Price
Winner: 2018 Audi Q7
A cursory look at pricing suggests the Volvo is the less costly of the two. However, the base Volvo XC90, which starts at $46,900, comes with front-wheel drive and seating for five passengers in two rows. The base Audi Q7 lists for $49,900, seats seven passengers in three rows, and features all-wheel drive as standard equipment.
Adding all-wheel drive to the Volvo raises the manufacturer suggested retail price to $49,100, but this model is still missing third-row seats. These come only in the more costly XC90 T6, which starts at $54,050. And, if price is no object, the top Volvo XC90 T8 Excellence, a plug-in hybrid, carries a starting price of $104,900, a level that no Audi Q7 reaches. Since most luxury SUV buyers want four-wheel or all-wheel drive and seating for seven is also popular, the Audi wins this category.
Seat Comfort
Winner: 2018 Volvo XC90
This competition was close, but the fact that the seven-passenger XC90 offers a bit more third-row space than the Audi Q7 seals the win for Volvo. Seven-passenger Volvo XC90s feature second-row seats that welcome adults with ample space, comfortable padding, and the ability to slide and recline.
Cargo Space
Winner: 2018 Volvo XC90
Fold the second- and third-row seats in both vehicles and the Volvo delivers more cargo space: 85.7 cubic feet vs. 71.6 cubic feet in the Audi Q7. Since bigger is better in this category, the Volvo XC90 wins here.
Interior Quality
Winner: Tie
The Volvo XC90 features a gorgeous Swedish-modern interior that is meticulously crafted using quality materials. Meanwhile, the Audi’s interior is described by U.S. News as “spectacularly refined, with high-quality materials covering every surface …” In U.S. News rankings of these vehicles, both interiors earned an impressive score of 8.8 out of 10.
Interior Features
Winner: 2018 Audi Q7
Both cars earn high scores for their interior features and technology, but Audi’s latest MMI infotainment system is one of the best offered. It is straightforward and easy to use once learned. Redundant buttons for some functions also ease the load on the driver.
The Volvo XC90 is also impressive, and it includes Apple CarPlay as standard equipment in all models. However, operating some infotainment functions in the Volvo can cause driver distraction. This category is a close call, but the win goes to the Audi Q7.
Acceleration
Winner: 2018 Audi Q7
Audi claims the four-cylinder Q7 will reach 60 miles per hour in 7.1 seconds. Step up to the V6 and this time drops to 5.7 seconds.
The XC90 is not quite as quick, reaching 60 mph in 7.5 seconds when equipped with the 250-horsepower engine used in the T5 model, according to Volvo. Upgrade to the T6, with 316 horsepower on tap, and this zero-to-60 time drops to 6.1 seconds, which is still not up to the pace of the Audi with its optional V6 engine. The far more costly plug-in hybrid Volvo T8 is the quickest of the group, with a sprint to 60 miles per hour requiring 5.3 seconds.
Based on the models that most people are likely to buy, the win in this category goes to the Audi Q7. In addition, the Volvo’s four-cylinder engine can turn a bit coarse when pressed for maximum performance.
Fuel Economy
Winner: 2018 Volvo XC90
The Audi Q7 comes with either a 2.0-liter turbocharged 252-horsepower engine or a supercharged 333-horsepower 3.0-liter V6. Both drivetrains are rated by the EPA at 19 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway.
Every version of the Volvo XC90 beats these numbers. The most economical, and most costly, version is the 400-horsepower plug-in hybrid T8 that delivers an EPA rating of 62 mpg-e and a combined city/highway rating while running on gasoline of 27 mpg. Its electric-only range is 19 miles.
Less-costly versions of the Volvo XC90 also deliver superior fuel economy in this comparison. The front-wheel-drive T5 is rated at 22 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. Upgrading to all-wheel drive leaves the city rating unchanged but drops the highway rating to 28 mpg. The more powerful T6 version is rated at 20/27 mpg city/highway.
Each of these models from Audi and Volvo call for premium gasoline.
