Compared: 2023 Audi Q7 vs. 2023 Volvo XC90
You'll get big style, big cargo, and big power from these Euro luxury SUVs.
Audi | Volvo
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The 2023 Audi Q7 and the 2023 Volvo XC90 are two different takes on the European luxury SUV concept. These people-movers present themselves on the larger end of the midsize spectrum, with the Volvo benefitting from its sharp exterior design and electrification to set it apart from the pack. The Audi leans on its reputation for all-wheel-drive excellence and strong cabin ergonomics.
Though there is a high-performance version of the Audi called the SQ7, its price (north of $90,000) and 500-hp V8 put it into a different category altogether, so we’ve left it out of this comparison.
Here's how these two sport-utility stalwarts compare when it comes to price, features, and fuel economy.
Audi
2023 Audi Q7 vs. 2023 Volvo XC90: Price
The 2023 Audi Q7 starts at about $60,000, including destination charge, for the entry-level Premium trim, and stretches all the way up to just over $75,000 for the Prestige trim, with the Premium Plus edition straddling the middle. The Premium and Premium Plus versions of the Audi Q7 can be had with the choice of either a 261-horsepower, turbocharged, four-cylinder engine, or a 335-horsepower, turbocharged V6, each of which comes paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. The Prestige comes exclusively with the turbo V6.
Volvo
The 2023 Volvo XC90 is also split across three trim levels: Core, Plus, and Ultimate. The XC90 Core starts around $57,000, including destination charge, while the Ultimate requires an outlay of around $70,000, making the XC90 range less expensive than the Q7. The Core model offers the choice between a pair of turbocharged, mild-hybrid, four-cylinder engines, one rated at 247 horsepower (the B5) and the other at 295 horsepower (B6). The Plus and Ultimate are B6-only. Like the Audi Q7, all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission are standard.
Audi
2023 Audi Q7 vs. 2023 Volvo XC90: Features
Although both the Audi and the Volvo feature seven-occupant seating across 3 rows, it's possible to opt for a six-seat setup in the XC90 Plus and Ultimate that swaps in a set of captain's chairs in the middle row.
A more significant difference is in the cargo capacity of each model. The larger Volvo XC90 can lug around nearly 86 cubic feet of equipment, which is a noticeable improvement over the Q7's 70 cubic feet.
Volvo
Volvo also pulls ahead when it comes to advanced driver's aides, as its Pilot Assist feature (which offers steering assistance and adaptive cruise control) is standard with every trim level. The Audi requires a step up to the Premium Plus trim to access that kind of equipment.
Audi
2023 Audi Q7 vs. 2023 Volvo XC90: Fuel Economy
Both versions of the Audi Q7 get remarkably similar fuel economy, regardless of which engine is under the hood. The turbo four features an EPA estimate of 21 mpg in combined driving, while the turbo V6 returns 20 mpg.
Volvo
The Volvo's mild-hybrid setup is considerably more fuel-frugal at the more modest B5 power rating, showing 25 mpg combined. The B6 drops to 22 mpg, which is still better than either Audi engine.
