Audi Q5 vs Volvo XC60: Performance, Tuning, and Reliability

We’ve written many Audi comparison posts, such as the Audi Q5 vs Acura RDX, but have yet to compare a Volvo vehicle, until now. In the post, we’ll be covering the many differences and similarities between the Audi Q5 vs Volvo XC60. Topics that will be discussed are price, size, performance, reliability, and more. Both the Q5 and XC60 are classified as compact luxury crossover SUVs.

Audi Q5 vs Volvo XC60 – The Basics

The Audi Q5 was first introduced in 2008 and is still in production today. The Audi Q5 is one of the brand’s top-selling vehicles. There are two different Q5 generations: the 8R Q5 (2008-2017) and FY Q5 (2018-Present). The 8R Q5 was built on the Volkswagen Group’s MLB platform, and the newest generation, 8R, is built on the MLB Evo platform. The Audi Q5 is positioned between the Q4 e-tron and the Q7.

The Volvo XC60 was introduced the same year the Q5 was and is still in production today. The XC60 has been Volvo’s top-selling vehicle since 2009, a year after it was introduced. It is positioned between the XC40 and XC90. The first generation got a refreshed look in 2013 to make it more modern. Then in 2017, the second generation was unveiled and production began. Volvo offers three different trims for the Volvo XC60: Core, Plus, and Ultimate. We’ll go into pricing differences a little later.

Audi Q5 Generations

• 8R Q5 (B8) (2008 – 2017)
• FY Q5 (B9) (2018 – Present)

Volvo XC60 Generations

• First Generation XC60 (2008-2016)
• Second Generation XC60 (2017-Present)

Audi Q5 vs Volvo XC60 Price

In this portion, we will be going over brand new 2023, as of this writing, model prices and used prices for the Q5 and XC60. Given that these vehicles are competing, the prices don’t differentiate too much.

New Audi Q5 Price

In this portion, we will be going over the new Q5 2023 prices. The 2023 Q5 comes with a few different engines: a 40 TFSI, a 45 TFSI, and a 55 TFSI plug-in hybrid. All these engines can be found in all of the Audi trims. The Premium 40 TFSI Q5 MSRP begins at $43,500, a Premium Plus 40 TFSI Q5 MSRP begins at $49,000, and a Prestige 40 TFSI Q5 MSRP begins at $54,500. A Premium 45 TFSI Q5 MSRP begins at $46,000, a Premium Plus 45 TFSI Q5 MSRP begins at $51,500, and a Prestige 45 TFSI Q5 MSRP begins at $57,000.

Lastly, a Premium 55 TFSI plug-in hybrid Q5 MSRP begins at $55,400, a Premium Plus 55 TFSI plug-in hybrid Q5 MSRP begins at $60,000, and a Prestige 55 TFSI hybrid Q5 MSRP begins at  $65,300. For those wanting more performance, there is an SQ5 option that begins at $55,800. All trims come standard with Quattro®, Audi’s AWD system.

If you are curious about the trim differences with Audi’s, here is an article we wrote about the different Audi trims.

New Volvo XC60 Price

In this section, we will be covering the new 2023 Volvo XC60 prices. There are two engine options available in the current XC60: B5 and B6. We’ll go into the differences a little later on in this article. There are 3 different equipment levels we will be covering: the Core XC60, the Plus XC60, and the Ultimate XC60. The core B5 XC60s MSRP is $44,745, the Plus B5 XC60s MSRP is $48,995, and the Ultimate B5 XC60s MSRP is $54,795. The B5 XC60 comes standard with FWD, but there is an option to upgrade to AWD for an additional $2,300. The Ultimate B6 XC60s MSRP is $59,050 and comes standard with AWD.

Used Audi Q5 & Volvo XC60 Prices

Regarding used Audi Q5s vs XC60s, pricing is pretty much consistent with new prices. Again, since they are competing vehicles, prices are similar. A used Q5s price ranges from $7,572 – $59,000* with an average price overall of $33,286, depending on model year and mileage. A used XC60s price ranges from $6,500 – $66,500* with an average price overall of $36,500, depending on model year and mileage.

*At the time of writing this article, we believe we are in a market where used vehicles are inflated, so consider that when seeing the used prices above. 

General Audi Q5 & Volvo XC60 Topics

Volvo XC60 vs Audi Q5 Size

Below are some basic details about the size and weight differences seen between the 2023 Audi Q5 and the 2023 Volvo XC60.

When it comes to the size between the two vehicles, there aren’t too many differences, except cargo space. The XC60 gets 11.9ft³ more space behind the second row and 14.7ft³ more behind the first row. If you are a consumer that needs more cargo space, the Volvo offers it.

Audi Q5 vs Volvo XC60 Performance

Again, for consistencies sake, we will be using the 2023 Audi Q5 and 2023 Volvo XC60 factory performance specs.

