Compare the2027 Volvo EX60VS 2026 Audi Q4 e-tron

The Volvo EX60’s standard multi-adaptive safety belts scans passenger size, crash angle, speed, and severity and adjusts load-limiters to 11 different settings to prevent head injuries in larger adults, and rib injuries in smaller passengers and less severe crashes. The system even performs over-the-air updates to improve its performance over time. The Q4 e-tron doesn’t offer multi-adaptive safety belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the EX60 are reminded to check the back seat when a sensor determines the back seat is occupied. The Q4 e-tron doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Volvo EX60 offers optional built in child booster seats. They’re more crash worthy than an added child seat because of their direct attachment to the seat. Audi doesn’t offer the convenience and security of a built-in child booster seat in the Q4 e-tron. Their owners must carry a heavy booster seat in and out of the vehicle; EX60 owners can just fold their built-in child seat up or down.

The Volvo EX60 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Q4 e-tron doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The EX60 has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Q4 e-tron doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

The EX60 has a standard Whiplash Protection System, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash Protection System allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Q4 e-tron doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the EX60’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Q4 e-tron doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The EX60’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Q4 e-tron doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the EX60 and the Q4 e-tron have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and rear cross-path warning.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Volvo vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 11 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Volvo higher than Audi.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Volvo vehicles are more reliable than Audi With 31 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Volvo higher than Audi.

The EX60 has more powerful engines than the Q4 e-tron:

The EX60 can travel longer on a full charge than the Q4 e-tron on a full charge:

The Volvo EX60 has standard four-wheel disc brakes for better stopping power and improved directional control in poor weather. Only rear drums come on the Q4 e-tron. Drums can heat up and make stops longer, especially with antilock brakes that work much harder than conventional brakes.

For better traction, the EX60’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Q4 e-tron (255/45R21 vs. 235/55R19).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the EX60 has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the Q4 e-tron.

The EX60 offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Q4 e-tron’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the EX60’s wheelbase is 8.2 inches longer than on the Q4 e-tron (116.9 inches vs. 108.7 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the EX60 is 2.9 inches wider in the front and 3.1 inches wider in the rear than on the Q4 e-tron.

For greater off-road capability the EX60 has a 1.2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Q4 e-tron (7 vs. 5.8 inches), allowing the EX60 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The design of the Volvo EX60 amounts to more than styling. The EX60 has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .26 Cd. That is significantly lower than the Q4 e-tron (.3 to .31) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the EX60 get better fuel mileage.

The front grille of the EX60 uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Q4 e-tron doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The EX60 has 2.5 inches more front headroom, .5 inches more front legroom, 2.3 inches more rear headroom and .2 inches more rear legroom than the Q4 e-tron.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the EX60’s rear seats recline. The Q4 e-tron’s rear seats don’t recline.

The EX60 has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Q4 e-tron with its rear seat folded (64.3 vs. 53.1 cubic feet).

Pressing a button automatically lowers the EX60’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Q4 e-tron doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The EX60’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the Q4 e-tron’s (3600 vs. 2200 pounds).

Standard Trailer Stability Assist on the EX60 uses the Dynamic Stability and Traction Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Q4 e-tron doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The EX60 uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Q4 e-tron uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The EX60’s standard Keyless Entry & Drive allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the vehicle, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Keyless Start standard on the Q4 e-tron only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the vehicle.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the EX60 has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Q4 e-tron only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the EX60 has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Q4 e-tron doesn’t offer cornering lights. The EX60 also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The Volvo EX60 has power folding mirrors that offer unparalleled convenience while maneuvering in tight places or parked. With the mirrors folded it’s easier to walk past and help prevent parking damage. The mirrors can be quickly unfolded when the driver is ready to leave. Power folding mirrors costs extra on the Q4 e-tron.

Both the EX60 and the Q4 e-tron have standard heated front seats. The EX60 also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Q4 e-tron.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the EX60 keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Q4 e-tron doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

Compared to traditional radio, the Volvo EX60’s standard SiriusXM satellite radio provides an unmatched listening experience. Its extensive coverage guarantees consistent, crystal-clear reception across the continental U.S., and access to over 100 channels dedicated to a multitude of genres, including music, news, sports, talk shows, and comedy, many with only limited commercial breaks. Satellite radio costs extra on the Q4 e-tron.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Volvo EX60 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Q4 e-tron.

The Volvo EX60/XC60 outsold the Audi Q4 by over six to one during 2025.