Compare the2024 Audi Q5 SportbackVS 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 Sportback 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 Sportback is safer than the Volvo XC40:

	Q5 Sportback	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 Sportback is safer than the Volvo XC40:

	Q5 Sportback	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 Sportback is safer than the XC40:

	Q5 Sportback	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 Sportback 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 Sportback’s engine uses 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 Sportback’s 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.

Fuel Economy and Range

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Audi Q5 Sportback 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 Sportback has 4.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the XC40 (18.5 vs. 14.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission

The Q5 Sportback 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 Sportback’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

The Q5 Sportback’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.

Tires and Wheels

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

The Q5 Sportback Premium Plus/Prestige’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 XC40’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Q5 Sportback has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the XC40. The Q5 Sportback Premium Plus/Prestige’s optional 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the XC40.

Suspension and Handling

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

Passenger Space

The Q5 Sportback has 1 inch more front shoulder room, 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 Sportback’s rear seats recline. The XC40’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The Q5 Sportback has a much larger cargo volume than the XC40 with its rear seat up (24.7 vs. 20.4 cubic feet).

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

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

Towing

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

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Q5 Sportback 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 Sportback’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 Sportback Prestige has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, navigation instruction and driver assistance information 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 Sportback 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 Sportback 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 Sportback has standard extendable sun visors. The XC40 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Q5 Sportback 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 Sportback (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 Sportback 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

Consumer Reports® recommends the Audi Q5 Sportback, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Volvo XC40 isn't recommended.

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