Compare the2024 Volvo V60 Cross CountryVS 2023 Audi A4 Allroad

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The V60 Cross Country has standard CTA Auto Brake that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The A4 Allroad doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The V60 Cross Country has a standard blind spot warning system that 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 Allroad’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the V60 Cross Country has standard Cross Traffic Alert and Braking Intervention automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Audi charges extra for Rear Cross-Traffic Assist on the A4 Allroad.

The V60 Cross Country’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 Allroad doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the V60 Cross Country and the A4 Allroad 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, 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 and rearview cameras.

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 V60 Cross Country is safer than the Audi A4 Allroad:

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 V60 Cross Country its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 128 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The A4 Allroad is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2022.

Volvo pays for scheduled maintenance on the V60 Cross Country for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Volvo will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Audi only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the A4 Allroad.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the V60 Cross Country has a standard 210-amp alternator. The A4 Allroad’s 150-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the V60 Cross Country has a standard 800-amp battery. The A4 Allroad’s 420-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

On the EPA test cycle the V60 Cross Country B5 gets better fuel mileage than the A4 Allroad (24 city/31 hwy vs. 23 city/30 hwy).

Regenerative brakes improve the V60 Cross Country’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The A4 Allroad doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Volvo V60 Cross Country, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the A4 Allroad.

For better stopping power the V60 Cross Country’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the A4 Allroad:

The V60 Cross Country’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the A4 Allroad’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the V60 Cross Country offers optional 20-inch wheels. The A4 Allroad’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the V60 Cross Country’s wheelbase is 2.3 inches longer than on the A4 Allroad (113.2 inches vs. 110.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the V60 Cross Country is 2.6 inches wider in the front and 2.5 inches wider in the rear than the track on the A4 Allroad.

The V60 Cross Country handles at .82 G’s, while the A4 Allroad Premium Plus pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the V60 Cross Country’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the A4 Allroad’s (37.1 feet vs. 38.4 feet).

For greater off-road capability the V60 Cross Country has a 1.3 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the A4 Allroad (7.8 vs. 6.5 inches), allowing the V60 Cross Country to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The V60 Cross Country has 1 inch more front legroom, .2 inches more front shoulder room and .7 inches more rear headroom than the A4 Allroad.

The V60 Cross Country has a larger trunk with its rear seat folded than the A4 Allroad with its rear seat folded (60.5 vs. 58.5 cubic feet).

Standard Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) on the V60 Cross Country 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 Allroad doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The V60 Cross Country 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 Allroad doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors optional at extra cost in the A4 Allroad, the V60 Cross Country Ultimate 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.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the V60 Cross Country has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the A4 Allroad only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The A4 Allroad’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The V60 Cross Country’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 V60 Cross Country offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the A4 Allroad.