Cars · Top 10
Best Volvo XC40 Model Years (Ranked) in 2027
Direct answer
The 2026 Volvo XC40 is the best XC40 model year, with the 2020 at #2 and the 2025 at #3. The 2026 earns 5 NHTSA stars overall, is rated 27 mpg combined by the EPA with the B4 and has 0 recall campaigns listed. The electric XC40 Recharge became the EX40, so it appears here only as labeled Recharge entries.
At a glance
| # | Pick | EPA combined MPG | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2026 Volvo XC40 B5 (CMA) | 27 mpg combined (25 city, 32 highway) with the 2.0 L turbocharged 4-cylinder mild hybrid, 8-speed automatic and front-wheel drive (B4) (EPA fueleconomy.gov) | Buyers who want the newest XC40 with 5 stars and no recalls on NHTSA |
| 2 | 2020 Volvo XC40 T5 (CMA) | 27 mpg combined (23 city, 33 highway) with the 2.0 L turbocharged 4-cylinder, 8-speed automatic and front-wheel drive (EPA fueleconomy.gov) | Buyers who want the cleanest pre-refresh XC40 and an IIHS award |
| 3 | 2025 Volvo XC40 B5 (CMA) | 26 mpg combined (23 city, 30 highway) with the 2.0 L turbocharged 4-cylinder mild hybrid, 8-speed automatic and all-wheel drive (B5) (EPA fueleconomy.gov) | Buyers who want a refreshed XC40 with only software recalls |
| 4 | 2022 Volvo XC40 T5 (CMA) | 26 mpg combined (23 city, 32 highway) with the 2.0 L turbocharged 4-cylinder, 8-speed automatic and front-wheel drive (T4) (EPA fueleconomy.gov) | Buyers who want the last pre-refresh gas XC40 with the top IIHS award |
| 5 | 2024 Volvo XC40 B5 (CMA) | 26 mpg combined (24 city, 30 highway) with the 2.0 L turbocharged 4-cylinder mild hybrid, 8-speed automatic and all-wheel drive (B5) (EPA fueleconomy.gov) | Buyers who want a refreshed XC40 with 5 stars |
| 6 | 2023 Volvo XC40 B5 (CMA) | 27 mpg combined (24 city, 32 highway) with the 2.0 L turbocharged 4-cylinder mild hybrid, 8-speed automatic and front-wheel drive (B4) (EPA fueleconomy.gov) | Buyers who want the first refreshed XC40 with the base B4 at 27 mpg |
| 7 | 2021 Volvo XC40 T5 (CMA) | 26 mpg combined (23 city, 32 highway) with the 2.0 L turbocharged 4-cylinder, 8-speed automatic and front-wheel drive (EPA fueleconomy.gov) | Buyers who want a pre-refresh XC40 with the top IIHS award |
| 8 | 2022 Volvo XC40 Recharge P8 (CMA) | 85 MPGe combined (92 city, 79 highway) and 223 miles of EPA range, for the 2022 XC40 Recharge twin motor (EPA fueleconomy.gov) | Buyers who want the electric XC40 before the 2023 refresh, labeled here as an XC40 Recharge |
| 9 | 2024 Volvo XC40 Recharge (CMA) | 106 MPGe combined (118 city, 95 highway) and 293 miles of EPA range, for the 2024 XC40 Recharge single motor, rear-wheel drive (EPA fueleconomy.gov) | Buyers who want the longest-range electric XC40, sold as the XC40 Recharge before it became the EX40 |
| 10 | 2019 Volvo XC40 T5 (CMA) | 27 mpg combined (23 city, 33 highway) with the 2.0 L turbocharged 4-cylinder, 8-speed automatic and front-wheel drive (EPA fueleconomy.gov) | Buyers who want the first US XC40 year and the top IIHS award |
Pick by what you want
Best overall
2026 Volvo XC40 B5 (CMA)
Fewest recalls (used)
2020 Volvo XC40 T5 (CMA)
First refresh
2023 Volvo XC40 B5 (CMA)
Top IIHS award
2022 Volvo XC40 T5 (CMA)
Electric (Recharge)
2024 Volvo XC40 Recharge (CMA)
The ranking
1
2026 Volvo XC40 B5 (CMA)
Photo: Oq10pass / CC0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictNo recalls, 5 stars and 27 mpg.
