Compare the2023 Volvo V90 Cross CountryVS 2023 Audi A6 Allroad

The Volvo V90 Cross Country offers optional built in child booster seats. They’re more crash worthy than an added child seat because of their direct attachment to the seat. Audi doesn’t offer the convenience and security of a built-in child booster seat in the A6 Allroad. Their owners must carry a heavy booster seat in and out of the vehicle; V90 Cross Country owners can just fold their built-in child seat up or down.

The V90 Cross Country has a standard Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS), which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the WHIPS moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. At the same time the pretensioning seatbelts fire, removing slack from the belts. The A6 Allroad doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The V90 Cross Country has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the A6 Allroad’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the V90 Cross Country 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. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the A6 Allroad.

The V90 Cross Country’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 Allroad doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the V90 Cross Country and the A6 Allroad have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear 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 and around view monitors.

Volvo pays for scheduled maintenance on the V90 Cross Country 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 Allroad.

The V90 Cross Country 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 Allroad doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Volvo V90 Cross Country higher (7 out of 10) than the Audi A6 Allroad (5). This means the V90 Cross Country produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the A6 Allroad every 15,000 miles.

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Volvo V90 Cross Country, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the A6 Allroad.

The V90 Cross Country’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 A6 Allroad’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the V90 Cross Country offers optional 21-inch wheels. The A6 Allroad’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the V90 Cross Country is .3 inches wider in the front and 1.4 inches wider in the rear than the track on the A6 Allroad.

The V90 Cross Country Plus handles at .87 G’s, while the A6 Allroad Prestige pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the V90 Cross Country’s turning circle is 1.9 feet tighter than the A6 Allroad’s (38.1 feet vs. 40 feet).

For greater off-road capability the V90 Cross Country has a 1.8 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the A6 Allroad Premium Plus (7.9 vs. 6.1 inches), allowing the V90 Cross Country to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The V90 Cross Country’s minimum ground clearance is .6 inch higher than on the A6 Allroad Prestige (7.9 vs. 7.3 inches).

The Volvo V90 Cross Country may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 200 pounds less than the Audi A6 Allroad.

The V90 Cross Country has .4 inches more front headroom and .9 inches more front legroom than the A6 Allroad.

The V90 Cross Country has a larger trunk with its rear seat folded than the A6 Allroad with its rear seat folded (69 vs. 63.8 cubic feet).

Standard Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) on the V90 Cross Country uses the Electronic Stability 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 Allroad doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The V90 Cross Country 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 Allroad doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are optional on the V90 Cross Country to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The A6 Allroad doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the V90 Cross Country has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the A6 Allroad only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the V90 Cross Country has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The A6 Allroad doesn’t offer cornering lights. The V90 Cross Country also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The V90 Cross Country offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The A6 Allroad doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.