Compare the2022 Audi A4 AllroadVS 2021 Volvo V60

The Audi A4 Allroad has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The V60 doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the A4 Allroad. But it costs extra on the V60.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the A4 Allroad’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The V60 doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

Both the A4 Allroad and the V60 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, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Audi A4 Allroad is safer than the Volvo V60:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Audi A4 Allroad’s engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the V60’s engines use an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Audi 20th in reliability. With 16 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volvo is ranked 25th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Audi 4 places higher in reliability than Volvo.

The A4 Allroad’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 11 more horsepower (261 vs. 250) and 15 lbs.-ft. more torque (273 vs. 258) than the V60 T5’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

Both the A4 Allroad and the V60 have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stop lights and heavy traffic. All A4 Allroads have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. A disable switch costs extra on the V60.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Audi A4 Allroad uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The V60 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The A4 Allroad offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The V60 doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The A4 Allroad’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The V60 doesn’t offer launch control.

The A4 Allroad stops much shorter than the V60:

For better traction, the A4 Allroad has larger tires than the V60 (245/45R18 vs. 235/45R18).

The A4 Allroad has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The V60’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The front and rear suspension of the A4 Allroad uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the V60, which uses transverse leafs springs in the rear. Coil springs compress more progressively and offer more suspension travel for a smoother ride with less bottoming out.

The A4 Allroad Premium Plus executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the V60 Momentum (26.3 seconds @ .69 average G’s vs. 27.1 seconds @ .66 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the A4 Allroad has a 1.1 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the V60 (6.5 vs. 5.4 inches), allowing the A4 Allroad to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The A4 Allroad has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the V60 with its rear seat up (24.2 vs. 23.2 cubic feet). The A4 Allroad has a larger trunk with its rear seat folded than the V60 with its rear seat folded (58.5 vs. 50.9 cubic feet).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the A4 Allroad’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The V60 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The A4 Allroad’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the V60’s (3968 vs. 2000 pounds).

The engine in the A4 Allroad is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the V60. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the A4 Allroad to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. Heated windshield washer nozzles cost extra on the V60.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the A4 Allroad has standard extendable sun visors. The V60 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Audi A4 Allroad Premium Plus/Prestige has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The V60 doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Audi A4 Allroad, based on reliability, safety and performance.