EPA combined MPG: 27 mpg combined (25 city, 32 highway) with the 2.0 L turbocharged 4-cylinder mild hybrid, 8-speed automatic and front-wheel drive (B4) (EPA fueleconomy.gov)NHTSA rating: Overall 5 stars, front crash 5 stars (driver 5, passenger 5), side crash 5 stars (driver 5, passenger 5), rollover 4 starsNHTSA recalls: NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns for the 2026 XC40NHTSA complaints: 1 consumer complaints are logged on NHTSA for the 2026 XC40 (the count covers every XC40 sold that year, Recharge included)
The 2026 XC40 is the newest car here, a refreshed mild hybrid. NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall and lists no recalls, and the EPA rates the front-wheel-drive B4 at 27 mpg combined.
Go ifBuyers who want the newest XC40 with 5 stars and no recalls on NHTSA
Skip ifYou want a lower-priced used car
Why #1 over #2: Its 0 recalls beat the 2020 XC40, which has 1 recall campaign listed.
2
2020 Volvo XC40 T5 (CMA)
Photo: Charles from Port Chester, New York / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictOnly 1 recall, 5 stars and 27 mpg.
EPA combined MPG: 27 mpg combined (23 city, 33 highway) with the 2.0 L turbocharged 4-cylinder, 8-speed automatic and front-wheel drive (EPA fueleconomy.gov)NHTSA rating: Overall 5 stars, front crash 5 stars (driver 5, passenger 5), side crash 5 stars (driver 5, passenger 5), rollover 4 starsNHTSA recalls: 1 recall campaign listed for the 2020 XC40: 20V144000 (automatic emergency braking) (NHTSA lists recalls by model name, so the count includes XC40 Recharge cars)IIHS: The 2020 XC40 earned an IIHS Top Safety PickNHTSA complaints: 12 consumer complaints are logged on NHTSA for the 2020 XC40 (the count covers every XC40 sold that year, Recharge included)
The 2020 XC40 is a pre-refresh car with the 2.0 L turbo. It has 5 stars overall, an IIHS Top Safety Pick and a single recall for automatic emergency braking, at 27 mpg combined.
Go ifBuyers who want the cleanest pre-refresh XC40 and an IIHS award
Skip ifYou want the 2023 refresh styling
Why #2 over #3: Its 1 recall beats the 2025 XC40’s 2.
3
2025 Volvo XC40 B5 (CMA)
Photo: Mr.choppers / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictTwo software recalls, 5 stars and 26 mpg.
EPA combined MPG: 26 mpg combined (23 city, 30 highway) with the 2.0 L turbocharged 4-cylinder mild hybrid, 8-speed automatic and all-wheel drive (B5) (EPA fueleconomy.gov)NHTSA rating: Overall 5 stars, front crash 5 stars (driver 5, passenger 5), side crash 5 stars (driver 5, passenger 5), rollover 4 starsNHTSA recalls: 2 recall campaigns listed for the 2025 XC40: 25V282000 and 25V908000 (back-over prevention software) (NHTSA lists recalls by model name, so the count includes XC40 Recharge cars)Price: Volvo Car USA lists the 2025 XC40 B5 AWD at $40,650 (Core), $45,500 (Plus) and $49,300 (Ultra), not including delivery and destinationNaming: For 2025 the fully electric XC40 Recharge is renamed EX40 and the XC40 name remains for the mild-hybrid variants
The 2025 XC40 is a refreshed B5 with 5 stars overall and 26 mpg combined. Both of its recalls are back-over prevention software, and Volvo lists it from $40,650.
Go ifBuyers who want a refreshed XC40 with only software recalls
Skip ifYou want 1 recall or fewer
Why #3 over #4: Its 2 recalls beat the 2022 XC40’s 3.
4
2022 Volvo XC40 T5 (CMA)
Photo: Benespit / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictTop IIHS award and 5 stars, with 3 recalls listed.
EPA combined MPG: 26 mpg combined (23 city, 32 highway) with the 2.0 L turbocharged 4-cylinder, 8-speed automatic and front-wheel drive (T4) (EPA fueleconomy.gov)NHTSA rating: Overall 5 stars, front crash 5 stars (driver 5, passenger 5), side crash 5 stars (driver 5, passenger 5), rollover 4 starsNHTSA recalls: 3 recall campaigns listed for the 2022 XC40: 21V109000 (traction battery software), 25V282000 and 25V908000 (back-over prevention software) (NHTSA lists recalls by model name, so the count includes XC40 Recharge cars)IIHS: The 2022 XC40 earned an IIHS Top Safety Pick+NHTSA complaints: 37 consumer complaints are logged on NHTSA for the 2022 XC40 (the count covers every XC40 sold that year, Recharge included)
The 2022 XC40 earned an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ and 5 NHTSA stars, with 26 mpg combined from the T4. NHTSA lists 3 recalls, one of them a traction battery software campaign.
