Compare the2023 Volvo C40 RechargeVS 2023 BMW i4

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Volvo C40 Recharge are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW i4 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the C40 Recharge and i4 have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The C40 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 i4’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 C40 Recharge has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The i4 doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

The C40 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 i4 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the C40 Recharge. But it costs extra on the i4.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the C40 Recharge’s standard Off-Road Mode allow you to creep down safely. The i4 doesn’t offer Off-Road Mode.

Both the C40 Recharge and the i4 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, 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, 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 C40 Recharge its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 101 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The i4 has not been tested, yet.

The C40 Recharge’s electric motors produces 121 more horsepower (402 vs. 281) and 192 lbs.-ft. more torque (487 vs. 295) than the i4 eDrive35’s standard electric motor. The C40 Recharge’s electric motors produces 67 more horsepower (402 vs. 335) and 170 lbs.-ft. more torque (487 vs. 317) than the i4 eDrive40’s standard electric motor.

On the EPA test cycle the C40 Recharge gets better mileage than the i4:

For better traction, the C40 Recharge has larger tires than the i4 (235/45R20 vs. 225/50R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the C40 Recharge Core has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the i4.

For better maneuverability, the C40 Recharge’s turning circle is 3.6 feet tighter than the i4’s (37.4 feet vs. 41 feet).

The C40 Recharge is 1 foot, 1.7 inches shorter than the i4, making the C40 Recharge easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The C40 Recharge has 1.2 inches more front headroom, 1.5 inches more front shoulder room, .1 inches more rear headroom, 1.9 inches more rear legroom and 2 inches more rear shoulder room than the i4.

The C40 Recharge has a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The i4 has no towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Stability Assist on the C40 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 i4 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the i4, the C40 Recharge has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the C40 Recharge to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The i4 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the C40 Recharge has a standard rear wiper. The i4 doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The C40 Recharge offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The i4 doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The C40 Recharge has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the i4. The C40 Recharge also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the i4.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Volvo C40 Recharge has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the i4.