Compare the2024 Audi A6 AllroadVS 2024 Volvo V90 Cross Country

The Audi A6 Allroad 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 V90 Cross Country doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the A6 Allroad Prestige helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The V90 Cross Country doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the A6 Allroad and the V90 Cross Country 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, around view monitors, available blind spot warning systems 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 Allroad its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2019, a rating granted to only 135 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The V90 Cross Country 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 Allroad’s reliability 17 points higher than the V90 Cross Country.

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 Allroad’s 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid produces 40 more horsepower (335 vs. 295) and 59 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 310) than the V90 Cross Country’s 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Audi A6 Allroad is faster than the Volvo V90 Cross Country:

On the EPA test cycle the A6 Allroad gets better fuel mileage than the V90 Cross Country Plus (22 city/30 hwy vs. 22 city/29 hwy).

The A6 Allroad has 3.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the V90 Cross Country (19.3 vs. 15.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The A6 Allroad offers a standard 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 V90 Cross Country doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The A6 Allroad’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 V90 Cross Country doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the A6 Allroad’s brake rotors are larger than those on the V90 Cross Country:

The A6 Allroad stops shorter than the V90 Cross Country:

For better traction, the A6 Allroad has larger tires than the V90 Cross Country (245/45R20 vs. 235/50R19).

The A6 Allroad’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the V90 Cross Country’s standard 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the A6 Allroad has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the V90 Cross Country.

The front and rear suspension of the A6 Allroad uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the V90 Cross Country, which uses coil springs in front and transverse leafs springs in the rear. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The A6 Allroad has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The A6 Allroad’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 V90 Cross Country doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The design of the Audi A6 Allroad amounts to more than styling. The A6 Allroad has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .31 Cd. That is significantly lower than the V90 Cross Country (.35) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the A6 Allroad get better fuel mileage.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the A6 Allroad a Mid-Size Station Wagon car, while the V90 Cross Country is rated a Small Station Wagon.

The A6 Allroad has 3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the V90 Cross Country (101 vs. 98).

The A6 Allroad has .5 inches more front headroom, .3 inches more front shoulder room, 1.8 inches more rear headroom, 1.5 inches more rear legroom and .6 inches more rear shoulder room than the V90 Cross Country.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the A6 Allroad’s rear seats recline. The V90 Cross Country’s rear seats don’t recline.

The A6 Allroad has a much larger cargo volume than the V90 Cross Country with its rear seat up (30 vs. 25.2 cubic feet).

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the A6 Allroad easier. The A6 Allroad’s trunk lift-over height is 25 inches, while the V90 Cross Country’s liftover is 26.8 inches.

The engine in the A6 Allroad is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the V90 Cross Country. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

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 Allroad’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The V90 Cross Country doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the A6 Allroad to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. Heated windshield washer nozzles cost extra on the V90 Cross Country.

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 Allroad’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the V90 Cross Country’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 Allroad has standard extendable sun visors. The V90 Cross Country doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The A6 Allroad 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 V90 Cross Country’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park and it doesn’t offer remote control parking.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Audi A6 Allroad, based on reliability, safety and performance.

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