Mid-Range SUV Audi Q5 vs Volvo XC60 — Who’s Ahead In the Game?

The recently launched SUVs go head-to-head in a market. Which one will you pick?

Which high-end SUV is worth your splurge? 

(Photo: The Quint)

Audi and Volvo aren’t your run of the mill brands that sell big numbers in the country. While the German brand Audi has been a mainstay in the country with its sedan, SUVs and sport coupe cars, you’ve got Volvo, the Swedish carmaker that’s doing its best to create a niche and space for itself in the premium car market.

With their latest mid-category SUV – the Audi Q5 and the Volvo XC60 – they’re looking to one-up each other, with another German brand, Mercedes-Benz holding its own in the market.

Here’s a quick look at what Volvo and Audi have to offer, priced upwards of Rs 53 lakh in the market.

Also Read: Volvo XC60 First Drive Review: One of the Safest Cars That Exists

(Photo: The Quint)

Design

Being part of the premium-SUV segment, there’s a lot to like about the appearance and design aesthetics of both the cars from Audi and Volvo.

The Volvo XC60 continues to follow the same design language as seen on the XC90, the S90 and the V90. The tall yet linear-balanced lines of the XC60 extend to the rear end, where the L-shaped tail lamps merge seamlessly with the overall design.

At the front, you get Volvo's signature Thor hammer headlamps, which are full-LED units and a 23 vertical bar front grille that gives the XC60 an imposing stature on the road. Nappa leather interiors, driftwood and aluminium finishing on the dashboard add extra gloss to the car.

Moving to the Audi Q5, it looks similar to the Audi Q7 in many ways. The line on the Q5 is now more angular, and the SUV has been engineered over Volkswagen’s MLB Evo platform. Audi also claims that the new Q5 is 90 kgs lighter than the previous generation.

Power

Both Volvo and Audi offer two-litre diesel variants for Rs 53.25 lakh and Rs 55.90 lakh, paired with eight-speed and seven-speed automatic transmission respectively.

But when it comes to raw power, Volvo’s XC60 clearly has the beating of the Audi Q5, as you can see above, the XC60 manages to throw more power and torque than the Q5, and while it would be hard to ascertain the claims before driving the Audi Q5 (we are yet to drive this one). But purely from numbers point of view, we’ve got to give Volvo the benefit of doubt for now.

This power and torque in tow means that the XC60 can race up to 230 Km/hr as its top speed, while the Q5 gets limited to 218 Km/hr with its basic variant (you can opt for higher-end model for higher power delivery).

You can fill up the Volvo XC60 with 71-litres of fuel, whereas Audi Q5 lets you go a notch higher, with its 75-litre tank.

Features Galore

If there’s anything you can count on these cars in this segment, it’s their bouquet of features, and its reliability while driving on challenging conditions of the Indian roads.

Volvo has gone with 19-inch alloy wheels for the XC60 and Audi has stuck to its principle of preferring the 18-inch alloys on the Q5.

From a technology standpoint, the car comes with a nine-inch touch screen infotainment system, 15-speaker set of Bowers & Wilkins speakers and digital instrument cluster that’s highly informative. And unlike its previous iteration, the 2018 version of XC60 does support Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Audi, on the other hand, gives out a 12.3-inch virtual cockpit instrument cluster on the Q5, multi-zone auto climate control, and Audi’s latest MMI infotainment system can be viewed on the 7-inch screen, that does support Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with wireless iPhone charging and fitted with 19 Bang & Olufsen speakers all over the SUV.

Cleary you can see both these SUVs are loaded with swanky features, but what about their safety quotient?

Safety Inside

We all know that Volvo makes one of the safest cars in the world, while Audi doesn’t leave its consumers haggling for more either.

The XC60 scored a near-perfect 98 percent in crash tests, the best among its segment, having a clear advantage in Safety Assist with a score of 95 percent as well. 

The XC60 is no slouch compared to its elder siblings, as you get automatic parking assist, lane assist, adaptive cruise control, eight airbags, automatic braking and pedestrian safety even. The Volvo-special heads-up display alerts you to speed limit and any upcoming signboards, giving you a big lift while driving around in the country.

When it comes to the Audi Q5, buyers get the promise of active lane assist, collision avoidance assist, eight airbags, and cruise control with speed limiter that works out to good effect.

Both cars can easily handle a bump or two, and you’d expect nothing less from cars that cost as much as these do.

Which One is it?

So, after going through everything that both Volvo XC60 and Audi Q5 has to offer, we’ve got to admit that the competition is closer than what we had imagined.

Take nothing away from the fact that most people would admit that between the two, Volvo has the upperhand with respect to safety, but it seems the XC60 has also got the better of the Q5 when it comes to raw power, especially for its price tag.

Yes, the XC60 will cost you a couple of lakhs more than the Q5 and it’s good to see that latest features like mobile connectivity via Android Auto or Apple CarPlay have made its way to this SUV.

While, the popular choice would be Audi (as it seems to be more visible on the roads), but just to tilt the scales here, we’d have to go with the Volvo XC60, for its overall performance, comfort and yes, safety.

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