Compare the2026 Toyota Rav4VS 2026 Volvo XC40

Both the Rav4 and the XC40 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, available around view monitors and driver alert monitors.

Toyota’s powertrain warranty covers the Rav4 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 over 4 times as many Toyota dealers as there are Volvo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Rav4’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. With 58 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Toyota higher than Volvo.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 80 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volvo is ranked 26th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota third in overall reliability. Volvo is ranked 15th.

The Rav4 has more powerful engines than the XC40:

On the EPA test cycle the Rav4 running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the XC40:

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid SE/XSE can travel with zero emissions for 52 miles. The XC40 can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Rav4 uses regular unleaded gasoline. The XC40 requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Rav4 has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The XC40 doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’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 are solid, not vented.

For better maneuverability, the Rav4’s turning circle is .5 feet tighter than the XC40’s (36.9 feet vs. 37.4 feet). The Rav4 GR Sport’s turning circle is .1 feet tighter than the XC40’s (37.3 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Rav4 Woodland has a greater minimum ground clearance than the XC40 (8.5 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the Rav4 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Rav4 has .1 inches more front legroom, .6 inches more front hip room, .3 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom, 1.7 inches more rear legroom and .1 inches more rear shoulder room than the XC40.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Rav4’s rear seats recline. The XC40’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Rav4 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the XC40 with its rear seat up (37.8 vs. 20.4 cubic feet). The Rav4 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the XC40 with its rear seat folded (70.4 vs. 57.5 cubic feet).

The Rav4’s cargo area is larger than the XC40’s in almost every dimension:

A Trailer Sway Control is standard on the Rav4, using the Vehicle Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. A trailer sway program costs extra on the XC40.

The Rav4 Limited/XSE Plug-In Hybrid 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 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 Rav4 has standard extendable sun visors. The XC40 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Rav4 XSE/Limited 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.

The Toyota Rav4 stands out above the Volvo XC40 by offering not one, but two Qi-compatible phone chargers. This convenience helps travelers with multiple devices to keep powered up on-the-go. Wireless charging eliminates lost or cluttered charging cables and one of them provide more flexibility.

The Rav4 Woodland has a 115-volt a/c outlet in the cargo area, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The XC40 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Toyota Rav4 outsold the Volvo EX40/XC40 by almost 18 to one during 2024.