Compare the2024 Volvo XC40 RechargeVS 2024 Lexus RZ

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 RZ doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the XC40 Recharge and RZ have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The XC40 Recharge Ultimate has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The RZ’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

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 RZ doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Both the XC40 Recharge and the RZ have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, 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.

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and its standard front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the XC40 Recharge the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2017, a rating granted to only 207 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The RZ has not been fully tested, yet.

The XC40 Recharge’s corrosion warranty is 6 years longer than the RZ’s (12 vs. 6 years).

Volvo pays for scheduled maintenance on the XC40 Recharge for 3 years and 30,000 miles longer than Lexus pays for maintenance for the RZ (4/40,000 vs. 1/10,000).

There are over 15 percent more Volvo dealers than there are Lexus dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the XC40 Recharge’s warranty.

The XC40 Recharge Single Motor’s standard electric motor produces 47 more horsepower (248 vs. 201) and 114 lbs.-ft. more torque (310 vs. 196) than the RZ 300e’s standard electric motor. The XC40 Recharge Twin Motor’s optional electric motors produces 94 more horsepower (402 vs. 308) and 173 lbs.-ft. more torque (494 vs. 321) than the RZ 450e’s optional electric motors.

As tested in Motor Trend the XC40 Recharge Twin Motor electric motors is faster than the RZ 450e electric motors:

On the EPA test cycle the XC40 Recharge gets better mileage than the RZ:

The XC40 Recharge can travel longer on a full charge than the RZ on a full charge:

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

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 RZ’s standard 60 series front and 55 series rear tires. The XC40 Recharge Ultimate’s 235/45R20 front and 255/40R20 rear tires have a lower 45 series front and 40 series rear profile than the RZ’s optional 50 series front and 45 series rear tires.

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

The XC40 Recharge AWD handles at .84 G’s, while the RZ 450e Premium pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The XC40 Recharge is 1 foot, 3 inches shorter than the RZ, making the XC40 Recharge easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The XC40 Recharge has 2.8 inches more rear hip room and 2 inches more rear shoulder room than the RZ.

A control in the cargo area automatically lowers the XC40 Recharge’s optional rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The RZ 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 RZ doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The XC40 Recharge has a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The RZ 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 RZ doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The XC40 Recharge uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The RZ 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.

A maintenance reminder system is standard on the XC40 Recharge to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals based on odometer mileage. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Lexus doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the RZ.

The power windows standard on both the XC40 Recharge and the RZ have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the XC40 Recharge is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The RZ prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

If the windows are left open on the XC40 Recharge the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the RZ can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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 RZ doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the XC40 Recharge has a standard rear wiper. The RZ doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the XC40 Recharge Plus/Ultimate has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The RZ 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.

The Volvo XC40 outsold the Lexus RZ by over five to one during 2023.