Go ifBuyers who want the last pre-refresh gas XC40 with the top IIHS award
Skip ifYou want 2 recalls or fewer
Why #4 over #5: Its 3 recalls beat the 2024 XC40’s 4.
5
2024 Volvo XC40 B5 (CMA)
Photo: LuvsMG481 / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs Verdict5 stars and 26 mpg, with 4 recalls listed.
EPA combined MPG: 26 mpg combined (24 city, 30 highway) with the 2.0 L turbocharged 4-cylinder mild hybrid, 8-speed automatic and all-wheel drive (B5) (EPA fueleconomy.gov)NHTSA rating: Overall 5 stars, front crash 5 stars (driver 5, passenger 5), side crash 5 stars (driver 5, passenger 5), rollover 4 starsNHTSA recalls: 4 recall campaigns listed for the 2024 XC40: 24V010000 (electrical software), 25V282000 and 25V908000 (back-over prevention software) and 25V392000 (brake control module software) (NHTSA lists recalls by model name, so the count includes XC40 Recharge cars)Price: Volvo Car USA lists the 2024 XC40 B5 AWD at $40,100 (Core), $45,000 (Plus) and $48,800 (Ultimate), not including delivery and destinationNHTSA complaints: 14 consumer complaints are logged on NHTSA for the 2024 XC40 (the count covers every XC40 sold that year, Recharge included)
The 2024 XC40 is a refreshed B5 with 5 stars overall and 26 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 4 recalls, and Volvo priced it from $40,100.
Go ifBuyers who want a refreshed XC40 with 5 stars
Skip ifYou want 3 recalls or fewer
Why #5 over #6: It has the same 4 recalls as the 2023 but is the newer car, so it ranks higher.
6
2023 Volvo XC40 B5 (CMA)
Photo: HJUdall / CC0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictFirst refreshed year, 5 stars and 4 recalls.
EPA combined MPG: 27 mpg combined (24 city, 32 highway) with the 2.0 L turbocharged 4-cylinder mild hybrid, 8-speed automatic and front-wheel drive (B4) (EPA fueleconomy.gov)NHTSA rating: Overall 5 stars, front crash 5 stars (driver 5, passenger 5), side crash 5 stars (driver 5, passenger 5), rollover 4 starsNHTSA recalls: 4 recall campaigns listed for the 2023 XC40: 23V012000 (service brakes), 23V188000 (electrical system), 25V282000 and 25V908000 (back-over prevention software) (NHTSA lists recalls by model name, so the count includes XC40 Recharge cars)Refresh: The 2023 XC40 gained new headlights and bumpers, Android Automotive on the mild hybrids and a new driver-assist sensor platform; Volvo removed conventional engines in the US, making mild hybrids the base engineNHTSA complaints: 47 consumer complaints are logged on NHTSA for the 2023 XC40 (the count covers every XC40 sold that year, Recharge included)
The 2023 XC40 is the first refreshed year, with new headlights and Android Automotive. It has 5 stars overall and 27 mpg combined with the B4, and 4 recalls listed.
Go ifBuyers who want the first refreshed XC40 with the base B4 at 27 mpg
Skip ifYou want the fewest complaints (it has the most logged)
Why #6 over #7: Its 4 recalls beat the 2021 XC40’s 5.
7
2021 Volvo XC40 T5 (CMA)
Photo: Benespit / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictTop IIHS award and 5 stars, with 5 recalls listed.