Ride Quality
Winner: 2018 Audi Q7
Where the Volvo XC90 is singled out for having a stiff ride over some broken surfaces, no such complaint is lodged against the Audi, which is also praised for the quietness of its cabin in the U.S. News rankings.
Both vehicles offer an optional air suspension system. In the opinion of some test drivers, this upgrade in the Volvo improves the ride. Despite this, Audi’s Q7 wins this category.
Handling
Winner: 2018 Audi Q7
The Audi Q7 is praised for its handling in U.S. News rankings. Credit is given to the Drive Select system, which offers four modes of operation (comfort, dynamic, auto, and off road) with meaningful differences that a driver can exploit.
In comparison, the Volvo XC90 is considered a “mixed bag” for its handling, though testers did conclude that this crossover SUV feels stable and composed. This difference in handling, and the advantage in acceleration that the Audi enjoys, contributed to a significant gap in the performance scores of the two vehicles in U.S. News rankings. Here the Audi Q7 eclipsed the Volvo XC90 by a score of 9.1 out of 10 to 8.2 out of 10.
Safety
Winner: 2018 Volvo XC90
Neither 2018 model has a full set of crash test data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). However, the 2017 versions of each vehicle are similar to the 2018s, so we can get an idea of what to expect when the 2018s are crash tested.
The 2017 Q7 and 2017 XC90 received top crash test scores across the board from the IIHS, earning the Top Safety Pick award. The XC90 also received a five-star overall score from the NHTSA, while the Q7 has not been evaluated by the NHTSA.
A longer list of standard high-tech safety features puts the Volvo XC90 over the top. Standard features in the XC90 include lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and City Safety, which combines low-speed automatic emergency braking and forward collision warning.
Towing
Winner: 2018 Audi Q7
Audi Q7 with the 2.0-liter engine is rated to tow a trailer weighing up to 4,400 pounds. Upgrade to the V6 engine and this rating rises to 7,700 pounds. In contrast, each Volvo XC90, regardless of the drivetrain, is rated to tow 5,200 pounds.
The Q7’s 4,400-pound rating should meet the needs of most people who tow a small boat or trailer. For buyers with heavier trailers to tow, the V6-powered Audi Q7 is the clear winner.
Reliability
Winner: Tie
Neither 2018 vehicle has been rated by J.D. Power and Associates for reliability. However, because neither SUV has been completely redesigned for 2018, we can base this winner on the 2017 ratings.
Both the 2017 XC90 and 2017 Q7 earned a 2.5 out of five for predicted reliability. That rating places them slightly below average for the class.
The 2018 XC90 and 2018 Q7 come with a four-year/50,000-mile warranty.
The Winner Is ...
2018 Audi Q7
Both the Audi Q7 and Volvo XC90 are appealing luxury midsize SUVs. However, the Audi’s better ride and handling, faster acceleration, superior towing capabilities (with the optional V6), and more appealing interior features, give it the overall win. Comparably equipped, the Audi also costs less.
However, the front-wheel-drive, five-passenger XC90’s lower price, higher fuel economy, more comfortable seating, and longer list of standard safety features could easily sway buyers to the Volvo.
More Shopping Tools From U.S. News & World Report
To learn more about the Audi Q7 and Volvo XC90, check out their reviews. Then, see how they stack up to the competition by exploring our midsize car rankings. And, when it comes time to buy, use our Best Price Program to get the best deal on your new car purchase.
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Q7 vs. XC90: Which Midsize Luxury SUV Is Best for You?
Buyers in the market for a luxury midsize SUV have many choices. U.S. News counts no fewer than 22 models vying for their attention – and dollars. Contenders come from Asia, Europe, and North America.
In this comparison, we look at two recently redesigned European entrants: the Audi Q7 and the Volvo XC90. Both feature beautiful interiors that seat up to seven passengers in three rows, and both bristle with the latest high-tech features and safety systems. Still, there are significant differences between these two vehicles. The following slides outline some of the areas in which one model proves to be superior to the other, based on U.S. News scoring.
Keep in mind that the scores on our site are updated constantly as new expert reviews and data become available. Therefore, the scores mentioned in this slideshow may not match the scores in our reviews.