Compare the2023 Ford BroncoVS 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 Bronco 4-Door 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.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, Full-Time Four-Wheel Drive is standard on the Bronco. But it costs extra on the XC40.

Both the Bronco and the XC40 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

Ford’s powertrain warranty covers the Bronco 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 11 times as many Ford dealers as there are Volvo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Bronco’s warranty.

The Bronco has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The XC40 doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford above average in initial quality. With 89 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 Ford vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford above average in long-term dependability. With 4 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Volvo is rated below average.

The Bronco has more powerful engines than the XC40:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Ford Bronco uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The XC40 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Bronco 2-Door’s standard fuel tank has 2.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the XC40 (16.9 vs. 14.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Bronco Raptor’s standard fuel tank has 7 gallons more fuel capacity than the XC40 (21.2 vs. 14.2 gallons).

The Bronco offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and sportiness. The XC40 doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

A 10-speed automatic is available on the Ford Bronco, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the XC40.

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

The Bronco’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.

For better traction, the Bronco has larger standard tires than the XC40 (255/70R16 vs. 235/55R18). The Bronco Raptor’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the XC40 (37 x 12.5R17 vs. 245/45R20).

The Ford Bronco’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Volvo XC40 only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The Bronco has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the XC40; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

The Bronco Badlands has an active front sway bar, which helps keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnects at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The XC40 doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The Bronco offers an optional driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The XC40’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Bronco’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The XC40 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Bronco 4-Door’s wheelbase is 9.7 inches longer than on the XC40 (116.1 inches vs. 106.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Bronco is 5.4 inches wider in the front and 4.5 inches wider in the rear than the track on the XC40.

For better maneuverability, the Bronco 2-Door’s turning circle is 1.9 feet tighter than the XC40’s (35.5 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Bronco 4-Door has a greater minimum ground clearance than the XC40 (8.3 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the Bronco to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The front grille of the Bronco 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 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Bronco 4-Door has 10.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the XC40 (108.2 vs. 98).

The Bronco 4-Door has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the XC40 with its rear seat up (38.3 vs. 20.4 cubic feet). The Bronco 4-Door has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the XC40 with its rear seat folded (77.6 vs. 57.5 cubic feet).

The Bronco 4-Door’s optional sliding cargo floor makes loading and unloading cargo easier and safer. The XC40 doesn’t offer a sliding load floor.

The Bronco’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the right swing out door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The XC40’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

Maximum trailer towing in the Volvo XC40 is limited to 3500 pounds. The Bronco offers up to a 4500 lbs. towing capacity.

Trailer Sway Control is standard on the Bronco, using the AdvanceTrac® 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.

The Bronco has a higher standard payload capacity than the XC40 (1100 vs. 925 lbs.).

The Bronco has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the XC40 (1452 vs. 925 lbs.).

The engine in the Bronco is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the XC40. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

The Bronco’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The XC40 has neither an oil pressure gauge nor a temperature gauge.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Bronco’s available exterior PIN entry system. The XC40 doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Volvo On Call can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Bronco has standard extendable sun visors. The XC40 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Bronco (except Base) offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The XC40 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Ford Bronco comes in four door and soft top bodystyles; the Volvo XC40 isn’t available as a soft top.

The Bronco was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” in 2022. The XC40 has never been a Car and Driver “Top Ten” pick.

The Ford Bronco outsold the Volvo XC40 by almost seven to one during the 2022 model year.