EPA combined MPG: 26 mpg combined (23 city, 32 highway) with the 2.0 L turbocharged 4-cylinder, 8-speed automatic and front-wheel drive (EPA fueleconomy.gov)NHTSA rating: Overall 5 stars, front crash 5 stars (driver 5, passenger 5), side crash 5 stars (driver 5, passenger 5), rollover 4 starsNHTSA recalls: 5 recall campaigns listed for the 2021 XC40, including 21V109000 (traction battery software), 21V682000 (seat belt retractors), 21V881000 (engine) and 25V282000 (back-over prevention software) (NHTSA lists recalls by model name, so the count includes XC40 Recharge cars)IIHS: The 2021 XC40 earned an IIHS Top Safety Pick+NHTSA complaints: 40 consumer complaints are logged on NHTSA for the 2021 XC40 (the count covers every XC40 sold that year, Recharge included)
The 2021 XC40 earned an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ and 5 NHTSA stars at 26 mpg combined, but NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the model year, the most of any year here.
Go ifBuyers who want a pre-refresh XC40 with the top IIHS award
Skip ifYou want 4 recalls or fewer
Why #7 over #8: Having 5 stars overall beats the unrated 2022 XC40 Recharge.
8
2022 Volvo XC40 Recharge P8 (CMA)
Photo: Mariordo (Mario Roberto Durán Ortiz) / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictElectric, 85 MPGe, no NHTSA rating.
EPA combined MPG: 85 MPGe combined (92 city, 79 highway) and 223 miles of EPA range, for the 2022 XC40 Recharge twin motor (EPA fueleconomy.gov)NHTSA rating: No overall, front crash, side crash or rollover rating is published for the 2022 XC40 P8 RechargeNHTSA recalls: 3 recall campaigns listed for the 2022 XC40, including 21V109000 (traction battery software) (NHTSA lists recalls by model name, so the count includes XC40 Recharge cars)Electric XC40: The XC40 Recharge Pure Electric is powered by a 78 kWh battery pack and went on sale in late 2020 in limited quantities
The 2022 XC40 Recharge P8 is the electric XC40 before the refresh, rated 85 MPGe and 223 miles of range. NHTSA publishes no stars for it and lists 3 recalls.
Go ifBuyers who want the electric XC40 before the 2023 refresh, labeled here as an XC40 Recharge
Skip ifYou want published NHTSA stars
Why #8 over #9: Its 3 recalls beat the 2024 XC40 Recharge’s 4.
9
2024 Volvo XC40 Recharge (CMA)
Photo: Damian B Oh / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs Verdict106 MPGe and 293 miles of range, but no NHTSA rating.
EPA combined MPG: 106 MPGe combined (118 city, 95 highway) and 293 miles of EPA range, for the 2024 XC40 Recharge single motor, rear-wheel drive (EPA fueleconomy.gov)NHTSA rating: No overall, front crash, side crash or rollover rating is published for the 2024 XC40 RechargeNHTSA recalls: 4 recall campaigns listed for the 2024 XC40, including 25V392000 (brake control module software) (NHTSA lists recalls by model name, so the count includes XC40 Recharge cars)Price: Volvo Car USA lists the 2024 XC40 Recharge Single Motor Extended Range RWD from $52,450 (Core) and the Twin Motor AWD from $54,200 (Core), not including delivery and destinationRear-wheel drive: The 2024 single-motor Recharge was Volvo Car USA’s first rear-wheel-drive car in 25 years
The 2024 XC40 Recharge single motor was rear-wheel drive, rated 106 MPGe and 293 miles of range. NHTSA publishes no stars for it, and it was renamed EX40 the following year.
Go ifBuyers who want the longest-range electric XC40, sold as the XC40 Recharge before it became the EX40
Skip ifYou want published NHTSA stars
Why #9 over #10: It has the same 4 recalls as the 2019 XC40 but is the newer car, so it ranks higher.
10
2019 Volvo XC40 T5 (CMA)
Photo: Mr.choppers / CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictFirst year, top IIHS award, no NHTSA rating, 4 recalls.
EPA combined MPG: 27 mpg combined (23 city, 33 highway) with the 2.0 L turbocharged 4-cylinder, 8-speed automatic and front-wheel drive (EPA fueleconomy.gov)NHTSA rating: No overall, front crash, side crash or rollover rating is published for the 2019 XC40NHTSA recalls: 4 recall campaigns listed for the 2019 XC40: 18V535000 (rear seat assembly), 18V554000 (brake pedal linkage), 18V800000 (software) and 20V144000 (automatic emergency braking) (NHTSA lists recalls by model name, so the count includes XC40 Recharge cars)IIHS: The 2019 XC40 earned an IIHS Top Safety Pick+NHTSA complaints: 30 consumer complaints are logged on NHTSA for the 2019 XC40 (the count covers every XC40 sold that year, Recharge included)
The 2019 XC40 was the first US year and earned an IIHS Top Safety Pick+, at 27 mpg combined. NHTSA publishes no overall rating for it and lists 4 recalls.
