Compare the2025 Volvo EC40VS 2024 Toyota bZ4X

The EC40’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The bZ4X doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the EC40 and bZ4X have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The EC40 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 bZ4X’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 EC40 has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The bZ4X doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

The EC40 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 bZ4X doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Both the EC40 and the bZ4X 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.

The EC40 comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The bZ4X’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The EC40’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the bZ4X’s (12 vs. 5 years).

Volvo pays for scheduled maintenance on the EC40 for 1 year and 5000 miles longer than Toyota pays for maintenance for the bZ4X (3/30,000 vs. 2/25000).

The EC40’s standard electric motor produces 47 more horsepower (248 vs. 201) and 114 lbs.-ft. more torque (310 vs. 196) than the bZ4X’s standard electric motor. The EC40’s electric motor produces 34 more horsepower (248 vs. 214) and 62 lbs.-ft. more torque (310 vs. 248) than the bZ4X’s optional electric motors. The EC40’s optional electric motors produces 188 more horsepower (402 vs. 214) and 246 lbs.-ft. more torque (494 vs. 248) than the bZ4X’s optional electric motors.

As tested in Car and Driver the Volvo EC40 electric motors is faster than the Toyota bZ4X electric motors:

The EC40 can travel longer on a full charge than the bZ4X on a full charge:

For better stopping power the EC40’s brake rotors are larger than those on the bZ4X:

The EC40 stops shorter than the bZ4X:

The EC40 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 bZ4X XLE’s standard 60 series tires. The EC40’s optional tires have a lower 45 series profile than the bZ4X Limited’s 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the EC40 Core has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the bZ4X XLE.

The EC40 Ultimate handles at .82 G’s, while the bZ4X Limited AWD pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the EC40’s turning circle is 2.6 feet tighter than the bZ4X’s (37.4 feet vs. 40 feet).

The EC40 is 9.8 inches shorter than the bZ4X, making the EC40 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The EC40 has .8 inches more front headroom, .3 inches more front hip room, .8 inches more rear legroom, 9.8 inches more rear hip room and .3 inches more rear shoulder room than the bZ4X.

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the EC40’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The bZ4X doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The EC40 has a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The bZ4X has no towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Stability Assist on the EC40 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 bZ4X doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The EC40 uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The bZ4X 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 EC40 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. Toyota doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the bZ4X.

When two different drivers share the EC40, the memory system makes it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver and front passenger’s seat positions, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations. The bZ4X doesn’t offer a memory system.

The EC40’s standard Keyless Entry & Drive allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the vehicle, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Smart Key System standard on the bZ4X doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door. Smart Key System is not available on the bZ4X Limited.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the EC40 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The bZ4X doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the EC40 has a standard rear wiper. The bZ4X doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The EC40 offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The bZ4X doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the EC40 offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The bZ4X doesn’t offer cornering lights. The EC40 also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

When the EC40 is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The bZ4X’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The EC40’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 bZ4X has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Both the Volvo EC40 and Toyota bZ4X offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The EC40 features standard power folding mirrors, which allow for easy, one-touch folding or unfolding at the driver’s discretion. This provides added convenience when maneuvering or parking, as well as when walking past the parked vehicle. In comparison, the bZ4X’s foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.