Compare the2023 Audi e-tronVS 2023 Volvo XC40 Recharge

The Audi e-tron has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The XC40 Recharge doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

An active infrared night vision system optional on the e-tron helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera and near-infrared lights to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The XC40 Recharge doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the e-tron and the XC40 Recharge 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, 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, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The Audi e-tron weighs 1024 to 1333 pounds more than the Volvo XC40 Recharge. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the e-tron its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 127 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The XC40 Recharge has not been fully tested, yet.

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 2023 Auto Issue reports that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Audi 8 places higher in reliability than Volvo.

The e-tron S’ standard electric motors produces 94 more horsepower (496 vs. 402) and 231 lbs.-ft. more torque (717 vs. 486) than the XC40 Recharge’s electric motors.

The e-tron with its standard motors can travel longer on a full charge than the XC40 Recharge (226 miles vs. 223 miles).

The e-tron’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The XC40 Recharge doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the e-tron’s brake rotors are larger than those on the XC40 Recharge:

The e-tron’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the XC40 Recharge are solid, not vented.

For better traction, the e-tron has larger standard tires than the XC40 Recharge (255/50R20 vs. 235/50R19). The e-tron’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the XC40 Recharge (265/45R21 vs. 235/50R19).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the e-tron has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the XC40 Recharge. The e-tron’s optional 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the XC40 Recharge.

The front and rear suspension of the e-tron uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the XC40 Recharge, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The e-tron has a standard driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The XC40 Recharge’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The e-tron has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The e-tron’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The XC40 Recharge doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the e-tron’s wheelbase is 8.7 inches longer than on the XC40 Recharge (115.1 inches vs. 106.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the e-tron is 2.3 inches wider in the front and 1.9 inches wider in the rear than the track on the XC40 Recharge.

The e-tron Chronos Edition handles at .85 G’s, while the XC40 Recharge pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The front grille of the e-tron uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The XC40 Recharge doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The e-tron has .5 inches more front headroom, 1.9 inches more front shoulder room, .3 inches more rear headroom, 3 inches more rear legroom and 1 inch more rear shoulder room than the XC40 Recharge.

The e-tron has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the XC40 Recharge with its rear seat up (28.5 vs. 16 cubic feet). The e-tron has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the XC40 Recharge with its rear seat folded (56.4 vs. 46.9 cubic feet).

Maximum trailer towing in the Volvo XC40 Recharge is limited to 2000 pounds. The e-tron offers up to a 4000 lbs. towing capacity.

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 e-tron 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 XC40 Recharge doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors in the XC40 Recharge, the e-tron Prestige has a passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The e-tron’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The XC40 Recharge doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The e-tron Prestige has a standard heads-up display that projects speed in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The XC40 Recharge doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the e-tron has standard extendable sun visors. The XC40 Recharge doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the e-tron to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The XC40 Recharge doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the e-tron keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The XC40 Recharge doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The e-tron has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the XC40 Recharge.

The e-tron (except Premium) offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the XC40 Recharge.