Go ifBuyers who want the first US XC40 year and the top IIHS award
Skip ifYou want a published NHTSA rating
How we ranked these
We ranked ten XC40 model years from 2019 to 2026 on NHTSA 5-star Safety Ratings first, putting years with an overall rating ahead of unrated years; within each group, by the number of NHTSA recall campaigns listed for the model year, then by newer year. NHTSA lists recalls by model name, so a year’s count includes XC40 Recharge cars. EPA mpg shown is for the lowest-priced listed engine. The electric XC40 Recharge became the EX40, and only the 2022 and 2024 Recharge are included, as clearly labeled entries; the XC40 line was refreshed for 2023. Prices are shown only where Volvo Car USA published them. Photos are Wikimedia Commons photos of the matching look: 2019 to 2022 are pre-refresh cars and 2023 to 2026 are refreshed cars, and the 2026 photo shows a refreshed-look XC40 from the same generation. We do not state used prices or reliability scores. Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.
Questions people ask
What is the best Volvo XC40 model year?
On NHTSA, EPA and recall data the 2026 Volvo XC40 ranks first: 5 stars overall, 27 mpg combined with the B4 and 0 recall campaigns listed. The 2020 is second with 1 recall.
Which Volvo XC40 year has the fewest recalls?
NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns for the 2026 XC40, 1 for the 2020, 2 for the 2025, 3 for the 2022, 4 each for the 2019, 2023 and 2024 and 5 for the 2021.
Is the electric XC40 Recharge the same as the EX40?
Yes. Volvo Car USA says the fully electric XC40 Recharge is renamed EX40 for 2025, and the XC40 name stays on the mild-hybrid models. Wikipedia dates the rename to 2024. This page ranks the electric cars only as labeled XC40 Recharge entries.
What changed in the 2023 Volvo XC40?
The 2023 XC40 was refreshed with new headlights and bumpers, Android Automotive on the mild hybrids and a new driver-assist sensor platform, and mild hybrids became the base US engine.
NHTSA recall campaigns listed by model year at a glance
2020 Volvo XC40 T5 (CMA)1 recalls
2025 Volvo XC40 B5 (CMA)2 recalls
2022 Volvo XC40 T5 (CMA)3 recalls
2022 Volvo XC40 Recharge P8 (CMA)3 recalls
2024 Volvo XC40 B5 (CMA)4 recalls
2023 Volvo XC40 B5 (CMA)4 recalls
2024 Volvo XC40 Recharge (CMA)4 recalls
2019 Volvo XC40 T5 (CMA)4 recalls
2021 Volvo XC40 T5 (CMA)5 recalls
Official sites
- 2026 Volvo XC40 B5 (CMA) · en.wikipedia.org
- 2020 Volvo XC40 T5 (CMA) · en.wikipedia.org
- 2025 Volvo XC40 B5 (CMA) · volvocars.com
- 2022 Volvo XC40 T5 (CMA) · en.wikipedia.org
- 2024 Volvo XC40 B5 (CMA) · volvocars.com
- 2023 Volvo XC40 B5 (CMA) · en.wikipedia.org
- 2021 Volvo XC40 T5 (CMA) · en.wikipedia.org
- 2022 Volvo XC40 Recharge P8 (CMA) · en.wikipedia.org
- 2024 Volvo XC40 Recharge (CMA) · volvocars.com
- 2019 Volvo XC40 T5 (CMA) · en.wikipedia.org
Sources
- fueleconomy.gov
- nhtsa.gov
- fueleconomy.gov
- api.nhtsa.gov
- api.nhtsa.gov
- fueleconomy.gov
- api.nhtsa.gov
- api.nhtsa.gov
- iihs.org
- fueleconomy.gov
- api.nhtsa.gov
- api.nhtsa.gov
- fueleconomy.gov
- api.nhtsa.gov
- api.nhtsa.gov
- iihs.org
- fueleconomy.gov
- api.nhtsa.gov
- api.nhtsa.gov
- fueleconomy.gov
- api.nhtsa.gov
- api.nhtsa.gov
- fueleconomy.gov
- api.nhtsa.gov
- api.nhtsa.gov
Prices, specs and availability change; confirm on the official site before you buy.