40, based on reliability, safety and performance.

Consumer Reports performed a comparison test in its August 2018 issue and they ranked the Infiniti QX50 AWD higher than the Volvo XC40 B5 Core AWD.