Compare the2023 Audi SQ7VS 2023 Volvo XC90

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the SQ7 Prestige helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The XC90 doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the SQ7 and the XC90 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras 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 SQ7 is safer than the Volvo XC90:

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 SQ7’s 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 253 more horsepower (500 vs. 247) and 310 lbs.-ft. more torque (568 vs. 258) than the XC90 B5’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The SQ7’s 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 205 more horsepower (500 vs. 295) and 258 lbs.-ft. more torque (568 vs. 310) than the XC90 B6’s standard 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder hybrid. The SQ7’s 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 45 more horsepower (500 vs. 455) and 45 lbs.-ft. more torque (568 vs. 523) than the XC90 T8’s standard 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Audi SQ7 is faster than the XC90 B6 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder:

Both the SQ7 and the XC90 have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All SQ7s have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The XC90 Recharge doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

The SQ7 has 3.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the XC90 (22.5 vs. 18.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the SQ7’s brake rotors are larger than those on the XC90:

The SQ7 stops much shorter than the XC90:

For better traction, the SQ7 has larger tires than the XC90 (285/40R21 vs. 235/55R19). The SQ7’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the XC90 (285/40R21 vs. 275/45R20).

The SQ7’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the XC90’s standard 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the SQ7 has standard 21-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the XC90.

The SQ7 has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The XC90’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The SQ7 Prestige offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The XC90 doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The front and rear suspension of the SQ7 uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the XC90, which uses coil springs in front and transverse leafs springs in the rear. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The SQ7 offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Volvo doesn’t offer an active suspension on the XC90.

The SQ7 Premium Plus handles at .91 G’s, while the XC90 B6 Core pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The SQ7 Premium Plus executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.6 seconds quicker than the XC90 B6 Core (25.2 seconds @ .76 average G’s vs. 26.8 seconds @ .65 average G’s).

The SQ7 has 1 inch more front headroom, .8 inches more front legroom, 1.8 inches more front shoulder room, .3 inches more rear headroom, 1.8 inches more rear legroom, 1.9 inches more rear shoulder room and 2.5 inches more third row shoulder room than the XC90.

The SQ7’s cargo area provides more volume than the XC90.

The SQ7’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the XC90’s (7700 vs. 4000 pounds).

The engine in the SQ7 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the XC90. 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 SQ7’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The XC90’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

The SQ7 has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The XC90 doesn’t offer a locking fuel/charge port door.

Laser headlights, standard on the SQ7 Prestige, produce their light by firing blue lasers through phosphorus, a process that uses one-half the power of the XC90’s LED headlights. Laser headlights can have double the range of LEDs with a much smaller surface area.

To better shield the driver and front passenger’s vision, the SQ7 has standard dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The XC90 doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the SQ7 has standard extendable sun visors. The XC90 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

A manual rear sunshade and rear side window sunshades are optional in the SQ7 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The XC90 doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

The SQ7 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 XC90 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The SQ7 was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Five/10Best Trucks” for 3 of the last 6 years. The XC90 has never been a Car and Driver “Top Five/10Best Truck” pick.