Compare the2024 Audi Q5 SportbackVS 2024 Volvo XC60

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

Safety

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Both the Q5 Sportback and the XC60 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 XC60:

	Q5 Sportback	XC60
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	22%	22%
Leg Forces (l/r)	80/49 lbs.	489/470 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Stress	134 lbs.	179 lbs.
Neck Compression	30 lbs.	55 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	90/55 lbs.	329/351 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 XC60:

	Q5 Sportback	XC60
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	60	73
Chest Movement	.6 inches	.7 inches
Abdominal Force	98 lbs.	126 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	185	185
Hip Force	817 lbs.	906 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 XC60:

	Q5 Sportback	XC60
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	96	106
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Torso Max Deflection	.98 in	1.42 in
Torso Deflection Rate	5 MPH	8 MPH
Pelvis	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Pelvis Force	1116 lbs.	1205 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Pelvis Force	1249 lbs.	1316 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

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 Q5 Sportback its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2019, a rating granted to only 126 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The XC60 is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2019.

Reliability

The Audi Q5 Sportback’s engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the XC60’s engines use an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

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 Q5 Sportback’s reliability 13 points higher than the Volvo XC60 and 25 points higher than the Volvo XC60 T8.

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 XC60 B5’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

Fuel Economy and Range

Both the Q5 Sportback and the XC60 have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Q5 Sportbacks have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The XC60 T8 doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Audi Q5 Sportback uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The XC60 requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

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 XC60 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 XC60 doesn’t offer launch control.

Tires and Wheels

The Q5 Sportback’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the XC60’s standard 60 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 XC60.

Suspension and Handling

The front and rear suspension of the Q5 Sportback uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the XC60, 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.

Passenger Space

The Q5 Sportback has .1 inches more front headroom and .2 inches more rear shoulder room than the XC60.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Q5 Sportback’s rear seats recline. The XC60’s rear seats don’t recline.

The front step up height for the Q5 Sportback is .7 inches lower than the XC60 (18.3” vs. 19”). The Q5 Sportback’s rear step up height is 1.5 inches lower than the XC60’s (18” vs. 19.5”).

Cargo Capacity

The Q5 Sportback has a larger cargo volume than the XC60 with its rear seat up (24.7 vs. 24.4 cubic feet).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the Q5 Sportback’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The XC60 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Towing

The Q5 Sportback’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the XC60’s (4400 vs. 3500 pounds).

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Q5 Sportback is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the XC60. 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 XC60 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

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. Heated windshield washer nozzles cost extra on the XC60.

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 Q5 Sportback’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the XC60’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 Q5 Sportback has standard extendable sun visors. The XC60 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 XC60 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

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 XC60.

The Q5 Sportback Prestige’s Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The XC60 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Q5 Sportback owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Q5 Sportback with a number “5” insurance rate while the XC60 is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Q5 Sportback is less expensive to operate than the XC60 because typical repairs cost much less on the Q5 Sportback than the XC60, including $24 less for front brake pads and $272 less for a fuel pump.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Audi Q5 Sportback, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Volvo XC60 isn't recommended.

The Audi Q5 outsold the Volvo XC60 by 74% during 2022.

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