Compare the2023 Audi A7VS 2023 Volvo S60

The Audi A7 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 S60 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 A7. But it costs extra on the S60.

Both the A7 and the S60 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 flat barrier at 38.5 MPH, results indicate that the Audi A7 is safer than the Volvo S60:

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

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Audi vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. With 17 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Audi higher than Volvo.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 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 With 24 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Audi higher than Volvo.

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 A7’s 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid produces 88 more horsepower (335 vs. 247) and 111 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 258) than the S60 B5’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the Audi A7 is faster than the S60 B5 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder:

Both the A7 and the S60 have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All A7s have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The S60 T8 doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

The A7 has 3.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the S60 (19.3 vs. 15.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The A7 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 S60 doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The A7’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 S60 doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the A7’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the S60:

The A7 stops shorter than the S60:

For better traction, the A7 has larger tires than the S60 (255/40R20 vs. 235/45R18).

The A7’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 S60’s standard 45 series tires. The A7 55 TFSI Prestige’s optional tires have a lower 35 series profile than the S60’s optional 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the A7 has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the S60. The A7 55 TFSI Prestige’s optional 21-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels optional on the S60.

The front and rear suspension of the A7 uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the S60, 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 A7’s wheelbase is 2.1 inches longer than on the S60 (115.2 inches vs. 113.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the A7 is 2 inches wider in the front and 1.4 inches wider in the rear than on the S60.

The A7 55 TFSI Prestige handles at .93 G’s, while the S60 Core pulls only .92 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the A7 55 TFSI Prestige is quieter than the S60 Core:

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the A7 a Mid-size car, while the S60 is rated a Compact.

The A7 has 1.1 inches more front shoulder room, 1.8 inches more rear legroom and 1.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the S60.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the A7’s rear seats recline. The S60’s rear seats don’t recline.

The A7’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the S60’s (3500 vs. 2000 pounds).

The engine in the A7 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the S60. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Audi service is better than Volvo. J.D. Power ranks Audi 8th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 11% lower rating, Volvo is ranked 12th.

The A7’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The S60 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the A7 has standard extendable sun visors. The S60 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the A7 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The S60 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the A7 (except Premium) keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The S60 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The A7 Prestige offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the S60.

The A7 Prestige’s Park Assist Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Park Assist Plus will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The S60 Plus/Ultimate/Polestar’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park and it doesn’t offer remote control parking.