Some years ago, people felt electric vehicles were the future of transport. Such statements and beliefs spurred the automotive industry to invest in the research and development of said EVs. Today every major vehicle manufacturing company has at least one EV model. EVs are gradually taking over the automotive industry. Some companies involved in EV production include Japanese and Swedish car makers Mazda and Volvo, respectively.
The companies have several EVs in their lineup; however, the following article will focus on the 2022 Volvo XC40 Recharge and the 2022 Mazda MX-30 EV. Read on for a full comparison of the cars’ specifications, features, and price, among other factors.
2022 Volvo XC40 vs 2022 Mazda MX-30 EV: Side-by-Side Comparison
| 2022 Volvo XC40 | 2022 Mazda MX-30 | |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Volvo | Mazda |
| Release Date | 2022 | 2022 |
| Battery Output | 75 kWh | 35.5 kWh |
| 0-62 mph | 7.4s | 9.6s |
| Range | 223 miles | 100 miles |
| Power | 402 hp | 143 hp |
| Charging Time | Level 2 Charger: 7-8 Hours DC Fast Charger: 37 minutes | Level 2 Charger:2hr 50 minutes DC Fast Charger: 36 minutes |
| Size | Length: 174.2 inches Width Without Mirrors: 73.7 inches Height: 64.8 inches | Length: 173.3 inches Width Without Mirrors: 70.7 inches Height: 61.5 inches |
| Design | Subcompact SUV | Subcompact SUV |
| Price | $53,550 | $33,470 |
2022 Volvo XC40 vs 2022 Mazda MX-30 EV: What’s the Difference?
Volvo XC40 and Mazda MX-30 are considered subcompact SUVs, but they have different designs, and mechanical, technological, and performance specifications. Below is a detailed review of the 2022 Volvo XC40 vs 2022 Mazda MX-30 EVs.
Design
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A car’s design is the first thing you notice before delving into the features and specifications. Most people want a functional vehicle that meets their needs and looks attractive and turns heads wherever it drives.
The Volvo XC40 Recharge is a stylish SUV designed to attract youthful buyers. It has a sizable, covered grill and modern headlight and rear light designs that will undoubtedly attract stares in traffic. The Mazda MX-30 EV is similarly sporty and stylish.
The distinguishing feature of the Mazda MX-30 EV is the back “FlexDoors” hinged at the rear instead of the front, which resembles the Coach Doors in luxury cars like the Rolls-Royces. The MX-30 EV also has a curved roofline resulting in a roof that resembles that of a coupe.
The Volvo XC40 Recharge also offers a greater variety of colors than the Mazda MX-30 EV. Color options for the XC40 include vapor gray, cloud blue, bright dusk, crystal white, onyx black, silver dawn, fjord blue, fusion red, and sage green. On the other hand, the MX-30 EV only has three color options: jet black mica, ceramic metallic, and polymetal gray metallic, which are monochromatic and a bit dull.
Dimensions
Volvo and Mazda consider the Volvo XC40 and the Mazda MX-30 subcompact SUVs. Subcompact or mini SUVs are the smallest available SUVs in the automotive market, slightly smaller than medium-sized, compact SUVs. That makes Volvo XC40 and the Mazda MX-30 the smallest SUVs produced by Volvo and Mazda, respectively.
Even so, the Volvo XC40 Recharge is slightly bigger than the Mazda MX-30. The Volvo XC40 Recharge is 174.2 inches long, 73.7 inches wide, and 64.8 inches high, while the Mazda MX-30 EV is 173.3 inches long, 70.7 inches wide, and 61.5 inches high. All widths indicated do not take the mirrors into account.
The Volvo XC40 Recharge also has a higher ground clearance than the Mazda MX-30 EV at 8.3 inches compared to 5.4 inches in the MX-30 EV. That makes the Volvo better suited for driving through rough terrain or going on off-road adventures.
One of the benefits of the Volvo being larger is the extra seating and storage space. The car has a cargo capacity of 25 cubic feet when all seats are in place and 57.5 cubic feet when the rear seats get lowered. By contrast, the Mazda MX-30 EV has a cargo capacity of 21 cubic feet with seats in place.
Regarding seating capacity, the Volvo XC40 Recharge offers more space than the Mazda MX-30 EV in all criteria. That includes more headroom, shoulder room, hip room, and legroom in front and back seats, mainly because Mazda’s design compromises interior space.
