Compare the2024 Subaru OutbackVS 2023 Volvo XC40

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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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 Outback 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, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Outback. But it costs extra on the XC40.

Both the Outback 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, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Subaru Outback is safer than the Volvo XC40:

	Outback	XC40
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	158	200
Neck Injury Risk	26%	30%
Leg Forces (l/r)	230/249 lbs.	361/380 lbs.

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

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 Subaru Outback is safer than the Volvo XC40:

	Outback	XC40
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	28	78
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	101 lbs.	156 lbs.
Hip Force	247 lbs.	320 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	116	119
Hip Force	635 lbs.	755 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	146	237

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

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 Subaru Outback is safer than the XC40:

	Outback	XC40
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	69	129
Neck Tension	156 lbs.	312 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.94 in	1.46 in
Shoulder Force	201 lbs.	290 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.54 in	1.65 in
Torso Deflection Rate	9 MPH	9 MPH
Pelvis	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Pelvis Force	1026 lbs.	1182 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Neck Tension	67 lbs.	268 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Torso Max Deflection	1.42 in	1.5 in
Torso Deflection Rate	9 MPH	10 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Outback its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 30 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The XC40 has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

Subaru’s powertrain warranty covers the Outback 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 over 2 times as many Subaru dealers as there are Volvo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Outback’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru above average in initial quality. With 65 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 Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Volvo With 30 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Subaru higher than Volvo.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 7 places higher in reliability than Volvo.

Engine

The Outback XT/Wilderness’ standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 13 more horsepower (260 vs. 247) and 19 lbs.-ft. more torque (277 vs. 258) than the XC40 B5’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the Outback XT/Wilderness 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the XC40 B5:

	Outback	XC40
Zero to 60 MPH	5.8 sec	6.1 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	15.8 sec	16.7 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	6.5 sec	7.3 sec
Quarter Mile	14.6 sec	14.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	96 MPH	94 MPH
Top Speed	117 MPH	114 MPH

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Outback lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability (That’s why Porsche uses boxer engines.). The XC40 doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Outback gets better mileage than the XC40:

			MPG
Outback
	AWD	2.5 DOHC flat-4	26 city/32 hwy
XC40
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	24 city/32 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	23 city/30 hwy

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Subaru Outback uses regular unleaded gasoline. The XC40 requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Outback has 4.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the XC40 (18.5 vs. 14.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Subaru Outback higher (6 to 7 out of 10) than the Volvo XC40 (5). This means the Outback produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the XC40 every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

The Outback 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.

Brakes and Stopping

The Outback’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.

Tires and Wheels

The Outback Wilderness/Onyx XT 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.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Outback’s wheelbase is 1.7 inches longer than on the XC40 (108.1 inches vs. 106.4 inches).

The Outback Wilderness executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the XC40 B5 Plus AWD (27.2 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 28.1 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Outback’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the XC40’s (36.1 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Outback has a greater minimum ground clearance than the XC40 (8.7 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the Outback to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Outback Wilderness’ minimum ground clearance is 1.4 inches higher than on the XC40 (9.5 vs. 8.1 inches).

Chassis

The front grille of the Outback 2.5i 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.

Passenger Space

The Outback has 11 cubic feet more passenger volume than the XC40 (109 vs. 98).

The Outback has 1.1 inches more front headroom, 1.9 inches more front legroom, .8 inches more front hip room, 1.4 inches more front shoulder room, 3.4 inches more rear legroom, .2 inches more rear hip room and 1.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the XC40.

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

Cargo Capacity

The Outback has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the XC40 with its rear seat up (32.6 vs. 20.4 cubic feet). The Outback has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the XC40 with its rear seat folded (75.6 vs. 57.5 cubic feet).

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the Outback easier. The Outback’s trunk lift-over height is 28.4 inches, while the XC40’s liftover is 29.6 inches.

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

	Outback	XC40
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	42”/75”	34.9”/65.7”
Max Width	51”	41.7”
Min Width	43.3”	39.5”
Height	32.1”	29.4”

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Outback 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.

Ergonomics

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Outback’s available exterior PIN entry system (not available on Outback Base). 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 Outback has standard extendable sun visors. The XC40 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Outback 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 Outback Touring 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.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Subaru Outback and the Volvo XC40, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Subaru Outback outsold the Volvo XC40 by almost 8 to one during 2022.