Compare the2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-In HybridVS 2023 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 Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid are reminded to check the back seat when a sensor determines the back seat is occupied. The XC40 Recharge doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Both the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid and the XC40 Recharge 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, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The XC40 Recharge’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than Volvo covers the XC40 Recharge. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the XC40 Recharge ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 3 times as many Hyundai dealers as there are Volvo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. With 71 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Hyundai higher than Volvo.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in reliability, above the industry average. With 108 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volvo is ranked 30th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 1 place higher in reliability than Volvo.

The Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid’s maximum EPA estimated range on a full tank and a full charge is 440 miles, after which it can be refueled at any gas station in minutes. The XC40 Recharge’s range is only 223 miles, after which the minimum time to recharge is 40 minutes for only an 80% charge at a specially configured quick charge station not available in most areas. A full recharge at a professionally installed 220-volt charging station can take up to 8 hours.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid’s wheelbase is 2.5 inches longer than on the XC40 Recharge (108.9 inches vs. 106.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid is 1.8 inches wider in the front and 1.6 inches wider in the rear than on the XC40 Recharge.

The Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 350 pounds less than the Volvo XC40 Recharge.

The Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid has 3.6 inches more front headroom, 3.2 inches more front legroom, 2.8 inches more front hip room, 2.4 inches more front shoulder room, .7 inches more rear headroom, 3.4 inches more rear legroom, 1.7 inches more rear hip room and 2 inches more rear shoulder room than the XC40 Recharge.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid’s rear seats recline. The XC40 Recharge’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the XC40 Recharge with its rear seat up (36.4 vs. 16 cubic feet). The Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the XC40 Recharge with its rear seat folded (72.1 vs. 46.9 cubic feet).

The Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid’s cargo area is larger than the XC40 Recharge’s in every dimension:

A Trailer Sway Assist is standard on the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid, using the Electronic 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 Recharge.

The Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid Limited’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The XC40 Recharge doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

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

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The XC40 Recharge doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid Limited 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.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the XC40 Recharge.

The Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid Limited 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 Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid Limited’s Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. Remote Smart Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The XC40 Recharge doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Hyundai Santa Fe outsold the Volvo XC40 by over six to one during 2022.