2021 Audi Q3 vs 2021 Volvo XC90

The 2021 Audi Q3 is a subcompact luxury SUV. Small crossovers and SUVs are seemingly taking over the automotive world, and even among this extremely crowded field, the Q3 is a standout. Despite having “SUV” in the name, the expectation with these vehicles is that they drive as comfortably and are as efficiently as a sedan. The Q3 delivers on this with a refined ride and standard driver assistance features, as well as helpful-in car tech.

The Q3 first entered the North American market for the 2013 model year. The redesigned second-generation model arrived for 2019 and is still on sale today. For the 2021 model year, the Q3 gains additional high tech safety features and loses its top-tier Prestige trim. You can now get the features from this trim as options packages.

Volvo may be known for sensible station wagons, but the XC90 SUV is the Swedish automaker’s de facto flagship. The current generation debuted design features, technology, and powertrains that have since found their way into most other Volvo models. Several years into the current-generation model’s lifecycle, the XC90 is no longer a trendsetter, but remains Volvo’s contender in the competitive midsize luxury SUV segment, with the automaker’s typical emphasis on safety features.

The current-generation XC90 launched for the 2016 model year, so most competitors—including the Audi Q7, Acura MDX, BMW X5, and Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class—have been updated or redesigned since then. The Cadillac XT6 and Lincoln Aviator didn’t even exist when this generation of XC90 launched.

A redesigned version is expected to arrive soon, so changes to the 2021 XC90 are minimal. All 2021 Volvo models are now limited to 112 mph for safety reasons and get Care Key, which lets owners limit the top speed before loaning the car out to a friend or family member. The XC90 also gets a handful of newly standard tech features, and some small cosmetic changes.

Volvo offers the XC90 in three trim levels—Momentum, R-Design, and Inscription—with three powertrain options: T5 and T6 gasoline engines, and the T8 plug-in hybrid. Our test car was a range-topping T8 Recharge Inscription, combining the top Inscription trim level with the plug-in hybrid powertrain, which has the highest output of the three.