Compare the2026 Volvo EX40 VS 2026 Tesla Model X

The EX40’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Model X doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the EX40 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Model X doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The EX40 has a standard Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS), which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the WHIPS allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. At the same time the pretensioning seatbelts fire, removing slack from the belts. The Model X doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The EX40 has a standard CTA Auto Brake that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Model X doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the EX40’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Model X doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The EX40 has standard Volvo On Call, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Model X doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the EX40 and the Model X have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

Volvo pays for scheduled maintenance on the EX40 for 2 years and 20,000 miles. Volvo will pay for cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Tesla doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Model X.

There are over 32 percent more Volvo dealers than there are Tesla dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the EX40’s warranty.

The EX40 stops shorter than the Model X:

	EX40	Model X
70 to 0 MPH	171 feet	172 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	112 feet	113 feet	Motor Trend

The EX40 has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Model X’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The EX40 Ultra handles at .87 G’s, while the Model X pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The EX40 AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Model X (26.3 seconds @ .7 average G’s vs. 26.7 seconds @ .7 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the EX40’s turning circle is 2.9 feet tighter than the Model X’s (37.4 feet vs. 40.3 feet).

The Volvo EX40 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 650 to 750 pounds less than the Tesla Model X.

The EX40 is 2 feet shorter than the Model X, making the EX40 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The EX40 has a much larger cargo volume than the Model X with its rear seat up (18.9 vs. 14.8 cubic feet).

The EX40’s standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The Model X 6-Passenger doesn’t offer folding rear seats.

A control in the cargo area automatically lowers the EX40’s optional rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Model X doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

A maintenance reminder system is standard on the EX40 to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals based on odometer mileage. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Tesla doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the Model X.

The EX40’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Model X’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the EX40 has a standard rear wiper. The Model X doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The EX40 offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Model X doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The EX40’s standard side window demisters help clear frost or condensation from the side windows in the winter. The Model X doesn’t even offer side window demisters, so the driver may have to wipe the windows from the outside to gain side vision.

The EX40’s sun-visors swivel front-to-side to block glare from the side windows. The Model X’s visors are fixed into the windshield header.

The EX40 has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Model X doesn’t offer a middle row seat center armrest.

The EX40 is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Model X doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

The Volvo EX40/XC40 outsold the Tesla Model X by 53% during 2025.