Compare the2024 Audi Q5VS 2024 Volvo XC40

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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Both the Q5 and the XC40 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Audi Q5 is safer than the Volvo XC40:

	Q5	XC40
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	22%	30%
Leg Forces (l/r)	80/49 lbs.	361/380 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	187	343
Neck Stress	134 lbs.	156 lbs.
Neck Compression	30 lbs.	66 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	90/55 lbs.	397/411 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

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 Audi Q5 is safer than the Volvo XC40:

	Q5	XC40
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	60	78
Chest Movement	.6 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	98 lbs.	156 lbs.
Hip Force	279 lbs.	320 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	219	237

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Audi Q5 is safer than the XC40:

	Q5	XC40
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	96	129
Neck Tension	245 lbs.	312 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.71 in	1.46 in
Shoulder Force	112 lbs.	290 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.98 in	1.65 in
Torso Deflection Rate	5 MPH	9 MPH
Pelvis	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Pelvis Force	1116 lbs.	1182 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	346	387
Neck Tension	223 lbs.	268 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Q5 the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 98 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The XC40 has not been fully tested, yet.

Reliability

The Audi Q5’s engines use a cast iron block for durability, while the XC40’s engine uses an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

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 2024 Auto Issue reports that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Audi 6 places higher in reliability than Volvo.

Engine

The Q5 45 TFSI’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 14 more horsepower (261 vs. 247) and 15 lbs.-ft. more torque (273 vs. 258) than the XC40’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The Q5 55 TFSI e’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 115 more horsepower (362 vs. 247) and 111 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 258) than the XC40’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the Q5 55 TFSI e is faster than the Volvo XC40:

	Q5	XC40
Zero to 60 MPH	4.5 sec	6.1 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	12.2 sec	16.7 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	4.9 sec	7.3 sec
Passing 30 to 50 MPH	3 sec	3.6 sec
Passing 50 to 70 MPH	3.9 sec	4.7 sec
Quarter Mile	13.2 sec	14.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	104 MPH	94 MPH
Top Speed	128 MPH	114 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Q5 55 TFSI e running on electricity gets better mileage than the XC40 T5 (60 city/61 hwy MPGe vs. 24 city/30 hwy).

The Q5 55 TFSI e can travel with zero emissions for 22 miles. The XC40 can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Audi Q5 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The XC40 requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Q5’s standard fuel tank has 4.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the XC40 (18.5 vs. 14.2 gallons).

Transmission

The Q5 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 XC40 doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The Q5’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 doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Q5 55 TFSI e’s brake rotors are larger than those on the XC40:

	Q5 55 TFSI e	XC40
Front Rotors	13.8 inches	13.6 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	11.9 inches

The Q5’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 are solid, not vented.

The Q5 stops much shorter than the XC40:

	Q5	XC40
70 to 0 MPH	161 feet	185 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	130 feet	132 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Q5’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the XC40 (255/45R20 vs. 245/45R20).

Suspension and Handling

The Q5 has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The XC40’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The Q5 offers an available 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’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Q5 55 TFSI e has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Q5’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 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Q5’s wheelbase is 4.6 inches longer than on the XC40 (111 inches vs. 106.4 inches).

The Q5 45 TFSI Prestige executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the XC40 B5 Plus (27.2 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 28.1 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Q5 45 TFSI has a greater minimum ground clearance than the XC40 (8.2 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the Q5 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Passenger Space

The Q5 has .6 inches more front headroom, 1 inch more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear headroom, 1.9 inches more rear legroom and .2 inches more rear shoulder room than the XC40.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Q5’s rear seats recline. The XC40’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The Q5 has a much larger cargo volume than the XC40 with its rear seat up (25.9 vs. 20.4 cubic feet).

The Q5’s cargo area is larger than the XC40’s in every dimension:

	Q5	XC40
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	36”/69”	34.9”/65.7”
Max Width	48.5”	41.7”
Min Width	41”	37.3”
Height	29.7”	29.4”

Towing

The Q5’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the XC40’s (4400 vs. 3500 pounds).

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Q5 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the XC40. 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.

Ergonomics

The Q5’s optional easy entry system raises the steering wheel when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The XC40 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Q5 Prestige has a standard heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The XC40 doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Q5 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The XC40 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The Q5 Prestige has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The XC40 doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Q5 has standard extendable sun visors. The XC40 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Q5 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The XC40 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Q5 (except Premium) keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The XC40 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Q5 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.

Recommendations

The Audi Q5/SQ5 outsold the Volvo XC40 by over three to one during 2022.