Compare the2023 Audi Q4 e-tron VS 2023 Volvo XC60

Both the Q4 e-tron and the XC60 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard front crash prevention system, and its headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Q4 e-tron its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2019, a rating granted to only 126 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The XC60 is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2019.

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.

On the EPA test cycle the Q4 e-tron gets better mileage than the XC60 running on electricity:

			MPGe
Q4 e-tron
	RWD	Q4 40 e-tron Electric Motor	112 city/94 hwy
	AWD	Q4 50 e-tron Electric Motors	97 city/87 hwy
XC60
	AWD	Extended Range Electric Motor	66 city/60 hwy
		T8 Electric Motor	59 city/55 hwy

On the EPA test cycle the Q4 e-tron gets better mileage than the XC60 running its gasoline engine:

			MPGe
Q4 e-tron
	RWD	Q4 40 e-tron Electric Motor	112 city/94 hwy
	AWD	Q4 50 e-tron Electric Motors	97 city/87 hwy
XC60
			MPG
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/30 hwy
	AWD	Extended Range 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cyl. Hybrid	28 city/28 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/29 hwy
		2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cyl.	21 city/27 hwy
		2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cyl. Hybrid	24 city/27 hwy

The Q4 e-tron can travel longer on a full charge than the XC60 on electricity, only, on a full charge:

			Miles
Q4 e-tron
	RWD	Q4 40 e-tron Electric Motor	265 miles
	AWD	Q4 50 e-tron Electric Motors	236 miles
XC60
	AWD	Extended Range Electric Motor	36 miles
		T8 Electric Motor	19 miles

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Audi Q4 e-tron higher (10 out of 10) than the Volvo XC60 (5 to 7). This means the Q4 e-tron produces up to 19.8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the XC60 every 15,000 miles.

For better stopping power the Q4 e-tron’s standard front brake rotors are larger than those on the XC60:

	Q4 e-tron	XC60
Front Rotors	14.1 inches	13.6 inches

For better traction and acceleration, the Q4 e-tron has larger rear tires than the XC60 (255/50R19 vs. 235/60R18).

The Q4 e-tron’s standard 235/55R19 front and 255/50R19 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series front and 50 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the XC60’s standard 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Q4 e-tron has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the XC60.

The Q4 e-tron has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The XC60 Ultimate suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The front and rear suspension of the Q4 e-tron uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the XC60, 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 better maneuverability, the Q4 e-tron 40’s turning circle is 3.9 feet tighter than the XC60’s (33.5 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

The Q4 e-tron is 4.7 inches shorter than the XC60, making the Q4 e-tron easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Q4 e-tron has .5 inches more front headroom and .3 inches more rear headroom than the XC60.

The Q4 e-tron has a larger cargo volume than the XC60 with its rear seat up (24.8 vs. 24.4 cubic feet).

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 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Q4 e-tron’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the XC60’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Q4 e-tron has standard extendable sun visors. The XC60 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Q4 e-tron Premium Plus/Prestige’s Park Steering Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The XC60 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.