2021 Volvo XC40 vs 2021 Audi Q5

The 2021 Volvo XC40 had a traditional SUV styling with a tall, flat roof and upright rear hatch, fitting nicely with the rest of the Volvo lineup. It featured “Thor’s Hammer” LED headlights and a simple oval grille, with gasoline models offering a white contrasting roof for a retro look. The XC40 Recharge was distinguished by a blanked-off grille, subtle “Recharge” badging, and model-specific alloy wheels. It also had a gloss black roof and mirror caps, a slightly different rear bumper, and a model-exclusive color—Sage Green Metallic. The interior was minimalist yet premium, with high-quality materials like real metal trim 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.

The 2021 Audi Q5 was a sharp-looking crossover SUV that carried the Audi design language well while maintaining its individual character. It had an expressive face with LED headlights and a big Audi Singleframe grille, emphasizing width. The body featured crisp character lines, and the rear had bold, large taillights. The plug-in Q5 had S-Line trim pieces and enhancements, including standard 19-inch wheels or optional 20-inch wheels. Inside, the Q5 was classy and modern, packed with technology but maintaining an uncluttered appearance. Buttons, switches, and knobs were smartly grouped, and the material selection was high-quality, with real wood, metal, and honed surfaces. The 10.1-inch touchscreen floated at the top of the center stack, and the second row was nicely appointed with standard leather seating surfaces.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 offered a three-tiered powertrain lineup, with the electric Recharge on top. The two gasoline options included a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base FWD T4 had 187 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, while the AWD T5 had 248 hp and 258 lb-ft. The Recharge shared its powertrain with the Polestar 2, featuring one electric motor for each axle, enabling AWD and a combined 402 hp and 486 lb-ft. The 78-kilowatt-hour battery pack provided electricity, with 75 kWh of usable capacity. Volvo quoted zero to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds for the Recharge, 6.1 seconds for the T5, and 8.1 seconds for the T4. All versions were electronically limited to 112 mph. The Recharge emphasized quiet and comfort, with excellent ride quality even on winter-ravaged roads. It was capable of one-pedal driving and had a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds when properly equipped.

The 2021 Audi Q5 PHEV took the standard gasoline-only Q5 and added an additional 114 horsepower and 96 pound-feet of torque with a 14.1-kWh battery, resulting in a total combined output of 362 hp and 373 lb-ft of torque. The Q5 PHEV used a seven-speed S Tronic automatic transmission with full-time Quattro all-wheel drive. It could switch into modes to drive on battery power only, reserve battery power for later, or automatically drive in hybrid mode. Audi quoted zero to 60 mph in 5.0 seconds for the PHEV, with impressive fuel-economy figures of 65 MPGe combined and 27 mpg in gasoline-only mode. The battery pack could be recharged overnight with household current or in 2.4 hours with Level 2 service. The Q5 had speed-sensitive electromechanical power steering and a four-wheel independent suspension, providing good handling with a slightly stiff, sporty setting.

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 frunk was also very small. The gasoline XC40 was more competitive on interior space compared to rivals like the Audi Q3 and BMW X1. Volvo included clever storage solutions, such as a removable trash bin in the center console, a bag hook in the glovebox door, and extra-large door bins. The storage cubby ahead of the shifter was well-shaped to hold a phone, with a wireless charging pad optional and a single USB-C port standard. However, second-row occupants didn’t get any phone-charging options.

The 2021 Audi Q5 PHEV managed to carry its battery pack under the luggage compartment floor, preserving cargo space. It offered 25.1 cubic feet of space behind the second row and 53.1 cubic feet with the second row folded down. The second row had 37.8 inches of legroom, 37.7 inches of headroom, and 56.5 inches of shoulder room. Two adults could sit comfortably in the second row, with a third adult fitting for shorter rides. The front row featured Audi’s comfortable and supportive seats with a wide range of adjustments, heating, and ventilation on the Prestige trim. The front row also had cupholders, cubbies, and a small storage bin in the center-console armrest. The interior was uncluttered, with everything functioning well and laid out smartly.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge featured the Android Automotive OS infotainment system, with Google apps like Google Assistant and Google Maps. It included conventional Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity. The standard hardware setup included a 9-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The Recharge also had OTA update capability for any vehicle function controlled by software. It lacked a start button, instead allowing the driver to shift out of park with the key fob on their person.

The 2021 Audi Q5 PHEV featured Audi’s latest MMI 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system, with a new center-console touchpad. The Audi Virtual Cockpit Plus 12.3-inch HD instrument cluster offered three views: classic, sport, and dynamic. The Prestige Package included the Navigation Package, which optimized fuel consumption and battery usage in hybrid mode. The Integrated Toll Module was standard on all Q5 models. A Bang & Olufsen 3D audio system with 19 speakers was available on Premium Plus models and standard on the Prestige trim. Wireless Apple CarPlay was included and worked seamlessly.

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. The Recharge model had a safety cage around the battery and a redesigned front crash structure. Standard safety features included 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 had Volvo’s latest sensor suite, scalable for future advanced driver aids.

The 2021 Audi Q5 PHEV hadn’t been rated by the IIHS yet, but the 2020 Q5 received top “good” ratings in every category except headlights. The NHTSA awarded the 2021 Audi Q5 gasoline model five stars. Safety features included six airbags, an anti-lock braking system, Audi Pre Sense basic, and more. Available driver-assistance features included Audi Advanced Key, Audi Pre Sense rear, Audi Side Assist, adaptive cruise control, and a top-view camera system.