Compare the2022 Audi A5 SportbackVS 2022 Volvo V60 Cross Country

The Audi A5 Sportback 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 Cross Country doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Both the A5 Sportback and the V60 Cross Country 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, all-wheel drive, 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 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Audi A5 Sportback is safer than the Volvo V60 Cross Country:

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 post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Audi A5 Sportback is safer than the Volvo V60 Cross Country:

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

The Audi A5 Sportback’s engines use a cast iron block for durability, while the V60 Cross Country’s engine uses 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 A5 Sportback 45 TFSI’s standard 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 Cross Country’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the A5 Sportback gets better mileage than the V60 Cross Country:

Regenerative brakes improve the A5 Sportback’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The V60 Cross Country doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

Both the A5 Sportback and the V60 Cross Country have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stop lights and heavy traffic. All A5 Sportbacks 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 Cross Country.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Audi A5 Sportback uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The V60 Cross Country requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The A5 Sportback 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 Cross Country doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The A5 Sportback’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 Cross Country doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the A5 Sportback 45 TFSI’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the V60 Cross Country:

For better traction, the A5 Sportback has larger standard tires than the V60 Cross Country (245/40R18 vs. 215/50R18). The A5 Sportback’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the V60 Cross Country (255/35R19 vs. 235/45R19).

The A5 Sportback’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the V60 Cross Country’s standard 50 series tires. The A5 Sportback’s optional tires have a lower 35 series profile than the V60 Cross Country’s optional 40 series tires.

The front and rear suspension of the A5 Sportback uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the V60 Cross Country, 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 A5 Sportback offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The V60 Cross Country’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Audi A5 Sportback may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 pounds less than the Volvo V60 Cross Country.

The design of the Audi A5 Sportback amounts to more than styling. The A5 Sportback has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .29 Cd. That is significantly lower than the V60 Cross Country (.33) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the A5 Sportback get better fuel mileage.

The engine in the A5 Sportback is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the V60 Cross Country. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the A5 Sportback 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 Cross Country.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the A5 Sportback has standard extendable sun visors. The V60 Cross Country doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Audi A5 comes in coupe, convertible and four door hatchback bodystyles; the Volvo V60 Cross Country isn’t available as a coupe, convertible or four door.

The Audi A5/S5 outsold the Volvo 60 Series by 30% during the 2021 model year.