Compare the2023 Volvo S60VS 2023 Audi A4

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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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 A4 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The S60 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 A4’s blind spot costs extra.

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. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the A4.

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 A4 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the S60 and the A4 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, plastic fuel tanks, 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 A4:

	S60	A4
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	25.7%	26%
Neck Stress	189 lbs.	232 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.7 inches	1 inches

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 A4:

	S60	A4
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	103	172
Chest Movement	.9 inches	1.1 inches
Abdominal Force	194 lbs.	219 lbs.
Hip Force	212 lbs.	308 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	271	277
Spine Acceleration	50 G’s	56 G’s
Hip Force	575 lbs.	777 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	319	333
Spine Acceleration	29 G’s	47 G’s
Hip Force	490 lbs.	666 lbs.

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

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 vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, with its optional vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the S60 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 112 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The A4 is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2022.

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 A4.

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the S60 has a standard 210-amp alternator. The A4’s 150-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the S60 has a standard 800-amp battery. The A4’s 420-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

Engine

The S60 B5’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 46 more horsepower (247 vs. 201) and 22 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 236) than the A4 40 TFSI’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The S60 T8’s standard 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder hybrid produces 194 more horsepower (455 vs. 261) and 250 lbs.-ft. more torque (523 vs. 273) than the A4 45 TFSI’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the S60 running on electricity gets better mileage than the A4:

			MPGe
S60
	AWD	T8 Electric Motor	74 city/73 hwy
A4
			MPG
	AWD	40 TFSI 2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	24 city/33 hwy
		45 TFSI 2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	24 city/32 hwy

On the EPA test cycle the S60 running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the A4:

			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
A4
	AWD	40 TFSI 2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	24 city/33 hwy
		45 TFSI 2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	24 city/32 hwy

The S60 T8 can travel with zero emissions for 41 miles. The A4 can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the S60 T8’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The A4 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

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 A4 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 A4.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the S60’s brake rotors are larger than those on the A4:

	S60 T5	S60 Polestar	A4 40 TFSI	A4 45 TFSI
Front Rotors	12.7 inches	14.6 inches	12.4 inches	13.3 inches
Rear Rotors	11.9 inches	12.6 inches	11.8 inches	13 inches

The S60 stops much shorter than the A4:

	S60	A4
60 to 0 MPH	125 feet	135 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	139 feet	145 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the S60 has larger tires than the A4 (235/45R18 vs. 225/50R17).

The S60’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the A4’s standard 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the S60 has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the A4.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the S60’s wheelbase is 2.1 inches longer than on the A4 (113.1 inches vs. 111 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the S60 is 1.1 inches wider in the front and 1.8 inches wider in the rear than on the A4.

The S60 Plus AWD handles at .91 G’s, while the A4 Premium pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The S60 AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.8 seconds quicker than the A4 Premium (25.4 seconds @ .75 average G’s vs. 27.2 seconds @ .64 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the S60’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the A4’s (37.1 feet vs. 38.1 feet).

Chassis

The design of the Volvo S60 amounts to more than styling. The S60 has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .27 Cd. That is lower than the A4 (.3) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the S60 get better fuel mileage.

Passenger Space

The S60 has 4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the A4 (96 vs. 92).

The S60 has .1 inches more front headroom, 1 inch more front legroom and .2 inches more front shoulder room than the A4.

Cargo Capacity

Pressing a button automatically lowers the S60’s optional rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The A4 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the S60 has a standard power trunk, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button or just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The A4 doesn’t offer a power trunk, so its trunk has to be closed manually.

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 A4 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 A4 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors optional at extra cost in the A4, the S60 Ultimate/Polestar has a passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

Consumer Reports rated the S60’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the A4’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

The A4’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The S60’s standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

Model Availability

The S60 is available in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The A4 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 A4 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 A4, including $231 less for a water pump, $326 less for a starter, $595 less for front struts, $231 less for a timing belt/chain and $36 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Volvo S60 and the Audi A4, based on reliability, safety and performance.