Compare the2023 Ford Mustang Mach-EVS 2023 Volvo XC40 Recharge

Both the Mustang Mach-E and the XC40 Recharge 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, 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.

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 Ford Mustang Mach-E is safer than the XC40 Recharge:

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

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 Mustang Mach-E GT Performance Edition’s optional electric motors produces 78 more horsepower (480 vs. 402) and 148 lbs.-ft. more torque (634 vs. 486) than the XC40 Recharge’s electric motors.

On the EPA test cycle the Mustang Mach-E gets better mileage than the XC40 Recharge:

The Mustang Mach-E can travel longer on a full charge than the XC40 Recharge on a full charge:

For better stopping power the Mustang Mach-E’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the XC40 Recharge:

The Mustang Mach-E stops much shorter than the XC40 Recharge:

For better traction, the Mustang Mach-E GT’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the XC40 Recharge (245/45R20 vs. 235/50R19).

The Mustang Mach-E offers an available 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 Recharge’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Mustang Mach-E’s wheelbase is 11.1 inches longer than on the XC40 Recharge (117.5 inches vs. 106.4 inches).

The Mustang Mach-E GT handles at .92 G’s, while the XC40 Recharge pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Ford Mustang Mach-E may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 350 pounds less than the Volvo XC40 Recharge.

The front grille of the Mustang Mach-E 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 Mustang Mach-E has 6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the XC40 Recharge (104 vs. 98).

The Mustang Mach-E has 1.3 inches more front headroom, 2.4 inches more front legroom, .7 inches more front hip room, .9 inches more front shoulder room and 2 inches more rear legroom than the XC40 Recharge.

The Mustang Mach-E has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the XC40 Recharge with its rear seat up (34.4 vs. 16 cubic feet). The Mustang Mach-E has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the XC40 Recharge with its rear seat folded (64.4 vs. 46.9 cubic feet).

The Mustang Mach-E’s cargo area is larger than the XC40 Recharge’s in every dimension:

The Mustang Mach-E 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 Mustang Mach-E Premium/CA RT 1/GT’s standard easy entry system 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 Recharge doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Mustang Mach-E’s exterior PIN entry system. The XC40 Recharge 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 Mustang Mach-E has standard extendable sun visors. The XC40 Recharge doesn’t offer extendable visors.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Ford Mustang Mach-E has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the XC40 Recharge.

The Mustang Mach-E’s optional Active Park Assist 2.0 can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The XC40 Recharge doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Mustang Mach-E is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The XC40 Recharge doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Car and Driver performed a comparison test in its July 2021 issue and the Ford Mustang Mach-E Select 4 won out over the Volvo XC40 Recharge.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Mustang Mach-E as the 2021 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The XC40 Recharge has never been chosen.

The Ford Mustang Mach-E outsold the Volvo XC40 by over two to one during 2022.