Compare the2025 Mazda CX-5VS 2024 Volvo XC40

Both the CX-5 and the XC40 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available around view monitors 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 Mazda CX-5 is safer than the Volvo XC40:

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 Mazda CX-5 is safer than the Volvo XC40:

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 Mazda CX-5 is safer than the XC40:

Mazda’s powertrain warranty covers the CX-5 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 almost 2 times as many Mazda dealers as there are Volvo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the CX-5’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the CX-5’s reliability 19 points higher than the XC40.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. With 10 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mazda higher than Volvo.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda above average in long-term dependability. With 5 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 Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda 18 places higher in reliability than Volvo.

The CX-5’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 9 more horsepower (256 vs. 247) and 62 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 258) than the XC40’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the CX-5 with its standard engine gets better fuel mileage than the XC40 T5 (26 city/30 hwy vs. 24 city/30 hwy).

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the CX-5 (except Turbo)’s fuel efficiency. The XC40 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Mazda CX-5 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended with the 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder engine for maximum performance). The XC40 requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The CX-5 has 1.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the XC40 (15.3 vs. 14.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The CX-5 stops much shorter than the XC40:

The CX-5 handles at .81 G’s, while the XC40 B5 Plus pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The CX-5 Carbon Turbo executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the XC40 B5 Plus (27.7 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 28.1 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the CX-5’s turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the XC40’s (36 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

The CX-5 has 5.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the XC40 (103.6 vs. 98).

The CX-5 has .7 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more front legroom, .5 inches more front hip room, .4 inches more front shoulder room, 3.5 inches more rear legroom and .7 inches more rear hip room than the XC40.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the CX-5’s rear seats recline. The XC40’s rear seats don’t recline.

The CX-5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the XC40 with its rear seat up (29.1 vs. 20.4 cubic feet). The CX-5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the XC40 with its rear seat folded (59.3 vs. 57.5 cubic feet).

The CX-5’s cargo area is larger than the XC40’s in every dimension:

The CX-5 Premium Plus/Turbo has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, warning 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 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 CX-5 has standard extendable sun visors. The XC40 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the CX-5 Premium Plus/Turbo 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.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Mazda CX-5 will be $4460 to $7635 less than for the Volvo XC40.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Mazda CX-5, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Volvo XC40 isn't recommended.

The Mazda CX-5 outsold the Volvo XC40 by over five to one during 2023.