Volvo XC60 Vs. Audi Q5: Features & Performance Guide

Which Premium SUV Is More Your Speed?

Let's compare how the Volvo XC60 vs. Audi Q5 compare in power, efficiency, trims, and features. With a more fuel-savvy powertrain and better appointments, we think the Volvo XC60 reigns supreme. We invite you to our dealership showroom in Palo Alto, CA, for your personalized tour. Our Volvo Cars Palo Alto can further assist with financing or leasing.

2026 Volvo XC60 vs. 2025 Audi Q5 Specs

In terms of raw power, the Audi Q5 pulls ahead – barely. While the Audi Q5 pumps out 268 horsepower, the Volvo XC60 isn't far behind with 247 horsepower output. And if sheer power's your speed, the Volvo XC60 Plug-In Hybrid might be worth exploring, as it produces up to 455 horsepower; the Audi Q5 doesn't manage to keep up with its most performance-focused variant, which only produces 362 horsepower.

Although a big part of the Volvo XC60 vs. Audi Q5 performance comparison is reviewing the horsepower and torque values of either model, another big part is how efficient the models are, and the Volvo XC60 edges out the competition here.

While both can be classified as efficient SUVs, the Volvo XC60 is more so with a consistent EPA-estimated 23/30/26 MPG (City/Highway/Combined)¹ across the lineup. Meanwhile, the Audi Q5 caps out at a maximum EPA-estimated 23/29/25 MPG (City/Highway/Combined).²

Additionally, the MPG rating for the Audi Q5 varies depending on the configuration, but each one has a smaller fuel tank than the Volvo XC60 offers. With a 17.2-gallon fuel tank, the Audi Q5 will require more gas-station stops than the Volvo XC60 and its 18.8-gallon fuel tank will.

Volvo XC60 vs. Audi Q5 Trims

When reviewing the number of 2026 Volvo XC60 vs. 2025 Audi Q5 trims, you'll find a trio of trim levels to explore in each luxury SUV lineup.

That's about where the similarities between the Audi Q5 and Volvo XC60 trims end – and the Volvo XC60 dominates the interior sphere with elegance and exclusivity. While the Audi Q5 comes equipped with plush leather seating, the Volvo XC60 capitalizes on the brand's sustainability ethos with quilted Nordico upholstery. This synthetic leather alternative is crafted using recycled objects like wine bottle corks and bio-attributed materials.

Additionally, every Volvo XC60 exudes sophistication with a standard crystal gear selector by Orrefors®, a company that's specialized in glass- and crystal-making since 1898. This level of elegance is not found anywhere in the Audi Q5. However, nearly all the available Audi Q5 features have an impressive equivalent in the Volvo XC60.

Volvo XC60 vs. Audi Q5 Infotainment

These luxury SUVs wear multiple faces: performance-centric, modern aesthetics, and design-forward cockpits. The Volvo XC60 and Audi Q5 are excellent contenders for drivers who value large touchscreen real estate, though we admit that the Audi Q5 has a few more inches on its display area than the Volvo XC60.

Where the Audi Q5 focuses on high-tech outfittings, the Volvo XC60 prioritizes balance and a back-to-nature aesthetic. The trio of displays in the Audi SUV can feel overwhelming, while the Volvo XC60 sticks to a tried-and-true single option measuring 11.2 inches with integrated Google services. Working in tandem with this minimalist cockpit are Calm and Navi modes for further tranquility while you drive.

Volvo XC60 vs. Audi Q5 Safety Features

When it comes to safety, the Volvo XC60 is an undisputed victor in this rivalry. Hailing from the brand we have to thank for the modern three-point safety harness and extensive efforts to help first-responders handle emergent scenarios after collisions via the 100-foot Crane Test, the Volvo XC60 is the model for keeping your family safe.

Although the Audi Q5 comes with some advanced safety technologies like a Rear View Camera, Lane Departure Warning, and Emergency Brake Assist, the Volvo XC60 elevates expectations with these standard features that the Audi Q5 forgoes:

• Oncoming Lane Mitigation
• Road Sign Information
• Slippery Road Alert
• Rear Collision Mitigation Support

Volvo XC60 vs. Audi Q5 Exterior

With two eye-catching and elegant models going head to head, it's hard to say which model wins in the war of exterior appeal. Ultimately, some drivers may prefer the Nordic aesthetics of the new Volvo XC60 SUV, while others may prefer the straightforward German-inspired designs of the Audi Q5.

On one hand, the Volvo XC60 has iconic Thor's Hammer headlights – a feature that makes this SUV unmistakably a Volvo SUV and has been part of the brand's Scandinavian ethos for a long time. You can review our Volvo model year comparison guide for more details. Alongside these headlights, the model sports a standard panoramic roof and a diagonal-styled mesh front grille.

Meanwhile, the Audi Q5 had crisp LED lighting and convenient heated side mirrors. A panoramic sunroof is available, too, but only on higher-tier trims.

Although this realm is more determined by personal preference, we would say the Volvo XC60 is a better pick thanks to its more exclusive design elements and standard appointments.

We'd be happy to help you secure this efficient mild-hybrid SUV for a few years without long-term obligations when you lease a new Volvo XC60. Call Volvo Cars Palo Alto for details.

FAQ

Which is more spacious: the Volvo XC60 or the Audi Q5?

The Volvo XC60 is more spacious than the Audi Q5 when comparing the maximum cargo volume. However, the Audi Q5 has more trunk load area. Specifically, the Volvo XC60 has 21.6 cubic feet behind the rear row with 63.3 cubic feet of maximum space. Meanwhile, the Audi Q5 has 27.6 cubic feet behind the rear row, which expands to only 56.9 total cubic feet.

Is the Volvo XC60 safer than the Audi Q5?

Both the Volvo XC60 and Audi Q5 rank well in Quality & Reliability by J.D. Power^3,4 and Lane Departure Warning technologies, but the Volvo XC60 comes with more standard driver-assistance features. For example, the Volvo XC60 comes standard with Road Sign Recognition, Slippery Road Alert, and Oncoming Lane Mitigation – features that do not come standard on the Audi Q5.

Which SUV has better fuel efficiency: the Volvo XC60 or the Audi Q5?

The 2026 Volvo XC60 has better fuel efficiency than the 2025 Audi Q5. The 2026 Volvo XC60 earns an EPA-estimated 23/30/26 MPG (City/Highway/Combined)¹ on every configuration, while the Audi Q5 reaches a maximum EPA-estimated 23/29/26 MPG (City/Highway/Combined).² Additionally, the Volvo XC60 has a bigger fuel tank, allowing you to go farther between stops than the Audi Q5 allows.

¹EPA estimated range is 23 MPG city/30 MPG highway/26 MPG combined (2.0-liter four-cylinder engine AWD). Your actual range will vary for many reasons, including but not limited to, driving conditions, how and where you drive, how you maintain your vehicle, battery-package/condition, and other factors. See https://www.fueleconomy.gov/

²23 city/29 highway/25 combined city/hwy MPG (2025 Audi Q5). EPA estimates. Your mileage will vary and depends on several factors including your driving habits and vehicle condition.

³Reference to this third-party claim is solely for informational purposes and not to be relied upon. For details regarding this rating, visit https://www.jdpower.com/cars/2026/volvo/xc60

⁴Reference to this third-party claim is solely for informational purposes and not to be relied upon. For details regarding this rating, visit https://www.jdpower.com/cars/2025/audi/q5