Compare the2024 Lexus RZVS 2024 Volvo XC40 Recharge

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 RZ are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The XC40 Recharge doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Lexus RZ 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.

Both the RZ 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, 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 and driver alert monitors.

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 Lexus RZ is safer than the XC40 Recharge:

The Lexus RZ achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The XC40 Recharge is not a “Top Safety Pick” for 2024.

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the RZ 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Volvo covers the XC40 Recharge. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the XC40 Recharge ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in initial quality. With 79 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 Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in long-term dependability. With 33 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 Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus first in overall reliability. Volvo is ranked 25th.

The RZ 450e’s optional electric motors produces 60 more horsepower (308 vs. 248) and 11 lbs.-ft. more torque (321 vs. 310) than the XC40 Recharge Single Motor’s standard electric motor.

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

The RZ’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 RZ stops shorter than the XC40 Recharge:

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the RZ’s wheelbase is 5.8 inches longer than on the XC40 Recharge (112.2 inches vs. 106.4 inches).

The RZ 450e Luxury handles at .86 G’s, while the XC40 Recharge AWD pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The RZ 450e Luxury executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the XC40 Recharge AWD (25.9 seconds @ .7 average G’s vs. 26.3 seconds @ .7 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the RZ’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the XC40 Recharge’s (36.8 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

For greater off-road capability the RZ has a greater minimum ground clearance than the XC40 Recharge (7.9 vs. 6.9 inches), allowing the RZ to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The design of the Lexus RZ amounts to more than styling. The RZ has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .29 Cd. That is significantly lower than the XC40 Recharge (.329) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the RZ get better fuel mileage.

The front grille of the RZ 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 RZ uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The XC40 Recharge doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The RZ has 1 inch more front headroom, 1.2 inches more front legroom, .2 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom and 1.4 inches more rear legroom than the XC40 Recharge.

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

The RZ has a much larger cargo volume than the XC40 Recharge with its rear seat up (34.9 vs. 16 cubic feet).

The RZ’s cargo area is larger than the XC40 Recharge’s in almost every dimension:

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Volvo. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With a 43% lower rating, Volvo is ranked 12th.

The RZ 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.

The RZ’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 RZ 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.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the RZ has standard extendable sun visors. The XC40 Recharge doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the RZ 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 RZ has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the XC40 Recharge.

The RZ has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The XC40 Recharge doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The RZ’s optional Advanced Park can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The XC40 Recharge doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Lexus RZ, based on reliability, safety and performance.