Compare the2027 Chevrolet Equinox VS 2026 Volvo XC40

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Chevrolet Equinox achieved a “Acceptable” rating - the second highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Volvo XC40 has not been tested.

The Chevrolet Equinox offers an optional Surround Vision and it also offers an optional rear camera washer to make backing always safe, regardless of road dirt or grime, while the Volvo XC40 doesn’t offer a camera washer, requiring manual cleaning.

Both the Equinox and the XC40 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, 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 all-wheel drive and around view monitors.

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 4189-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Chevrolet Equinox is safer than the XC40:

	Equinox	XC40
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	80	129
Neck Tension	245 lbs.	312 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	1.06 in	1.46 in
Shoulder Force	223 lbs.	290 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.26 in	1.65 in
Pelvis	GOOD	MARGINAL
Pelvis Force	848 lbs.	1182 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	320	387
Neck Tension	245 lbs.	268 lbs.
Neck Compression	67 lbs.	89 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Torso Max Deflection	1.3 in	1.5 in
Torso Deflection Rate	7 MPH	10 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

Chevrolet’s powertrain warranty covers the Equinox 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 10 times as many Chevrolet dealers as there are Volvo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Equinox’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet above average in initial quality. With 80 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volvo is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet above average in long-term dependability. With 73 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Volvo is rated below average.

On the EPA test cycle the Equinox AWD gets better fuel mileage than the XC40 T5 (25 city/29 hwy vs. 23 city/30 hwy).

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

The Equinox AWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the XC40 (15.6 vs. 14.2 gallons).

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Chevrolet Equinox higher (6 out of 10) than the Volvo XC40 (4). This means the Equinox produces up to 12.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the XC40 every 15,000 miles.

The Equinox stops shorter than the XC40:

	Equinox	XC40
60 to 0 MPH	128 feet	132 feet	Consumer Reports

The Equinox has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The XC40 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Equinox’s wheelbase is 1.1 inches longer than on the XC40 (107.5 inches vs. 106.4 inches).

For greater off-road capability the Equinox RS has a greater minimum ground clearance than the XC40 (8.2 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the Equinox to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Chevrolet Equinox may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 350 pounds less than the Volvo XC40.

The front grille of the Equinox uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The XC40 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Equinox uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The XC40 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Equinox has 6.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the XC40 (104.3 vs. 98).

The Equinox has 1 inch more front headroom, 1 inch more front shoulder room, .1 inches more rear headroom and 3.8 inches more rear legroom than the XC40.

The Equinox has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the XC40 with its rear seat up (29.8 vs. 20.4 cubic feet). The Equinox has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the XC40 with its rear seat folded (63.5 vs. 57.5 cubic feet).

The Equinox ACTIV/RS’ optional 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 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Equinox’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The XC40 has neither an oil pressure gauge nor a temperature gauge.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Equinox has standard extendable sun visors. The XC40 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Equinox ACTIV/RS 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 Equinox has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the XC40.

The Chevrolet Equinox outsold the Volvo EX40/XC40 by almost 14 to one during 2025.