Compare the2023 Volvo XC40 RechargeVS 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Volvo XC40 Recharge have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Ford Mustang Mach-E doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The XC40 Recharge’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Mustang Mach-E doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The XC40 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 Mustang Mach-E doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the XC40 Recharge. But it costs extra on the Mustang Mach-E.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the XC40 Recharge’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Mustang Mach-E doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

Both the XC40 Recharge and the Mustang Mach-E have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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.

The XC40 Recharge comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Mustang Mach-E’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The XC40 Recharge’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Mustang Mach-E’s (12 vs. 5 years).

Volvo pays for scheduled maintenance on the XC40 Recharge for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Volvo will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Ford doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Mustang Mach-E.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Volvo vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Volvo 4 places higher in reliability than Ford.

The XC40 Recharge’s electric motors produces 136 more horsepower (402 vs. 266) and 169 lbs.-ft. more torque (486 vs. 317) than the Mustang Mach-E’s standard electric motor. The XC40 Recharge’s electric motors produces 136 more horsepower (402 vs. 266) and 58 lbs.-ft. more torque (486 vs. 428) than the Mustang Mach-E eAWD’s standard electric motors. The XC40 Recharge’s electric motors produces 112 more horsepower (402 vs. 290) and 169 lbs.-ft. more torque (486 vs. 317) than the Mustang Mach-E ER’s standard electric motor.

As tested in Motor Trend the Volvo XC40 Recharge is faster than the Ford Mustang Mach-E:

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

The XC40 Recharge has a standard locking charge port with a remote release located convenient to the driver. The Mustang Mach-E doesn’t have a locking charge port. A locking charge port prevents tampering and damage.

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

For better traction, the XC40 Recharge has larger tires than the Mustang Mach-E (F:235/50R19 & R:255/45R19 vs. 225/60R18).

The XC40 Recharge’s standard 235/50R19 front and 255/45R19 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series front and 45 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Mustang Mach-E’s standard 60 series tires. The XC40 Recharge’s optional 255/40R20 rear tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Mustang Mach-E GT’s 45 series tires.

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

The XC40 Recharge handles at .84 G’s, while the Mustang Mach-E 4 pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The XC40 Recharge executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.7 seconds quicker than the Mustang Mach-E California Route 1 (26.3 seconds @ .7 average G’s vs. 28 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the XC40 Recharge’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the Mustang Mach-E’s (37.4 feet vs. 38.1 feet).

For greater off-road capability the XC40 Recharge has a 1.1 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Mustang Mach-E (6.9 vs. 5.8 inches), allowing the XC40 Recharge to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The XC40 Recharge is 10.8 inches shorter than the Mustang Mach-E, making the XC40 Recharge easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The XC40 Recharge has .1 inches more rear headroom, 1.4 inches more rear hip room and .4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Mustang Mach-E.

A control in the cargo area automatically lowers the XC40 Recharge’s optional rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Mustang Mach-E doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the XC40 Recharge. The Mustang Mach-E doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The XC40 Recharge has a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The Mustang Mach-E has no towing capacity.

Optional Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) on the XC40 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 Mustang Mach-E doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are optional on the XC40 Recharge to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Mustang Mach-E doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The XC40 Recharge offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Mustang Mach-E doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the XC40 Recharge Ultimate has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Mustang Mach-E doesn’t offer cornering lights. The XC40 Recharge Ultimate also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

When the XC40 Recharge is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Mustang Mach-E’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The XC40 Recharge’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Mustang Mach-E has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The XC40 Recharge has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats are only available on the Mustang Mach-E Premium/CA RT 1/GT. The XC40 Recharge also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Mustang Mach-E.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the XC40 Recharge second among small premium suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Mustang Mach-E isn’t in the top three.