Volvo XC40 Recharge hybrid reliability & safety rating

Volvo's reputation is built on safety, something it takes very seriously. The brand is aiming to eliminate serious injuries and fatalities in its cars as of 2020, while its impressive track record includes zero deaths since 2004 in its XC90 SUV. The XC40 follows the trend with a strong crash rating and an impressive list of active safety and driver assistance features. 

The XC40 was the first Volvo to use the brand's latest mechanical platform and so was something of an unknown quantity; however, since its introduction, the smallest Volvo SUV has proven itself as a reliable family car.

Volvo XC40 Recharge reliability & problems

While the plug-in hybrid Recharge models haven't featured yet, the XC40 in its other forms performed admirably in the 2020 Driver Power owner satisfaction survey, finishing 14th out of 75 cars. This result takes into account all aspects of ownership; on the reliability front, an average share of reported faults was 15.9%, with most being electrical. This is a decent fault rate for its class. 

Safety

A five-star Euro NCAP rating with a 97% score for adult protection and 87% for child protection means the XC40 passes muster when it comes to passive safety features, but its headline active safety features are most impressive. All XC40 models come as standard with autonomous emergency braking, a number of accident mitigation systems, a speed limiter, driver attention alert and lane-keeping assistance, along with road-sign recognition. Step to R Design Pro or Inscription Pro and active headlights are added. 

It's worth speccing the optional Driver Assist package, which brings Volvo's Intellisafe Assist and Intellisafe Surround systems. These together add adaptive cruise control with stop-go, blind-spot monitoring, cross-traffic alert and rear collision detection, among other features.