2023 Volvo XC40 vs 2022 Subaru Forester

The 2022 Subaru Forester came in various trims, including base, Premium, Sport, Wilderness, Limited, and Touring, with prices starting at $25,195 and topping out at $35,295 for the Touring model. All-wheel drive was standard across all trims. The Forester Wilderness, tested in Bend, Oregon, featured a white exterior, dark gray interior with water-repellant StarTex simulated leather, and a base price of $33,945. With additional options like a navigation system, Harman Kardon premium sound system, and a power rear liftgate, the total price reached $36,014. The Wilderness trim added rugged features like a suspension lift, higher ride height, and extensive protective cladding, which gave it a raccoon-like appearance. Inside, the Forester emphasized functionality over form, with a mix of hard plastic and soft surfaces, copper-colored stitching, and an 8-inch Starlink infotainment system.

The 2023 Volvo XC40 maintained its distinctive, flat-roofed SUV profile, with updates to its exterior styling, including new pixelated "Thor’s Hammer" headlights, a more angular front bumper, and new wheel designs. The XC40 shared Volvo’s Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) platform with the C40 Recharge and Polestar 2. The interior featured a minimalist design with thin air vents, scalloped door handles, and dual-zone automatic climate control. Leather upholstery was available, with vegan leather for Recharge models. The XC40 Ultimate test vehicle included a panoramic moonroof and an Orrefors crystal shift knob, but the all-black interior felt somewhat utilitarian. Fit and finish were good, but the materials reminded us that the XC40 was Volvo’s entry-level model.

The 2022 Subaru Forester continued with its 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. All Foresters had a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and all-wheel drive, with the Wilderness model featuring a design that increased initial torque supply by 25% and doubled the towing capacity to 3,000 pounds. The EPA rated the Forester Wilderness at 26 mpg in combined driving, and during testing, it averaged 25.9 mpg. The Forester’s engine was adequate at sea level but felt sluggish at higher altitudes. The CVT had eight programmed ratios and included SI-Drive for a more lively response. The Wilderness trim also featured Subaru’s dual-function X-Mode system, re-tuned suspension, and longer springs and shocks, raising ground clearance to 9.2 inches. The Forester excelled in various driving environments, including off-road courses and forest roads, but lacked engine power and had excessive wind noise above 65 mph.

The 2023 Volvo XC40 introduced mild-hybrid powertrains, adding a 48-volt electrical system and a 13-horsepower integrated starter generator. The base B4 powertrain combined the mild-hybrid system with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 197 hp and 221 pound-feet of torque. The B5 model had a more powerful 2.0-liter turbo-four, rated at 247 hp and 258 pound-feet of torque. Both powertrains used an eight-speed automatic transmission, with the B4 being FWD-only and the B5 AWD-only. The B5 model could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds. The XC40 Recharge, with its two electric motors, produced 402 hp and 486 pound-feet of torque, achieving a zero to 60 mph time of 4.7 seconds and an EPA-rated 223-mile range. The Recharge also had a higher towing capacity of 4,409 pounds compared to the B5 AWD model’s 3,500 pounds. The XC40 handled corners with composure and absorbed bumps well, offering a high level of refinement.

The 2022 Subaru Forester emphasized functionality, with easy entry and exit due to tall seating hip points. The Wilderness trim featured water-resistant StarTex upholstery, all-weather floor mats, a rubber cargo mat, and washable rear seatbacks. The upgraded roof rails could accommodate a three-person roof tent. Comfort levels were high, with excellent visibility and rear air conditioning vents. Cargo space measured 28.9 cubic feet without the panoramic sunroof and 26.9 cubic feet with it, expanding to 74.2 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The Forester’s cargo area was usefully shaped, and the Wilderness trim included a full-size spare tire.

The 2023 Volvo XC40 offered reasonable space among its competitors, with ample rear-seat headroom and shoulder room. Cargo space measured 20 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and 46.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. A power tailgate and keyless entry were standard on Plus and Ultimate models. The XC40’s interior storage was good, with scalloped door panels creating large carve-outs for bottles or handbags, and a fairly large center console storage bin and phone tray.

The 2022 Subaru Forester included a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, HD Radio, and Starlink connected services. Premium trim added a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The Wilderness, Limited, and Touring trims featured an 8-inch screen, navigation system, and Harman Kardon premium sound system. The Wilderness trim also included a 180-degree forward-view camera. The test vehicle’s Harman Kardon audio system produced clear, rich sound, and the navigation system was helpful, though a breadcrumb function would have been useful. The PIN Code Access feature allowed for keyless entry using a PIN code.

The 2023 Volvo XC40 featured an Android-based infotainment system with Google apps, including Google Maps and Google Assistant. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 9-inch touchscreen were standard. The B5 Ultimate test vehicle included a 13-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system and USB-C ports for each row. The infotainment experience was similar to other Volvo models with the Android operating system, with pleasing graphics but a lack of analog controls. The touchscreen was used for most functions, including activating the steering wheel and driver’s seat heaters.

The 2022 Subaru Forester debuted the next-generation EyeSight 4.0 safety system, with a wider field of vision and a new Automatic Emergency Steering system. EyeSight 4.0 included automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. The Forester also featured a rear-seat reminder system, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear automatic braking. Touring trim included DriverFocus, a facial recognition technology for monitoring drowsiness and distraction. The Forester earned a 5-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA and was expected to retain its IIHS “Top Safety Pick+” rating.

The 2023 Volvo XC40 included standard safety features such as lane keep assist, automatic emergency braking, Oncoming Lane Mitigation, traffic sign recognition, rear parking sensors, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross traffic alert. The Plus trim added front parking sensors, while the Ultimate grade included side parking sensors, a 360-degree camera system, adaptive cruise control, and Pilot Assist. The XC40 received top “Good” ratings in most IIHS crash tests but dropped to an “Acceptable” rating in the updated side-impact test. The NHTSA awarded the gasoline XC40 a five-star overall safety rating.