2022 Volvo XC90 vs 2023 Audi Q5

Volvo had come a long way from its box-shaped cars and wagons of the 1970s, '80s, and '90s. Thankfully, Volvo had never distanced itself from its family-friendly, safety-oriented image. The brand, and its products, had moved upscale, though, now teetering on the brink of the luxury class. Volvo underwent a hard reboot after Ford sold it to China's Zhejiang Geely Holding in 2010, developing new vehicle platforms from scratch to underpin today's lineup of sedans and crossover SUVs.

The original XC90 was a 2003 model produced with incremental updates through the 2015 model year. Launched as a 2016 model, the current XC90 was the company's flagship SUV and rode on the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform.

The 2023 Audi Q5's exterior styling combined subtle curves with angular accents for an overall appearance that was both classy and sporty. It was offered in two body styles: the regular Q5 SUV and the Q5 Sportback, which featured a sloping rear roofline for a sleeker silhouette. The Q5 Sportback featured a spoiler-like element that protruded just above the taillights, giving it a more definite transition from hatch to the more upright tail section.

On the inside, the Q5 was refined with a fairly simple layout, though its age was beginning to show since its last redesign was five years ago. Leather seating and heated front seats were standard, while a heated steering wheel and heated rear seats were available. The Q5 continued with a 10-inch touchscreen atop the dash, and materials quality was good for the class. Rear-seat passengers were surrounded by harder and more durable plastic elements, which should stand up to children and pets over time.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 came with a choice of three powertrains. T5 models used a turbocharged 2.0-liter gasoline four-cylinder, producing 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. T6 models got a supercharged and turbocharged version of that engine, delivering 316 hp and 295 lb-ft. The T8 had a plug-in hybrid powertrain with the supercharged/turbocharged gasoline four-cylinder engine and an electric motor, or a turbo gas engine and an electric motor in the extended-range model, mustering a combined 455 hp and 523 lb-ft of torque. T5 models were front-wheel drive (FWD) with available all-wheel drive (AWD), while T6 and T8 models were AWD only. All XC90 models used a conventional eight-speed automatic transmission.

The XC90 engines used Premium (91-octane) gasoline. The EPA estimated T5 FWD models to achieve 21 mpg city/30 mpg highway/25 mpg combined, and T5 AWD models came in at 20 mpg city/28 mpg highway/23 mpg combined. T6 AWD models were rated at 19 mpg city/27 mpg highway/22 mpg combined. The T8 got a 27 mpg combined rating on gas and 55 MPGe with an 18-mile EV range. The extended range variant got a 26 mpg combined gasoline rating, a 66 MPGe rating, and an EV range of up to 36 miles. Charging the battery from "empty" to fully charged took about five hours at 240 volts (Level 2).

The 2023 Audi Q5 was available with the choice of three engines. The base 40 TFSI was a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that produced 201 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. The midrange 45 TFSI increased output to 261 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque and was the only engine offered with the Q5 Sportback. The 55 TFSI was a plug-in hybrid powertrain (PHEV) that made 362 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque with its added electric motor and was estimated to return 23 miles of electric-only range. A full charge required 2.5 hours on a 7.4 kW home charger. All Q5s came with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and Quattro all-wheel drive (AWD) was standard.

The Q5 Sportback with the 45 TFSI engine was hampered by a noticeable delay in power delivery, likely attributable to the slow-to-react transmission. It made initial acceleration feel sluggish, though power was more than adequate once underway. Handling was suitably sporty for an Audi, with precise steering and confidence on curvy roads. The Q5 struck a good balance between compliance and cornering, with well-managed bumps and minimal road and wind noise for a calm cabin.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 came in six-passenger and seven-passenger configurations, depending on whether you selected captain's chairs with a center console or three-across seating in the second row. Volvo made it simple to get into the third row with a one-handed slide and fold of the second row. The third row was fine for kids, but adults would not be pleased with the lack of legroom and thigh support.

