Luxury CUV’s Duke it Out: Lexus UX Vs. Volvo XC40
The number of subcompact luxury CUV’s are on the rise, and the Lexus UX has a solid competitor from Sweden.
Size matters. It is true, but for some luxury car owners, bigger does not always equate to better. In fact, experience is what matters most. You certainly can get a quality car that’s a bit smaller than a yacht, which is why the luxury CUV segment is starting to take off. Lexus has the UX on offer, but entering the game from Sweden is Volvo’s XC40. Canada’s AutoGuide put the two head-to-head, and came up with an interesting conclusion. But first, let’s talk numbers.
Tech is a leading part of why a consumer would choose a luxury CUV, and both offer quite a lot. The Lexus UX stands out with safety features. Pedestrian detection, pre-collision warnings, radar cruise and blind spot monitors keep all the angled body panels in one piece.
Parking assist, lane tracking and more are on every level of trim in the UX. They are options On the XC40, however. Just when the scales were tipped in the UX’s favor, in terms of space, they tip back towards the XC40. Interior volume is reportedly much larger in the Volvo, including passenger room as well. It may be a small CUV, but you still expect that hatch to swallow up a decent amount of goods. The more aggressive styling of the Lexus works against it in this regard.
In terms of performance, this is where the Swedes might have an edge. Power options on the UX come from two optional units. If front-wheel-drive is all you need, a 2.0 liter 169 horsepower 4 cylinder is sufficient. If you need more grunt and grip, a 2.0 liter hybrid adds AWD and a few more horsepower for a total of 181.
Volvo’s base model T4 engine is similar at 187 horsepower, but it is a turbocharged 2.0 liter unit. Opt for the T5, and you still have a 2.0 turbo, but now 248 horsepower to play with. That’s a significant difference. The tradeoff for that power, however is equally significant. City/highway/combined mileage for the Lexus is 41/38/39 respectively and the XC40 T5 can’t even come close at 23/31/26.
So it seems like there’s only one thing left to discuss, and that’s cost. Here we have another draw, because both start in the low $30,000 range but can breach $40,000 with ease depending on options. However, one factor is long term ownership costs. Both use premium fuel, and with the Lexus having a significant benefit over the XC40 T5’s fuel consumption, ownership costs will be far less with the Lexus. Plus, reliability has always been on the side of Lexus, which will lead to a lower cost for the UX as well. AutoGuide gives the tip to the Volvo, but we think they might have to reconsider.
Photos: AutoGuide
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