As noted earlier, the Mazda MX-30 EV has a curved roof resembling that of a coupe, thus making the head and shoulder room in the back seat slightly constrained. Moreover, being shorter and narrower than the Volvo XC40 Recharge means the hip room and legroom in the back seats are also constrained.
The flip side of the Volvo XC40 Recharge being larger is that it weighs more at 4,662 pounds than the Mazda MX-30 EV’s 4,601 pounds.
Exterior
Given that the standard Volvo XC40 Recharge has a higher ground clearance than the Mazda MX-30, then it goes without saying that the Volvo would have larger tires than the Mazda. The Volvo XC40 Recharge comes fitted with 19-inch aluminum wheels with P235/50HR19 front tires and P255/45HR19 rear tires. On the other hand, the Mazda MX-30 EV has 18-inch aluminum wheels with P215/55HR18 front and rear tires.
Other exterior features in both the Volvo XC40 and the Mazda MX-30 include heated side mirrors, tinted glass, LED brake lights, and adaptive automatic high-beam headlamps.
Interior
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Comfort is the most significant factor car buyers consider when inspecting interiors. Volvo and Mazda are aware of the need for comfort and fit their cars with high-quality fabrics.
The Volvo XC40 Recharge has a leather-free interior with the option for interiors made from recycled upholstery and carpets for those looking to be more mindful of their environment. On the other hand, the Mazda MX-30 features several recycled materials to increase the brand’s sustainability record.
For instance, the door panels in the MX-30 consist of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PETs). The car’s interior also has material made from recycled cork, which also pays homage to the origins of the Mazda brand as a company that initially manufactured corks.
Battery Life and Range
The Volvo XC40 Recharge has a 75 kWh battery pack, giving it a 223-mile range on a single charge. The range varies depending on the environment in which the car gets driven. For instance, 223 miles is the range for city driving only, while customers can expect 224 miles of range for combined city and highway driving and 186 miles for highway driving. The range also decreases significantly in freezing weather situations.
Conversely, the Mazda MX-30 EV has a 35.5 kWh battery pack giving it a range of 100 miles on a single charge. Similarly, the range gets affected by temperature, the state of the battery, and driving habits. The battery has an 85-mile range on the highway, while combined travel within the city and on highways yields 92 miles of range.
Overall, the XC40 has a better battery pack with over double the power output of the MX-30’s battery pack. Therefore, the XC40 is more reliable than the MX-30, especially for people who travel long distances.
Charging
Our comparison of the 2022 Volvo XC40 vs 2022 Mazda MX-30 also reviews their charging options, which is often a concern among prospective buyers. A reliable charging system is vital in any EV as it ensures users do not get stranded because the car battery requires a lot of time to charge or is incompatible with the available charger.
The Volvo XC40 has a combined charging system (CCS) with AC and DC ports. For the AC charging port, the Volvo XC40 Recharge comes equipped with an 11kW Type 2 charger that plugs into AC outlets at home or work. You can charge your car overnight and drive it to work the following day.
The 11kW charger takes between seven and eight hours to charge the XC40 battery pack from 10-90%. Alternatively, you can use the DC inlet port to plug your car into a 150kW DC fast charging outlet that will charge the XC40 battery from 10%-80% in 37 minutes.
On the other hand, the Mazda MX-30 also has a CCS with AC and DC inlet ports. The MX-30 has three charging options, with two being AC-based and the other being DC-based. The first AC charging option is using a Level 1 120V AC charger that will take 13 hours and 40 minutes to charge the battery from 20%-80%, while a Level 2 240V AC charger will take 2 hours and 50 minutes to complete the task. Lastly, a Level 3 DC faster will take 36 minutes to charge the battery.
Performance
The Volvo XC40 Recharge and the Mazda MX-30 EV have electric engines with a single-speed direct drive transmission. However, in terms of performance, that is where their similarities end.
The XC40 has a dual electric permanent magnet synchronous motor; it has an electric motor on the front and rear axles. The two motors convert electrical energy into mechanical energy that propels the wheel axles into motion. Having two axles is advantageous as it allows the XC40 to be an all-wheel vehicle; hence it can handle multiple terrains and obstacles.
On the other hand, the Mazda MX-30 has a single motor: the AC synchronous e-SKYACTIV motor. The front axle-mounted motor enables motion by propelling the movement of the front wheels. That also makes the MX-30 a front-wheel vehicle.
