The larger, more potent engine in the Q7 gives it the advantage over the XC90. It accelerates more quickly and gains speed more quickly, allowing it to easily pass slower traffic. Nevertheless, the XC90 never feels underpowered and enjoys cruising at highway speeds, unconcerned by inclination or passing other cars.
The smoother and quieter engine of the Audi goes along with its increased speed. The Volvo’s diesel, in contrast, has a tiny bit more background rumble, which is most noticeable in populated areas or while accelerating quickly.
Both vehicles have eight-speed automatic transmissions with manual overrides that shift smoothly, but only the Q7 has paddle shifters located on the steering wheel.
The adaptive air suspension systems in our two test vehicles were optional, and there is a noticeable variation in how each is set up. Because the Volvo is stiffer and more securely fastened, its body leans less in turns than the Audi’s. It feels lighter and more agile than the other because of its sharper steering.
The Audi, in comparison, seems heavier, even when the suspension is set to the firmest Dynamic level. Its body sags a bit more than the Volvo’s does, and the steering is less responsive.
As a result, driving the Audi quickly is less fun, but it makes up for this by being the superior cruiser. Its suspension is able to smooth out the XC90’s jittery ride even on the optional 21-inch wheels, and it is the less likely of the two to thump over major potholes. There’s less suspension noise, as well.
The Q7 maintains the trend of cabin refinement by making less noise from the wind and the road. But don’t think the Volvo is a noisy, uncomfortable vehicle. Although it is far from it, the Audi has a higher level of refinement.
In This Article...
Volvo vs. Audi: Which is safer?
Unique safety features can only be offered by one high-end brand. Volvo outperforms Audi in terms of safety, from the 360-degree surround view camera to the partially autonomous drive technology Pilot Assist.
Volvo or Audi: whose maintenance costs are less?
Despite being more expensive than other premium models according to a list made by Your Mechanic Inc., Volvos are less expensive to maintain. Volvo cars typically cost $100 more to maintain over a ten-year ownership period than Audi models.
Is a Volvo the most dependable vehicle?
Volvo is a forward-thinking, safety-conscious automaker with a long history of producing dependable vehicles.
The company created its first model in 1927 after realizing the demand for a vehicle that could survive the harsh conditions of Swedish roads and weather. They have now introduced a variety of automobiles to foreign markets.
There is a wide variety of Volvos to fit all lifestyles and driving requirements, from sleek sedans like the S60 to contemporary family cars like the V60.
It’s never simple to choose what make and model of used car to buy. Every brand has distinctive attributes and features, some of which are more dependable than others.
Here are Volvo’s ratings for long-term dependability:
Reliability Ratings
The annual Consumer Reports Auto Reliability study, which compiles information from the experiences of thousands of owners of automobiles that are roughly three years old, can be used to assess the dependability of popular car models.
Each car model is assigned a score, and the lower the number of issues recorded in the previous 12 months, the higher the score.
The Volvo brand received a high score of 93.8 percent in 2020, placing it at number 16 in the rankings.
When compared:
- Ford was ranked 18th with a score of 93.7 percent.
- Volkswagen came in 20th place with a slightly lower score of 93.2 percent.
- Lexus, Mitsubishi, and Toyota were determined to be the most dependable automakers, with a reliability rating of 98.7%, 97.9%, and 97.7%, respectively.
This suggests that owners of Volvos required fewer repairs overall than those of Ford or Volkswagens, and that they also experienced considerably fewer breakdowns than Tesla automobiles.
How is Reliability Judged?
When rating a car’s dependability, the assessor considers a variety of characteristics and adds them together to produce an overall score. The frequency of car breakdowns is one of these variables.
The seriousness of the problems encountered, the cost of repairs, and the length of time required for each repair are additional factors. A car’s general maintenance requirements to keep it in good working order are also considered.
In reliability studies, a large sample size is always employed to take into account potential confounding factors. For instance, careless driving may cause some automotive components to degrade more quickly.
Much older cars are also excluded from reliability studies since after a certain age, a car’s reliability may depend on how well it has been maintained, but defects in the first few years of a car’s lifecycle can be caused by how it was manufactured. A vehicle’s lifetime, for instance, might be increased with routine maintenance.
Avoiding significant changes to an area of a model redesign is one strategy that automakers can use to reduce the likelihood of any unanticipated flaws, like as problems with new technological systems.
The reliability ratings for vehicle manufacturers who embrace this design strategy are typically greater than those for those who do not.
Why Does Volvo Score So Well?
On average, Volvo vehicles appear to be a little bit older than other manufacturers of vehicles when they first have mechanical problems. Additionally, they spend less time in the repair shop.
The three-point seat belt, the seat belt reminder, and the side impact protection system were all first introduced by Volvo, which is arguably best renowned for its safety features. Roll-over prevention and a blind spot information system are more recent additions.
