Compare the2022 Audi Q3VS 2022 Volvo XC40

The Audi Q3 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 XC40 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 Q3. But it costs extra on the XC40.

Both the Q3 and the XC40 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front 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 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 and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Audi Q3 is safer than the Volvo XC40:

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

The Audi Q3’s engines use a cast iron block for durability, while the XC40’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 rated the Q3 second among small premium suvs in their 2021 Initial Quality Study. The XC40 was rated third.

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 Q3 45 TFSI’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 41 more horsepower (228 vs. 187) and 37 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 221) than the XC40 T4’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Q3 40 TFSI 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder gets better fuel mileage than the XC40 T5 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder AWD (23 city/30 hwy vs. 22 city/30 hwy).

Both the Q3 and the XC40 have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stop lights and heavy traffic. All Q3s 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 XC40.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Audi Q3 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The XC40 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Q3 has 1.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the XC40 (15.9 vs. 14.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Audi Q3 higher (7 out of 10) than the Volvo XC40 (5). This means the Q3 produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the XC40 every 15,000 miles.

For better stopping power the Q3’s standard front brake rotors are larger than those on the XC40:

The Q3’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the XC40 are solid, not vented.

The Q3 stops much shorter than the XC40:

For better traction, the Q3’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the XC40 (255/45R19 vs. 245/45R20).

The Q3’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the XC40’s optional 45 series tires.

The Q3 handles at .91 G’s, while the XC40 T5 R-Design AWD pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Q3’s rear seats recline. The XC40’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Q3 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the XC40 with its rear seat up (23.7 vs. 20.4 cubic feet). The Q3 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the XC40 with its rear seat folded (48 vs. 46.9 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Q3 easier. The Q3’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 27.8 inches, while the XC40’s liftover is 29.7 inches.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Q3 has standard extendable sun visors. The XC40 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Q3 has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning costs extra on the XC40.

The Audi Q3 outsold the Volvo XC40 by 21% during the 2021 model year.