The XC40’s dual electric motors have a power output of 486 lb-ft; conversely, the MX-30’s AC motor gives an output of 200 lb-ft at 3,243 rpm. Regarding speed and acceleration, the Volvo XC40 Recharge has a top speed of 112 mph and accelerates from 0-62 mph in 7.4 seconds, while the Mazda MX-30 has a top speed of 87 mph and moves from 0-62 mph in 9.6 seconds.
Technology
The Volvo XC40 Recharge has two large screens at the front. The first is a 12-inch display that serves as the instrument panel. The screen provides the driver with all the necessary information to make the trip as safe, comfortable, and enjoyable as possible, including mileage, speed, and temperature.
The second screen is a 9-inch center display that serves multiple functions. First, it provides navigation maps to make travel more straightforward and to avoid getting lost. It also offers access to a rearview camera that eases parking.
Other technological features in the XC40 include an air purifier to ensure the vehicle’s occupants inhale clean air even in heavy traffic when air pollutants can be higher than usual. It also has a Harman Kardon Premium Sound System that guarantees passengers will immerse themselves in whatever content they consume.
By contrast, the Mazda MX-30 EV has a 7-inch display screen as part of a hanging console to help navigate the infotainment system. The car also includes a 12-speaker Bose audio system that guarantees wholesale entertainment during travel. The Mazda MX-30 EV also has in-car apps that help with planning, charging time, and locating the car in case of theft.
Safety
No car is complete without adding safety features to protect the occupants in case of an incident. The makers of the Volvo XC40 Recharge and the Mazda MX-30 EV went to significant lengths to ensure their clients were satisfied with the safety measures. Some common features in both cars include:
- Blind Spot Monitoring systems that alert the driver if there are oncoming vehicles in their blind spot and offer active support during lane changes to avoid blind spot accidents.
- A lane departure warning system informs the driver they are veering off their lane, thus allowing the driver to react.
- Driver attention alert system monitors the driver’s behavior. It notifies them to be more attentive to the road or pullover if it determines the driver is not in a state to drive.
- Anti-collision systems help detect objects within the car’s vicinity, like other cars, pedestrians, cyclists, and animals and inform the driver to take action if the driver is not responsive; the car auto brakes to avoid a collision.
The cars also have the requisite airbags and seat belts that reduce the severity of an impact and anti-theft systems to alert drivers when thieves try to steal their cars.
Price
The last segment of our 2022 Volvo XC40 vs 2022 Mazda MX-30 comparison reviews the EVs market prices. The Volvo XC40 Recharge has a sale price of $53,550, which is subject to change should clients request custom features. On the other hand, the Mazda MX-30 EV has a $33,470 price tag that increases when options and accessories get added.
2022 Volvo XC40 vs 2022 Mazda MX-30 EV: 5 Must-Know Facts
- The Volvo XC40 Recharge has a unique battery safety cage to protect the car’s occupants during a collision.
- The Mazda MX-30 EV has radar cruise control that allows drivers to set a minimum distance the car should maintain between it and cars ahead. Drivers can also set the maximum speed at which the car can travel to prevent overspeeding.
- The Mazda MX-30 EV comes with a three-year or 36,000-mile warranty, while the Volvo XC40 Recharge has a basic warranty for four years or 50,000 miles.
- The Mazda MX-30 has freestyle back doors hinged at the rear instead of the front, making the car unique and attractive for its price range.
- The Mazda MX-30 comes with a standard Level 1 120V charger, while the Volvo XC40 comes with an 11kW Type 2 charger.
2022 Volvo XC40 vs 2022 Mazda MX-30 EV: Which One Is Better?
Now that you have read our review of the 2022 Volvo XC40 vs 2022 Mazda MX-30, it may be time to choose your preferred EV. The Volvo XC40 Recharge is, without a doubt, the superior car. The XC40 has numerous superior features over the Mazda MX-30 EV. For example, the XC40 is larger than the MX-30, meaning it has a more spacious interior.
The XC40 also has a battery pack with twice the capacity of the battery in the MX-30; hence it gives greater range with a single charge. Moreover, the XC40’s design is more stylish and attractive than the MX-30’s design. On the other hand, the Mazda MX-30 is reasonably priced, meaning it will not fail to attract buyers.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©North Monaco/Shutterstock.com.
