Compare the2024 Audi Q8 e-tronVS 2024 Volvo C40 Recharge

The Audi Q8 e-tron 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 C40 Recharge doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Q8 e-tron. But it costs extra on the C40 Recharge.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The Q8 e-tron has Car-to-X Services, a system that seemlesly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The C40 Recharge doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure.

Both the Q8 e-tron and the C40 Recharge have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, 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 Audi Q8 e-tron weighs 1028 to 1304 pounds more than the Volvo C40 Recharge. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The Audi Q8 e-tron achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The C40 Recharge has not yet been fully evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

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.

The Q8 e-tron’s standard electric motors produces 154 more horsepower (402 vs. 248) and 180 lbs.-ft. more torque (490 vs. 310) than the C40 Recharge’s standard electric motor. The SQ8 e-tron’s standard electric motors produces 94 more horsepower (496 vs. 402) and 223 lbs.-ft. more torque (717 vs. 494) than the C40 Recharge’s optional electric motors.

The Q8 e-tron with its standard motors can travel longer on a full charge than the C40 Recharge (285 miles vs. 257 miles).

The Q8 e-tron has a standard locking charge port which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The C40 Recharge doesn’t have a locking charge port. A locking charge port prevents tampering and damage.

The Q8 e-tron’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 C40 Recharge doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the Q8 e-tron’s brake rotors are larger than those on the C40 Recharge:

For better traction, the Q8 e-tron has larger standard tires than the C40 Recharge (255/50R20 vs. 235/45R20). The Q8 e-tron’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the C40 Recharge (265/45R21 vs. 235/45R20).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Q8 e-tron has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the C40 Recharge Core. The Q8 e-tron’s optional 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the C40 Recharge.

The Q8 e-tron has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the C40 Recharge; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

The front and rear suspension of the Q8 e-tron uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the C40 Recharge, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The Q8 e-tron has a standard 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 C40 Recharge’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Q8 e-tron has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Q8 e-tron’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 C40 Recharge doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Q8 e-tron’s wheelbase is 8.7 inches longer than on the C40 Recharge (115.1 inches vs. 106.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Q8 e-tron is 2.4 inches wider in the front and 2.1 inches wider in the rear than the track on the C40 Recharge.

The Q8 e-tron 55 Launch Edition handles at .85 G’s, while the C40 Recharge Ultimate pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the Q8 e-tron has a 1.4 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the C40 Recharge (8.1 vs. 6.7 inches), allowing the Q8 e-tron to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Q8 e-tron has 1.9 inches more front shoulder room, 1.9 inches more rear headroom, 3 inches more rear legroom and 1 inch more rear shoulder room than the C40 Recharge.

The Q8 e-tron has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the C40 Recharge with its rear seat up (28.5 vs. 15 cubic feet). The Q8 e-tron has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the C40 Recharge with its rear seat folded (56.4 vs. 48.7 cubic feet).

Maximum trailer towing in the Volvo C40 Recharge is limited to 2000 pounds. The Q8 e-tron offers up to a 4000 lbs. towing capacity.

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 Q8 e-tron’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The C40 Recharge doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Q8 e-tron Prestige has a standard heads-up display that projects speed in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The C40 Recharge doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Q8 e-tron has standard extendable sun visors. The C40 Recharge doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Q8 e-tron to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The C40 Recharge doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Q8 e-tron keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The C40 Recharge doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Q8 e-tron 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 C40 Recharge.

The Q8 e-tron Prestige/Launch Edition has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the C40 Recharge.

The Q8 e-tron Prestige/Launch Assist’s Intelligent Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The C40 Recharge doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Audi Q8 e-tron, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Audi Q8 e-tron outsold the Volvo C40 Recharge by 30% during 2023.