Audi Q5 Vs Volvo XC60: Which Compact Luxury SUV is Right for You?

The compact luxury crossover SUV class is where you’ll find some of today’s best-selling upscale vehicles thanks to the combination of practicality, flexibility and driving pleasure they offer.

For this comparison, we’re lining up the Volvo XC60 and Audi Q5 to see how Sweden’s sole model in this category holds its own against one from a German brand that has mastered the art of luxury vehicle design.

The Volvo XC60 benefits from its maker’s reputation for safety, and Volvo has also positioned itself as a leader in plug-in technology among the industry’s established upscale carmakers: the XC60’s plug-in hybrid is one of the compact luxury crossover segment’s strongest performers.

Meanwhile, the Q5 gets a boost from Audi’s reputation for interior quality and years of expertise refining its Quattro AWD system. Its cabin is also equipped to appeal to fans of high-tech gadgetry.

On the surface, it’s hard to find fault with either of these good-looking crossovers, so let’s dig deeper to see how they really compare.

XC60: In the Volvo XC60, the front seats offer up to 40.8 in. (1,036 mm) of headroom, 41.5 in. (1,054 mm) of legroom.

For rear-seat riders, the XC60 provides 38.9 in. (988 mm) of headroom and 38.0 in. (965 mm) of legroom. Notably, those headroom measurements include the XC60’s standard panoramic roof.

Bottom Line: The Volvo XC60 gets the win in this category as it offers more space in every seating position save for rear-seat headroom, where the Audi Q5 has an advantage of 0.4 in. (10 mm) However, it’s in the front seats that the Volvo has the most significant surplus.

Audi also offers the Q5 in a 55 TFSI e model that combines the same four-cylinder engine with a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain that boasts 362 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque.

All three engines come with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and Audi’s Quattro AWD system.

For something a bit different and sportier, there is the SQ5 that features a turbocharged six-cylinder with 349 hp and 369 lb-ft. It also comes standard with all-wheel drive, but uses a conventional eight-speed automatic transmission.

XC60: Volvo revised the XC60 for 2022 to add a 48-volt mild-hybrid drive system to its existing range of 2.0L four-cylinder engines, prompting it to change the car’s model designations to B5 from the previous T5. The upgrade powertrain remains the T8 PHEV.

The Volvo XC60 B5 offers 247 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The XC60 T8 PHEV gets 455 hp and 523 lb-ft of torque. All XC60 models use an eight-speed transmission and now feature all-wheel drive as standard equipment.

XC60: According to Volvo, the XC60’s cargo area offers 25.8 cu. ft. (731 L) of volume behind the rear seats, and 63.3 cu. ft (1,792 L) when the rear seats are stowed.

The XC60’s towing capacity is 3,500 lbs (1,585 kg) regardless of which powertrain you choose.

Bottom Line: It's a back and forth affair in this category. The Audi Q5 can hold a slight bit more in the cargo area, but with the rear seats folded, the Volvo XC60 has a distinct advantage. The Q5 is capable of towing more with gas models, but the XC60 PHEV can out tow the plug-in hybrid version of the Q5.

XC60: The Volvo XC60 models come standard with blind-spot monitoring with steering assist, rear cross-traffic alert with auto braking, forward collision detection, and mitigation, lane-keeping assist, oncoming lane mitigation, road sign information, and rear park assist sensors.

Adaptive cruise control, a semi-autonomous driving assist system, front park assist, and 360-degree camera views are optional.

Bottom Line: In this category the Audi Q5 holds a slight advantage over the Volvo XC60. Both come standard with a lot of driver safety assist features, but the Q5 now includes adaptive cruise control standard.

Q5: The 2022 Audi Q5 Premium trim includes an integrated garage door remote, LED headlights with automatic high beams, LED taillights, 18-inch wheels, heated side mirrors, a power tailgate, three-zone A/C, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, heated front seats, heated steering wheel, and leather upholstery.

Move up to Premium Plus trim to get 19-inch wheels, extended leather interior trim, a panoramic sunroof, power-adjustable steering wheel, a digital gauge cluster, Bang & Olufsen audio system, navigation, and wireless smartphone charging.

Finally, the fully-loaded Ultimate trim brings a four-zone climate control, head-up display, 20-inch wheels, Nappa leather, four-way power lumbar and cushion extensions, ventilated front seats, power front seat side bolsters, and a Harmon Kardon audio system complete with subwoofer.

Bottom Line: The winner in this category all comes down to personal preferences and price points. Both vehicle offer a lot of trim choices regardless of which engine is selected.

XC60: Volvo’s pricing for the XC60 starts at $47,845 for the B5 AWD Core trim. The B5 AWD Plus trim comes in at $52,345 while the top tier Ultimate raises things to $57,795.

Volvo XC60 T8 PHEV models start at $59,295 for the entry-level Core trim, wth the Plus model raising the price to $63,795. Next up the ladder is the Ultimate trim that comes in at $69,245. With the T8, there is one more option available, the Polestar Engineered that costs $76,645.

Bottom Line: The Audi Q5 40 TFSI holds the price advantage here, but Volvo really doesn't have a XC60 that directly competes with it. The Q5 45 TFSI and XC60 B5 line up very closely in terms of cost. With the plug-in hybrid models, the more powerful XC60 costs around $2,000 more throughout the range and includes one very expensive range topper.

The final result between the two vehicles really depends on what the top priorities are. If it's the size and capabilities of a luxury SUV for the least amount of money, the Audi Q5 40 TFSI is the easy choice. Those looking for a sporty offering will also gravitate towards the Q5, specifically the SQ5.

With the meat of the segment, the popular mid-range models, the two vehicles are so closely matched, the deciding factor will come down to personal preference on items like style, usability and comfort.

Looking at the plug-in hybrid models, the easy recommendation is the Volvo XC60. Although it is slightly more expensive and gets slightly less MPGe, it has a massive power advantage. The deciding factor may be all-electric driving range where the Volvo's 35 estimated miles beats the Audi's 23 mile range.

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