Compare the2024 Audi e-tron GTVS 2023 Volvo C40 Recharge

The Audi e-tron GT 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 C40 Recharge doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Both the e-tron GT and the C40 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.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 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 29 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 GT’s standard electric motors produces 121 more horsepower (523 vs. 402) than the C40 Recharge’s electric motors. The RS e-tron GT’s standard electric motors produces 235 more horsepower (637 vs. 402) and 125 lbs.-ft. more torque (612 vs. 487) than the C40 Recharge’s electric motors.

As tested in Car and Driver the Audi e-tron GT is faster than the Volvo C40 Recharge:

The e-tron GT can travel longer on a full charge than the C40 Recharge on a full charge:

The e-tron GT has a standard locking charge port which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The C40 Recharge doesn’t have a locking charge port. A locking charge port prevents tampering and damage.

The e-tron GT’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 C40 Recharge doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the e-tron GT’s brake rotors are larger than those on the C40 Recharge:

The e-tron GT RS offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The C40 Recharge doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The e-tron GT stops much shorter than the C40 Recharge:

For better traction, the e-tron GT has larger standard tires than the C40 Recharge (F:245/45R20 & R:285/40R20 vs. 235/45R20). The e-tron GT Prestige/RS’ optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the C40 Recharge (F:265/35R21 & R:305/30R21 vs. 235/45R20).

The e-tron GT’s standard 245/45R20 front and 285/40R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series front and 40 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the C40 Recharge Core’s standard 50 series tires. The e-tron GT Prestige/RS’ optional 265/35R21 front and 305/30R21 rear tires have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile than the C40 Recharge’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the e-tron GT has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the C40 Recharge Core. The e-tron GT Prestige/RS’ optional 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the C40 Recharge.

The front and rear suspension of the e-tron GT uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the C40 Recharge, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The e-tron GT 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. The C40 Recharge’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The e-tron GT 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 GT’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 C40 Recharge doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the e-tron GT’s wheelbase is 7.8 inches longer than on the C40 Recharge (114.2 inches vs. 106.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the e-tron GT is 4.1 inches wider in the front and 2.5 inches wider in the rear than on the C40 Recharge.

The RS e-tron GT handles at .93 G’s, while the C40 Recharge Ultimate pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The e-tron GT is 7.4 inches shorter in height than the C40 Recharge, making the e-tron GT much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

The e-tron GT has 1 inch more front legroom and .8 inches more rear headroom than the C40 Recharge.

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 GT’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The C40 Recharge doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The e-tron GT Prestige/RS 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 C40 Recharge doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

Laser headlights, standard on the e-tron GT Prestige/RS, produce their light by firing blue lasers through phosphorus, a process that uses one-half the power of the C40 Recharge’s LED headlights. Laser headlights can have double the range of LEDs with a much smaller surface area.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the e-tron GT has standard extendable sun visors. The C40 Recharge doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the e-tron GT keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The C40 Recharge doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The e-tron GT offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the C40 Recharge.

The e-tron GT Prestige/RS’ Park Assist Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Park Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The C40 Recharge doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Audi e-tron outsold the Volvo C40 Recharge by over three to one during 2022.