Compare the2024 Audi A6VS 2024 Volvo S90

The Audi A6 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 S90 doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Both the A6 and the S90 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear 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, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

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 front crash prevention system, and its headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the A6 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2019, a rating granted to only 135 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The S90 is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2019.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the A6’s reliability 20 points higher than the S90.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the A6 third among midsize premium cars in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The S90 isn’t in the top three.

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 A6 55 TFSI’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid produces 40 more horsepower (335 vs. 295) and 59 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 310) than the S90 B6’s standard 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the A6 55 TFSI 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid is faster than the S90 B6 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder:

On the EPA test cycle the A6 45 TFSI gets better fuel mileage than the S90 B6 running its gasoline engine (23 city/33 hwy vs. 22 city/31 hwy).

Both the A6 and the S90 have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All A6s have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The S90 T8 doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

The A6 has 3.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the S90 (19.3 vs. 15.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The A6 offers an available sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The S90 doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The A6 stops shorter than the S90:

The front and rear suspension of the A6 uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the S90, which uses transverse leafs springs in the rear. Coil springs compress more progressively and offer more suspension travel for a smoother ride with less bottoming out.

The A6 Prestige handles at .93 G’s, while the S90 pulls only .88 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The A6 Prestige executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.4 seconds quicker than the S90 (24.9 seconds @ .75 average G’s vs. 26.3 seconds @ .68 average G’s).

The A6 is 5.7 inches shorter than the S90, making the A6 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The A6 has .2 inches more front headroom, .3 inches more front shoulder room, .3 inches more rear headroom and 1.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the S90.

The A6’s standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The S90 Luxury Package doesn’t offer folding rear seats.

The A6 has a 3500 lbs. towing capacity. The S90 has no towing capacity.

The engine in the A6 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the S90. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

A Service Interval Display is standard on the A6 to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals for oil changes and vehicle inspections based on odometer mileage. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Volvo doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the S90.

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 A6’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The S90 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The A6’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The S90 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The A6’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the S90’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the A6 has standard extendable sun visors. The S90 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The A6 Prestige’s Park Assist Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Park Assist Plus will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The S90 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Audi A6, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Volvo S90 isn't recommended.

The Audi A6/S6/RS 6 outsold the Volvo 90 Series by over three to one during 2022.