Compare the2024 Porsche TaycanVS 2024 Volvo XC40 Recharge

The Porsche Taycan has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The XC40 Recharge doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the Taycan helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The XC40 Recharge doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the Taycan and the XC40 Recharge 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 and around view monitors.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Porsche vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Porsche above average in initial quality. With 83 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 Porsche vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Porsche above average in long-term dependability. With 30 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Volvo is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Porsche vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Porsche 17 places higher in reliability than Volvo.

The Taycan has more powerful engines than the XC40 Recharge:

As tested in Car and Driver the Taycan 4S Performance Plus/Cross Turismo electric motors is faster than the XC40 Recharge Twin Motor electric motors:

The Taycan’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The XC40 Recharge doesn’t offer launch control.

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

The Taycan’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 Recharge are solid, not vented.

The Taycan offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The XC40 Recharge doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The Taycan stops much shorter than the XC40 Recharge:

For better traction, the Taycan’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the XC40 Recharge (F:265/35R21 & R:305/30R21 vs. F:235/50R19 & R:255/45R19).

The Taycan’s optional 265/35R21 front and 305/30R21 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the XC40 Recharge Ultimate’s 45 series front and 40 series rear tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Taycan offers optional 21-inch wheels. The XC40 Recharge’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The Taycan offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect 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 Recharge doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The Taycan offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Volvo doesn’t offer an active suspension on the XC40 Recharge.

The Taycan has a standard 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. The XC40 Recharge’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Taycan’s wheelbase is 7.8 inches longer than on the XC40 Recharge (114.2 inches vs. 106.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Taycan is 4.1 inches wider in the front and 2.5 inches wider in the rear than the track on the XC40 Recharge.

The Taycan 4S Cross Turismo handles at .88 G’s, while the XC40 Recharge AWD pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Taycan Cross Turismo 4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.3 seconds quicker than the XC40 Recharge AWD (25 seconds @ .76 average G’s vs. 26.3 seconds @ .7 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Taycan w/Rear Axle Steering’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the XC40 Recharge’s (36.7 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

The Taycan is 10.7 inches shorter in height than the XC40 Recharge, making the Taycan much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

The front grille of the Taycan 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 Taycan has a much larger cargo volume than the XC40 Recharge with its rear seat up (18.7 vs. 16 cubic feet).

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the Taycan easier. The Taycan’s trunk lift-over height is 27.5 inches, while the XC40 Recharge’s liftover is 29.7 inches.

The Taycan has a much higher standard payload capacity than the XC40 Recharge (1331 vs. 960 lbs.).

The Taycan has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the XC40 Recharge (1596 vs. 960 lbs.).

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Porsche service is better than Volvo. J.D. Power ranks Porsche third in service department satisfaction. With a 25% lower rating, Volvo is ranked 12th.

The Taycan 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.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the XC40 Recharge, the Taycan offers an optional driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The Taycan’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The XC40 Recharge doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Taycan offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The XC40 Recharge doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Taycan keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The XC40 Recharge doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Taycan offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the XC40 Recharge.

The Taycan’s optional Active Parking Support can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote ParkAssist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The XC40 Recharge doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Porsche Taycan comes in sedan and station wagon bodystyles; the Volvo XC40 Recharge isn’t available as a sedan.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Taycan first among upper midsize premium cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The XC40 Recharge isn’t in the top three in its category.