Compare the2024 Volvo C40 RechargeVS 2023 Volkswagen ID.4

The Volvo C40 Recharge has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The ID.4 doesn’t offer knee 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 ID.4 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the C40 Recharge’s standard Hill Descent Control allow you to creep down safely. The ID.4 doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

Both the C40 Recharge and the ID.4 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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, 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 C40 Recharge’s corrosion warranty is 5 years and unlimited miles longer than the ID.4’s (12/unlimited vs. 7/100,000).

Volvo pays for scheduled maintenance on the C40 Recharge for 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Volkswagen pays for maintenance for the ID.4 (4/40,000 vs. 2/20,000).

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Volvo vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Volvo 2 places higher in reliability than Volkswagen.

The C40 Recharge’s standard electric motor produces 47 more horsepower (248 vs. 201) and 81 lbs.-ft. more torque (310 vs. 229) than the ID.4’s standard electric motor. The C40 Recharge’s optional electric motors produces 107 more horsepower (402 vs. 295) and 155 lbs.-ft. more torque (494 vs. 339) than the ID.4’s optional electric motors.

As tested in Car and Driver the Volvo C40 Recharge electric motors is faster than the Volkswagen ID.4 electric motors:

On the EPA test cycle the C40 Recharge gets better mileage than the ID.4:

The C40 Recharge can travel longer on a full charge than the ID.4 on a full charge:

The Volvo C40 Recharge has standard four-wheel disc brakes for better stopping power and improved directional control in poor weather. Only rear drums come on the ID.4. Drums can heat up and make stops longer, especially with antilock brakes that work much harder than conventional brakes.

The C40 Recharge Core’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the ID.4’s standard 55 series front tires. The C40 Recharge’s optional tires have a lower 45 series profile than the ID.4 S’ 50 series front tires.

The C40 Recharge has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The ID.4’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the C40 Recharge is .5 inches wider in the front and 1.6 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the ID.4.

The C40 Recharge is 5.7 inches shorter than the ID.4, making the C40 Recharge easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The C40 Recharge has .3 inches more front hip room, 7.9 inches more rear hip room and .4 inches more rear shoulder room than the ID.4.

The C40 Recharge uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The ID.4 uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors in the ID.4 S/Pro S/Pro S Plus, 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.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the C40 Recharge has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the ID.4 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

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 ID.4 doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The C40 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 ID.4 has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the C40 Recharge second among small premium suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The ID.4 isn’t in the top three.