Compare the2023 Volvo S60VS 2022 Audi A6

Safety
Warranty
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Chassis
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The S60 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 A6 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The S60 has standard CTA Auto Brake that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The A6 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The S60 has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. Only the A6 Premium Plus/Prestige offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the S60 has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Only the A6 Premium Plus/Prestige has a rear cross-path warning system.

The S60’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The A6 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the S60 and the A6 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 all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Volvo S60 is safer than the Audi A6:

	S60	A6
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	192	197
Neck Injury Risk	25.7%	30%
Neck Stress	189 lbs.	322 lbs.
Neck Compression	63 lbs.	64 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	314	354
Neck Injury Risk	30%	41%
Neck Stress	146 lbs.	228 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 and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Volvo S60 is safer than the Audi A6:

	S60	A6
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	103	135
Chest Movement	.9 inches	.9 inches
Hip Force	212 lbs.	262 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	575 lbs.	716 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	13 inches
HIC	319	395
Spine Acceleration	29 G’s	39 G’s
Hip Force	490 lbs.	514 lbs.

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

Warranty

Volvo pays for scheduled maintenance on the S60 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Volvo will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Audi only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the A6.

Engine

The S60 T8’s standard 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder hybrid produces 120 more horsepower (455 vs. 335) and 154 lbs.-ft. more torque (523 vs. 369) than the A6 55 TFSI’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the S60 running on electricity gets better mileage than the A6:

			MPGe
S60
	AWD	T8 Electric Motor	74 city/73 hwy
A6
			MPG
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	23 city/32 hwy
		3.0 turbo V6 Hybrid	21 city/30 hwy

On the EPA test cycle the S60 running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the A6:

			MPG
S60
	FWD	B5 2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	26 city/35 hwy
	AWD	B5 2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	25 city/33 hwy
		T8 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cyl. Hybrid	28 city/33 hwy
A6
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	23 city/32 hwy
		3.0 turbo V6 Hybrid	21 city/30 hwy

The S60 T8 can travel with zero emissions for 41 miles. The A6 can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

The S60 has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The A6 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Transmission

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Volvo S60, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the A6.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the S60 Polestar’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the A6:

	S60 Polestar	A6
Front Rotors	14.6 inches	13.3 inches

The S60 stops shorter than the A6:

	S60	A6
60 to 0 MPH	125 feet	129 feet	Consumer Reports

Chassis

The Volvo S60 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 300 pounds less than the Audi A6.

The S60 is 6.3 inches shorter than the A6, making the S60 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Cargo Capacity

Pressing a button automatically lowers the S60’s optional rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The A6 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Towing

Optional Trailer Stability Assist on the S60 uses the Dynamic Stability and Traction Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The A6 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

The S60 has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The A6 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are optional on the S60 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The A6 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

Consumer Reports rated the S60’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the A6’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The S60 Plus/Ultimate/Polestar’s Park Assist Pilot can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The A6 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Model Availability

The S60 is available in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The A6 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the S60 is less expensive to operate than the A6 because it costs $64 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the S60 than the A6, including $182 less for a water pump, $12 less for a muffler, $22 less for front brake pads, $402 less for a starter, $1286 less for fuel injection, $200 less for front struts, $157 less for a timing belt/chain and $49 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

The Volvo 60 Series outsold the Audi A6/S6/RS 6 by 34% during the 2021 model year.