2023 Volvo XC40 vs 2023 Ford Escape

The 2023 Volvo XC40 maintained its distinctive design, characterized by a flat-roofed profile and a clean exterior that aligned with Volvo's pro-electrification ethos. The gasoline models featured hidden tailpipes, and the Plus and Ultimate models came standard with fog lights. For 2023, Volvo introduced subtle updates, including a pixelated design for the "Thor’s Hammer" headlights, a more angular front bumper, and new wheel designs. The XC40 Recharge was easily identifiable by its new sealed-off grille. Inside, the XC40 continued with its minimalist design, featuring thin air vents, scalloped door elements, and dual-zone automatic climate control. Leather upholstery was available, with vegan leather for Recharge models. The XC40 Ultimate test vehicle included options like a panoramic moonroof and an Orrefors crystal shift knob, though the all-black interior felt somewhat utilitarian.

The 2023 Ford Escape embraced a more European design language, moving away from the blocky exterior of its predecessors. A 2023 refresh introduced a more traditional front end with a Ford blue oval logo and a stylish LED light bar. The Escape was one of the smallest vehicles in Ford's lineup, alongside the Bronco Sport. It offered a range of trim levels, with the ST-Line Elite being the top trim. The Escape's design was sleek, with 19-inch wheels and body-colour mirror caps. Inside, the ST-Line Elite featured diamond-stitched leather upholstery, which, while visually appealing, felt hard and plasticky. The seats were comfortable, and the 10-way power adjustable driver's seat was easy to adjust. The interior was dominated by plastic, with some areas feeling scratchy and poorly reinforced.

The 2023 Volvo XC40 introduced mild-hybrid powertrains, featuring a 48-volt electrical system and a 13-horsepower integrated starter generator. The B5 models in Canada were equipped with a 2.0-litre turbo-four-cylinder engine, producing 247 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The B5 models could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds, outperforming the Audi Q3. The XC40's refinement was notable, with a composed handling and a smooth ride. The XC40 Recharge offered a more spirited performance with its two electric motors, delivering 402 hp and 486 lb-ft of torque, achieving zero to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds and a range of 359 kilometres. The Recharge also had a higher towing capacity of 2,000 kg compared to the B5 AWD model's 1,587 kg.

The 2023 Ford Escape offered multiple powertrain options, including a 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque, available with FWD or AWD. The ST-Line Select, Platinum, and ST-Line Elite trims featured a 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder engine, producing 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, exclusively with AWD. Despite the four-cylinder's impressive output, the Escape was not a performance crossover, with a soft suspension and a lack of performance tuning in the transmission. The brakes provided predictable stopping power, and the steering was well-weighted, avoiding the twitchiness found in some competitors.

The 2023 Volvo XC40, while marketed as an SUV, was better suited for solo commuting than carpooling. It offered reasonable space, with competitive rear-seat headroom and average legroom. The XC40 provided 566 litres of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 1,328 litres with them folded, less than the BMW X1 and Audi Q3. Interior storage was well-designed, with scalloped door panels and a spacious centre console storage bin.

The 2023 Ford Escape was comfortable, with supportive seats and excellent ergonomics. The steering wheel felt great to hold, and the armrests were well-positioned. The Escape offered up to 1,061 litres of storage behind the second row and 1,851 litres with the second row folded, comparable to the Chevrolet Equinox and Mazda CX-5 but less than the Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, Nissan Rogue, or Toyota RAV4. Passenger space was slightly less than some competitors, but the back seat's headroom and the front-seat backs' design maximized space for tall passengers.

The 2023 Volvo XC40 featured an Android-based infotainment system, using Google apps for navigation and voice recognition. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 9-inch touchscreen were standard, with a 13-speaker Harman Kardon audio system available on higher trims. The infotainment system was visually pleasing, but users who preferred Apple products might not find the Google features as satisfying. The minimalist design meant a lack of analog controls, with most functions controlled via the touchscreen.

The 2023 Ford Escape was equipped with Sync 4, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen on lower trims and a 13.2-inch screen on higher trims. Sync 4 was well-organized, with easy navigation between Android Auto and the native navigation system. A wi-fi hotspot was available with a subscription. The system was generally user-friendly, though it was occasionally slow to respond. A six-speaker sound system was standard, with a Bang & Olufsen system optional on higher trims.

The 2023 Volvo XC40 came with a comprehensive list of standard safety features, including lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring. Upgrading to higher trims added features like a 360-degree camera system and adaptive cruise control. The XC40 received top ratings from the NHTSA and the IIHS, though it dropped to an "Acceptable" rating in the updated side-impact test.

The 2023 Ford Escape received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with top scores in most crash tests. The IIHS did not award it a Top Safety Pick designation due to a "Marginal" score in the updated side-impact test. The Escape came standard with Ford's Co-Pilot360 suite of driver assist features, with an optional Co-Pilot360 2.0 system offering additional features like adaptive cruise control and lane-centring technology.