The XC90 could carry up to 15.9 cubic feet of luggage behind its third row. Folding that row flat opened 41.8 cubic feet of space. With the second and third rows folded, the XC90 could swallow up to 85.7 cubic feet of cargo. Alternatively, the XC90 could tow between 4,000 pounds and 5,000 pounds, depending on configuration and powertrain. Volvo made the most of the XC90's interior space, with ample door pockets, seat back pockets, console storage space, a big glove compartment, and more. The XC90 was a sanctuary from the weather, cooling rapidly on demand and never complaining about the heat.

The basic interior design of the 2023 Audi Q5 hadn't changed much since the most recent redesign in 2018, but it had stood the test of time well. The infotainment touchscreen was placed atop the dash in the driver's sightline to reduce distraction, and traditional dials and buttons were provided for the climate controls. Outward visibility was good for the class, helped by a narrowly profiled front roof pillar. The view out the rear was also better than average.

Up front, there was plenty of space for taller passengers, and the rear seats should accommodate six-footers without bumping into the headliner. This was also the case with the Sportback model, as headroom was only reduced by a quarter of an inch compared to the standard Q5. Front passengers had several storage places for their personal items, though some were oddly sized and shaped. Behind the rear seats, the Q5 offered as much as 25.8 cubic feet of cargo space, with the Sportback dropping only slightly to 24.7 cubic feet.

Volvo's Sensus infotainment system was among the first, after Tesla, to bring tablet-like functionality to the touchscreen interface. Familiar smartphone or tablet gestures, like pinch, pull, and swipe, made the system intuitive to tech-savvy users. Unfortunately, the system in our test car was a bit glitchy and slow to respond. The system worked better when we connected an iPhone 11 Pro and used the Apple CarPlay functionality. The touchscreen interface was a nine-inch diagonal, portrait-oriented unit mounted in the top portion of the center stack. A 12.3-inch digital instrument panel offered easy configuration, customization, and crisp graphics. The $1,650 Advanced package included a head-up display, a 360-degree surround view camera system, and an advanced air cleaner.

The XC90 came with standard Harman Kardon Premium Sound, but the $3,200 Bowers & Wilkins upgrade was the audiophile's delight. Volvo included two front USB-A ports and two rear USB-C ports for convenience and device charging. The XC90 came with a WiFi hotspot with a complimentary trial subscription. The Volvo Care smartphone app was free for four years, providing remote lock/unlock function and other vehicle controls.

All Q5s came standard with a 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen that benefited from sharp graphics and relatively quick responses. Both CarPlay and Android Auto could be used wirelessly in all Q5 trims. A Bang & Olufsen audio system was standard on higher trims. The on-screen buttons in Audi's native infotainment system were large and easy to read, but the app buttons in Apple CarPlay were much smaller and closer together.

The Q5 could be monitored remotely via a smartphone app, allowing feature control such as unlocking and temperature pre-conditioning. This Audi Connect Care service was included for a limited-time subscription, after which you'd have to pay for access. Mid-range trims benefited from a customizable digital instrument panel that delivered a lot of information when needed.

Volvo's well-earned reputation for safety was one reason so many of those old Volvo wagons prowled the suburbs. The 2022 XC90 came with a long list of safety features, including blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, parking assist front and rear, rain-sensing wipers, slippery road alert, lane-keeping aid, adaptive cruise control, oncoming lane mitigation, and road-sign recognition. Volvo's Pilot Assist system combined several of these safety features to keep the car in its lane, at a set speed and/or following distance, with minimal driver intervention on highways. The 2022 XC90 received the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Pick+ designation and a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

In crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the 2023 Audi Q5 was awarded five out of five stars for overall, frontal, and side protection. It scored four stars in rollover tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) also named the Q5 a Top Safety Pick+. All Q5 models came with advanced safety features, including forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, a blind-spot monitor, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and front and rear parking sensors. The Q5 Premium Plus trim added lane-keep assist, a surround-view camera system, and traffic jam assist. The top Prestige trim added matrix-design LED headlights, a head-up display, a semi-automated parking system, and a traffic sign reader. Rear-seat side impact airbags were offered as an option on all trims.