Compare the2025 Audi S5 SportbackVS 2025 Volvo V60 Cross Country

The Audi S5 Sportback 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 V60 Cross Country doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Both the S5 Sportback and the V60 Cross Country have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, 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, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

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 S5 Sportback’s 3.0 turbo V6 produces 102 more horsepower (349 vs. 247) and 111 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 258) than the V60 Cross Country’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Audi S5 Sportback is faster than the Volvo V60 Cross Country:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Audi S5 Sportback uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The V60 Cross Country requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

For better stopping power the S5 Sportback’s brake rotors are larger than those on the V60 Cross Country:

The S5 Sportback stops much shorter than the V60 Cross Country:

For better traction, the S5 Sportback has larger standard tires than the V60 Cross Country (255/35R19 vs. 215/55R18). The S5 Sportback’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the V60 Cross Country (265/30R20 vs. 245/40R20).

The S5 Sportback’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the V60 Cross Country’s standard 55 series tires. The S5 Sportback’s optional tires have a lower 30 series profile than the V60 Cross Country’s optional 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the S5 Sportback has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the V60 Cross Country.

The S5 Sportback has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The V60 Cross Country’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The front and rear suspension of the S5 Sportback uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the V60 Cross Country, 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.

The S5 Sportback 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. The V60 Cross Country’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The S5 Sportback Prestige handles at .93 G’s, while the V60 Cross Country pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The engine in the S5 Sportback is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the V60 Cross Country. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Laser headlights, standard on the S5 Sportback Prestige, produce their light by firing blue lasers through phosphorus, a process that uses one-half the power of the V60 Cross Country’s LED headlights. Laser headlights can have double the range of LEDs with a much smaller surface area.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the S5 Sportback has standard extendable sun visors. The V60 Cross Country doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The S5 Sportback has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the car heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the V60 Cross Country.

The S5 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 V60 Cross Country doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Audi S5 comes in coupe, convertible and four door hatchback bodystyles; the Volvo V60 Cross Country isn’t available as a coupe, convertible or four door.

The S5 Sportback will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the S5 Sportback will retain 54.47% to 55.05% of its original price after five years, while the V60 Cross Country only retains 43.21% to 43.79%.

The Audi A5/S5/RS 5 outsold the Volvo 60 Series by almost two to one during 2023.