2020 Audi Q7 vs 2021 Volvo XC40

The 2020 Audi Q7 offered multiple variations, including the 45 TFSI with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and the 55 TFSI with a mild-hybrid turbocharged 3.0-liter V6. A performance-tuned SQ7 with a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 was also available. The Q7 55 TFSI, starting at $60,800, was available in Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige trims. The test vehicle, a Prestige trim, featured Navarra Blue metallic paint, a Cold Weather Package, and a Towing Package, totaling $74,290. Design updates for 2020 included new front and rear styling, wheels, and lighting elements, enhancing the Q7’s appearance. Inside, the Q7 adopted the high-tech dashboard and instrumentation from the Q8, featuring three digital displays and Audi’s Virtual Cockpit panel. The cabin, decked out in Okapi Brown leather and Gray/Brown Fine Grain Ash natural wood inlays, exuded an upscale and high-tech vibe, with multi-color ambient lighting adding a soothing ambiance at night.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 featured traditional SUV styling with a tall, flat roof and upright rear hatch, fitting well with the rest of the Volvo lineup. The XC40 Recharge, distinguished by a blanked-off grille, subtle “Recharge” badging, and model-specific alloy wheels, also featured a gloss black roof and mirror caps, a different rear bumper, and a model-exclusive Sage Green Metallic color. The Recharge’s charging port was located where the fuel filler would normally be. Under the sheet metal, the XC40 used Volvo’s Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) platform, designed to accommodate both gasoline and electric powertrains. The interior was minimalist yet premium, with real metal trim on the dashboard and a combination of Nappa leather and Nubuck textile upholstery. The design was coherent, with elements like the portrait-oriented touchscreen and air vents melding together seamlessly, offering a high-quality feel uncommon in this segment.

The 2020 Audi Q7 55 TFSI debuted a new 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 engine, generating 335 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. It featured a 48-volt mild-hybrid electrical system to conserve fuel, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and Quattro all-wheel-drive. Audi Drive Select offered several driving modes, including Comfort, Auto, Dynamic, Individual, and Allroad. The Q7 55 TFSI could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds, with a maximum tow rating of 7,700 pounds. The EPA estimated 18 mpg combined, but during testing, it averaged 21 mpg on a road trip and 18.1 mpg locally. The Prestige trim included an adaptive air suspension, adjustable via Audi Drive Select. The Q7 performed well on both pavement and off-road trails, with agile handling and a quiet cabin, thanks to dual-pane acoustic side window glass.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 offered a three-tiered powertrain lineup, with the electric Recharge on top. The base FWD T4 had a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine with 187 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, while the AWD T5 had 248 hp and 258 lb-ft. The Recharge, sharing its powertrain with the Polestar 2, featured one electric motor per axle, providing AWD and a combined 402 hp and 486 lb-ft. The 78-kilowatt-hour battery pack offered 75 kWh of usable capacity. The Recharge could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds, while the T5 and T4 took 6.1 and 8.1 seconds, respectively. All versions were electronically limited to 112 mph. The Recharge emphasized quiet and comfort, with excellent ride quality even on rough roads. It also offered one-pedal driving and a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds.

The 2020 Audi Q7, with three rows of seats, was best used as a five-passenger vehicle. The third-row seat was suitable only for young children, and using it reduced cargo space to 14.2 cubic feet. Folding the third row expanded cargo capacity to 35.7 cubic feet, and folding both rows provided 69.6 cubic feet. The Q7’s cabin was comfortable for a family of four, with agreeable front seats and plenty of legroom and thigh support in the second row. The test vehicle’s four-zone climate control, heated rear cushions, and panoramic sunroof added to the comfort. However, interior storage was limited, with the center console offering minimal space due to the Audi Phone Box wireless charger. Second-row occupants had netted storage on the front seatbacks and door-panel bins, along with deployable cupholders from the center armrest.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge had no difference in passenger or cargo space compared to gasoline models. However, it had less legroom and headroom than competitors like the Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach-E, and a smaller cargo area. The Recharge’s frunk was also small, with much of the space occupied by powertrain hardware. The gasoline XC40 was more competitive on interior space compared to rivals like the Audi Q3 and BMW X1. Volvo compensated for the lack of space with clever storage solutions, including a removable trash bin in the center console, a bag hook in the glovebox door, and extra-large door bins due to the relocation of the Harman Kardon system's speakers to the dashboard. The storage cubby ahead of the shifter was well-shaped to hold a phone, with an optional wireless charging pad and a standard USB-C port. However, second-row occupants lacked phone-charging options.

The 2020 Audi Q7 introduced the new Multi-Media Interface (MMI) Touch Response technology, combining a 10.1-inch upper touchscreen with an 8.6-inch lower touchscreen. The system included natural voice recognition, handwriting recognition, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, navigation with Google Earth imagery, and Audi Connect subscription services with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. While the system was generally intuitive, dry fingertips sometimes made the virtual buttons unresponsive. The Prestige trim included a full-color head-up display, though it was invisible with polarized sunglasses. The test vehicle had a Bose premium sound system, which Audi replaced with a 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen system for 2021.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge featured the Android Automotive OS infotainment system, introduced on the Polestar 2. It used Google apps like Google Assistant and Google Maps, with Android phone users able to sync their personal Google accounts. The system included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity, with a 9-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The Recharge was the first XC40 variant to get OTA update capability, covering any vehicle function controlled by software. Recharge models lacked a start button, instead requiring the driver to shift out of park with the key fob on their person. The related Polestar 2 would soon get a Digital Key feature, but it was not confirmed for the XC40.

The 2020 Audi Q7 featured HD Matrix LED headlights, which performed well during night driving but were rated "poor" by the IIHS due to excessive glare. The Q7 included numerous advanced driving-assistance systems (ADAS), with upgrades available through the Executive Package or Prestige trim. Highlights included Emergency Assist, Turn Assist, and Adaptive Cruise Assist with adaptive cruise control, traffic-jam assistance, and lane-centering assistance. However, the traffic-sign-recognition technology and Active Lane Assist proved problematic during testing. The IIHS gave the Q7 the highest ratings, with only the "poor" headlight assessment preventing a "Top Safety Pick+" nod.

The gasoline 2021 Volvo XC40 received the highest “Top Safety Pick+” rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA. These ratings did not apply to the electric XC40 Recharge, but Volvo expected it to perform well in crash tests due to a safety cage around the battery and a redesigned front crash structure. The XC40 came with a long list of standard safety features, including lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, and more. Optional features included traffic-sign recognition, reverse automatic emergency braking, and Volvo’s Pilot Assist driver-assistance system. The Recharge model also featured Volvo’s latest sensor suite, scalable for future advanced driver aids.