Compare the2023 Volvo S60VS 2023 Audi S3

The S60 has a standard Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS), which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the WHIPS allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. At the same time the pretensioning seatbelts fire, removing slack from the belts. The S3 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

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 S3 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The S60 offers an optional 360° Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The S3 only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

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 S3’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 S3.

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 S3 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the S60 and the S3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee 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, rearview cameras and available all wheel drive.

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 S3.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the S60 has a standard 800-amp battery. The S3’s 380-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

The S60 T8’s standard 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder hybrid produces 149 more horsepower (455 vs. 306) and 228 lbs.-ft. more torque (523 vs. 295) than the S3’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the S60 T8 running on electricity gets better mileage than the S3 (74 city/73 hwy MPGe vs. 23 city/32 hwy).

On the EPA test cycle the S60 running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the S3:

The S60 T8 can travel with zero emissions for 41 miles. The S3 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 S3 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The S60 has 1.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the S3 (15.9 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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 S3 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

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 S3.

For better stopping power the S60 Polestar’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the S3:

For better traction, the S60 has larger tires than the S3 (235/45R18 vs. 225/40R18).

The S60 has a standard space-saver spare (not available on T8) so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the S3; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed. Some tire options on the S3 don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the S60’s wheelbase is 9.5 inches longer than on the S3 (113.1 inches vs. 103.6 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the S60 is 2.2 inches wider in the front and 3.2 inches wider in the rear than on the S3.

The design of the Volvo S60 amounts to more than styling. The S60 has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .27 Cd. That is significantly lower than the S3 (.31) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the S60 get better fuel mileage.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the S60 a Compact car, while the S3 is rated a Subcompact.

The S60 has 10 cubic feet more passenger volume than the S3 (96 vs. 86).

The S60 has .6 inches more front headroom, 1.1 inches more front legroom, 1.3 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear headroom and 1.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the S3.

The S60 has a much larger trunk than the S3 (11.6 vs. 8.3 cubic feet).

Pressing a button automatically lowers the S60’s optional rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The S3 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the S60 offers cargo security. The S3’s non-lockable folding seat and non-lockable remote release defeat cargo security.

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 S3 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors optional at extra cost in the S3, 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.

The S3’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.

The S60’s sun-visors swivel front-to-side to block glare from the side windows. The S3’s visors are fixed into the windshield header.

Both the S60 and the S3 offer available heated front seats. The S60 also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the S3.

On extremely cold winter days, the S60’s optional heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The S3 doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The S60 is available in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The S3 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

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