2021 Audi Q3 vs 2021 Volvo XC60

The 2021 Audi Q3 featured a massive corporate grille that paired well with its stout, chunky styling, presenting an idea of utility and dynamic handling. The cabin echoed a mechanical, modern aesthetic with a dash design that framed the center touchscreen, making it a standout feature. However, the Q3's interior, while still modern and refined, felt less special as Volkswagen's designs caught up.

The 2021 Volvo XC60, positioned between the XC40 and XC90, was built on Volvo’s SPA platform. It showcased an elegant, tailored crossover design with short overhangs and crisp details. The upright grille with Volvo’s iron mark logo and Thor’s hammer-shaped LED daytime running lights added a distinct Swedish touch. Inside, the XC60's cabin was defined by clean lines, authentic materials, and a serene aura, with a 9-inch portrait-oriented infotainment touchscreen that had become easier to accept since its debut.

The 2021 Audi Q3 came with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and Quattro all-wheel drive. The S-Line trim offered a more potent version of the same engine, delivering 228 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The Q3's handling was nimble, and it provided a comfortable ride, with various drive modes including Auto, Comfort, Dynamic, and Off-Road.

The 2021 Volvo XC60 offered a range of powertrains. The T5 models had a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine producing 250 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, available in FWD or AWD. The T6 models added a supercharger, boosting output to 316 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The T8 models, plug-in hybrids, combined a gasoline engine with an electric motor for a total of 400 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque, with the T8 Polestar Engineered variant pushing it to 415 hp. The XC60's AWD system and torque vectoring provided solid, secure handling, making it a great road-trip car.

The 2021 Audi Q3 offered 48 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 23.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats. While the space behind the seats was decent for a subcompact luxury SUV, the overall cargo space was subpar. However, the Q3 made up for it with comfortable front seats and impressive rear seat headroom and legroom, making it suitable for four passengers on a road trip.

The 2021 Volvo XC60 excelled in interior design and functionality. It provided 21.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and up to 63.6 cubic feet with the seats folded. The XC60's seats were highly adjustable and comfortable, with excellent heating systems for winter conditions. The cabin featured smart storage solutions and intuitive controls, making it a practical and comfortable vehicle for passengers.

The 2021 Audi Q3 came standard with an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system running Audi’s MMI system, featuring Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay. The upgraded system included a 10.1-inch touchscreen with navigation. Other available features were wireless device charging, satellite radio, and a Bang & Olufsen 15-speaker premium audio system. The Audi Virtual Cockpit offered a customizable digital display for the instrument cluster.

The 2021 Volvo XC60's infotainment system, Sensus, used a tablet-style touchpad interface with a portrait orientation. It featured Bluetooth hands-free and streaming audio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a WiFi hotspot. The Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system provided exceptional sound quality. The Sensus system had a learning curve but was intuitive for frequent iPad users.

The 2021 Audi Q3 included standard safety features like Audi Pre Sense and Pre Sense Front, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, and lane-departure warning. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, a 360-degree camera system, front-and-rear parking sensors, and self-parking assist.

The 2021 Volvo XC60 was awarded a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and five-star ratings from the NHTSA for certain models. It came with a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including LED headlights, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, collision avoidance, and more. Volvo’s semi-autonomous driving system, Pilot Assist, was available, integrating adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assist. The XC60 also had a top speed restriction of 112 mph for safety.