Engines, Drivetrain, & Fuel Economy

Audi Q5 Performance

As stated above, the Audi Q5 has three different engine options: the 40 TFSI, the 45 TFSI, and the 55 TFSI plug-in hybrid. All three engines are Audi’s popular 2.0 TFSIs, but the 55 TFSI is a 2.0 TFSI with an extra electric motor. The 40 TFSI quattro® engine puts out 201hp and 236 lb-ft of torque. It gets 23mpg in the city and 29mpg on the highway for a combined 25mpg. The 45 TFSI quattro® engine puts out 261hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. It gets 23mpg in the city and 28mpg on the highway for a combined 25mpg. Last, but certainly not least, the 55 TFSI plug-in hybrid quattro® engine puts out 362hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. And it gets 23mpg combined on gas with a 14.3gal fuel tank and a total electric range of 390 miles.

All 3 engines come with Audi’s AWD system, Quattro®, standard and a 7-speed S Tronic automatic transmission. Now, for those wanting more performance, the SQ5 has a bigger 3.0L TFSI V6 engine that puts out 349hp and 369 lb-ft of torque.

Volvo XC60 Performance

The Volvo XC60 has two engine options: both, B5 and B6, are a 2.0L Turbo engine. The B5 puts out 247hp and 258 lb-ft of torque and gets 23mpg in the city and 30mpg on the highway for a combined 26mpg with an 18.8gal fuel tank. The B6 puts out 295hp and 310 lb-ft of torque and gets 21mpg in the city and 27mpg on the highway for a combined 23mpg with an 18.8gal fuel tank. The B5 comes with FWD standard and has the option to upgrade to AWD. The B6 only has an AWD option.

Audi Q5 & Volvo XC60 Reliability and Common Problems

Audi Q5

Is the Audi Q5 reliable? Unfortunately, the Q5’s reliability is just average. We believe the Q5 gets a bad rep from the excessive oil consumption problems seen in the Gen2 EA888 engines. RepairPal rated it 3 out of 5, which puts the Q5 11th out of 14 for all luxury midsize SUVs. Model years that are viewed as the least reliable are 2010-2014 Q5’s. The average annual ownership cost for an Audi Q5 is $928, which is above the average $805 seen in other luxury midsize SUVs.

Common problems seen in Q5s are leaking fuel pump flanges, timing chain tensioner failure, start-stop system malfunction, excessive oil consumption, and DRL failure. Audi Q5s can easily hit 150,000 miles if maintained properly. However, if you can happen to get your hands on a TDI (diesel engine), they can last up to 300,000 miles. If interested in reading a more in-depth guide on the Q5’s reliability and common problems, check out the article below.

The 5 Most Common Audi Q5 Engine Problems

Volvo XC60

Is the Volvo XC60 reliable? Unlike the Audi Q5, the Volvo XC60 is above average in reliability. Repairpal has rated it 4 out of 5, which is above average for all luxury compact SUVs. This puts the XC60 4th out of 11 in reliability in the luxury compact SUV category. When it comes to model years to avoid, we advise avoiding 2010, 2015, and 2019. These are viewed as the least reliable model years. The average annual ownership cost for an XC60 is $746, which is below the $859 average for other luxury compact SUVs.

Common problems seen in XC60’s are infotainment issues, windshield water leaks, brake issues, fuel pump failure, software faults, starter motor failure, and more. Although this may seem like a long list, the Volvo XC60 is very reliable and we have seen many last over 200,000-250,000 miles, if maintained properly.

Volvo XC60 vs Audi Q5 – Which is Better?

The question many have come to this article for: which is better the Audi Q5 or the Volvo XC60? We may be a little biased because we write about VW/Audi vehicles, but we prefer the Audi Q5. We will provide facts driven by data to assist anyone in making their own decision. As always we advise any consumer reading this to do more research, especially since these vehicles aren’t cheap purchases. The Audi Q5 seems to be more reliable from a technological standpoint, has more engine options, and is cheaper to start. The Volvo XC60 gets slightly better gas mileage, is more reliable, and has more cargo space. Both have excellent safety ratings, similar tech, and stylish interiors and exteriors.

Again, something we always advise when people are on the fence about which vehicle to go with is to get first-hand experience. So, try to schedule a test drive at your local Audi and Volvo dealer to get behind the wheel and see them in person. This will further solidify the research you already put in.

Audi Q5 vs Volvo XC60 Conclusion

To wrap up this article, we know purchasing any vehicle, especially a luxury vehicle like the two models listed above, can be a daunting task. However, we hope the information gained from this article assists anyone in choosing between the Audi Q5 and Volvo XC60. If you are someone that has or has had first-hand experience with either model, please let us know your experience in the comments below. This will not only help us with our research, but will also help future readers with their purchasing decisions.

If you are wanting to read up on more Audi Q5 comparison articles, here is an article for the Audi Q5 vs Acura RDX.