Compare the2022 Audi Q8VS 2022 Volvo XC60

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Q8. But it costs extra on the XC60.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the Q8 Prestige helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The XC60 doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the Q8 and the XC60 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The Audi Q8 weighs 930 to 1100 pounds more than the Volvo XC60. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Audi Q8 is safer than the Volvo XC60:

	Q8	XC60
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.5 inches
Neck Stress	120 lbs.	179 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	47/47 lbs.	329/351 lbs.

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

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH, results indicate that the Audi Q8 is safer than the Volvo XC60:

	Q8	XC60
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	60	73
Chest Movement	.7 inches	.7 inches
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	141	185
Spine Acceleration	43 G’s	45 G’s
Hip Force	684 lbs.	906 lbs.

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

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 Q8’s 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid produces 85 more horsepower (335 vs. 250) and 111 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 258) than the XC60 B5’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Q8’s 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid produces 19 more horsepower (335 vs. 316) and 74 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 295) than the XC60 B6’s standard 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Audi Q8 is faster than the Volvo XC60:

	Q8	XC60 B5	XC60 B6
Zero to 60 MPH	5.9 sec	7.3 sec	6.6 sec
Quarter Mile	14.4 sec	15.5 sec	15 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	97.6 MPH	86.1 MPH	89.9 MPH

Both the Q8 and the XC60 have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stop lights and heavy traffic. All Q8s 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 XC60.

The Q8 has 3.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the XC60 (22.5 vs. 18.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the Q8’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the XC60:

	Q8	XC60
Front Rotors	14.8 inches	12.7 inches
Rear Rotors	13.8 inches	11.9 inches

For better traction, the Q8 has larger tires than the XC60 (285/45R21 vs. 235/60R18). The Q8’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the XC60 (285/45R21 vs. 265/35R22).

The Q8’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the XC60’s standard 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Q8 has standard 21-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the XC60. The Q8 Premium Plus/Prestige’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 21-inch wheels optional on the XC60.

The front and rear suspension of the Q8 uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the XC60, 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.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Q8’s wheelbase is 5.1 inches longer than on the XC60 (117.9 inches vs. 112.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Q8 is 1 inch wider in the front and 1.6 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the XC60.

The Q8 Prestige handles at .83 G’s, while the XC60 T8 eAWD Momentum pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Q8 Prestige executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the XC60 B5 AWD Momentum (26.9 seconds @ .69 average G’s vs. 27.3 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

The Q8 has .1 inches more front legroom, 1.3 inches more front shoulder room, 2.2 inches more rear legroom and 2.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the XC60.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Q8’s rear seats recline. The XC60’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Q8 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the XC60 with its rear seat up (30.5 vs. 21.6 cubic feet). The Q8 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the XC60 with its rear seat folded (60.7 vs. 49.8 cubic feet).

The Q8’s cargo area is larger than the XC60’s in almost every dimension:

	Q8	XC60
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	41.1”/75.4”	37.8”/68.7”
Max Width	54”	43.5”
Min Width	39.8”	39.8”
Height	29”	30.6”

The Q8’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the XC60’s (7700 vs. 3500 pounds).

The engine in the Q8 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the XC60. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

The Q8’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The XC60 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Q8’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The XC60’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Q8 has standard extendable sun visors. The XC60 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

A manual rear sunshade is optional in the Q8 and power rear side window sunshades are optional in the Q8 (except Premium) to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The XC60 doesn’t offer a rear or rear side window sunshades.