This brand of car is regarded as a dependable alternative in part because to its consistent design. Volvo has spent time and money perfecting this design because the undercarriage of most of their vehicles is the same.
Even the best automobiles occasionally have issues. Volvo vehicles have a history of having minor software and satellite navigation system bugs.
Does Volvo outperform German automobiles?
Compared to their German rivals, Volvo cars are much more reliable, sensibly designed, and have more consistent quality. Mercedes experienced severe corrosion issues in the early 2000s because of subpar steel, whereas Volvo has never experienced corrosion issues.
Why are Volvo vehicles the best?
Now that we know why Volvo is regarded as the safest automaker available, we can say with confidence that the 2019 XC40 is the safest compact SUV, having received a 2019 IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus. With a 2019 IIHS Top Safety Pick designation, the 2019 XC60 is the safest midsize luxury SUV.
Are Volvos prone to breakdowns?
Volvo’s well-known small SUV, the XC60, is loaded with technology and safety features to make long drives enjoyable. But how trustworthy is this lord of the roads? Will it cause you problems if you’re taking a long trip to see relatives or clients?
Since the model’s initial 2008 debut, there have been two generations; the first generation was produced from 2008 until 2017, when the second generation started to be made.
Volvo is a very safety-conscious company, but that does not imply the XC60 is faultless. The driving experience of first-generation model owners has been impacted by a number of issues, according to reports.
Reports of problems include:
- issues with the cooling fan for the engine
- issues with the fuel pump’s electrical module
- Fuel leaks brought on by improperly installed fuel lines
- power steering issues
- issues with the transmission
- The shift mechanism may become blocked if a piece of it becomes loose.
The most recent ReliabilityIndex report (2019) shows that the SUV XC60 has received average ratings. It received a score of 112, placing it lower than the top 100 automobiles listed on the website and 31 points beneath the 100th car (the Citroen C-Crosser).
The Volvo XC60 requires an average of 2 hours 15 minutes for maintenance, which is less time off the road than some of its close competitors like the Volkswagen Tiguan even if it isn’t a Top 100 car. The average cost of repairs, though, is a little higher than you may anticipate, coming in at 410.96.
According to the ReliabilityIndex research, the axle and suspension were the most frequently encountered problems by owners, as reported by 23.11 percent of those surveyed. Electrical problems came in second place, with 21.23 percent of owners indicating that they needed to have them fixed when questioned.
Even though only 2.36 percent of people reported having issues with the XC60’s air conditioning, this nevertheless required repairs and time away from the road.
The first-generation XC60 received a less-than-impressive dependability rating in the Which? reliability study. Older models between the ages of 3 and 8 only receive 2 out of a possible 5 stars, while models under 3 years old receive an average of 3.
Nearly a third (30%) of first-generation XC60 owners with cars less than 12 months old had to take their cars to a shop for repairs. This is higher than average, which is disappointing for a young car given that the average for vehicles between 0 and 3 years old is 25%.
The most frequently reported difficulties for first-generation XC60 drivers were defective tire-pressure sensors and troubles with the in-car navigation systems. Both of these problems are not so serious. However, the full list of issues that respondents to the poll described includes include some that might constitute transmission issues
First-generation (2008-2017) model owners report a number of problems that are uncommon in more recent generations of vehicles.
The problems persist as the vehicle ages. If anything, owners of vehicles between 3 and 8 years old visited the shop for repairs more frequently. 44 percent of owners of XC60 models older than three years said they had to take their vehicle to the shop at some point. Many people had battery or exhaust/emission control system problems repeatedly. One in twenty XC60 owners who took part in the survey said their cooling system had problems.
Due to all of these problems, the older first-generation XC60 was only given 2 stars out of 5.
XC60’s second generation has done significantly better than its first, at least in the eyes of those who took part in the Which? dependability poll for 2019. The second-generation SUV received 4 out of a possible 5 stars, compared to the first-generation model’s 3 stars. There is no information for vehicles older than two years because the second-generation XC60 has only been available since 2017. Owners of the newer model, however, are reporting positive results.
Need to finance, lease, or purchase a new Volvo? Contact our team of experts by requesting a callback or by dialing 01903 538835 right away.
Audi and Volvo interchangeably?
The major automakers with present presences in the United States are listed below, along with the brands they sell.
BMW, Mini, and Rolls-Royce are all owned by BMW Group. Smart and Mercedes-Benz are owned by Daimler AG. Lincoln and Ford are owned by Ford Motor Co. Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, and Cadillac all belong to General Motors. Hummer is back as a GMC subsidiary brand. In order to co-develop EVs, GM and Honda have an official collaboration. Acura and Honda are owned by Honda Motor Co. It collaborates with GM. Sony Honda Mobility is the name of the electric vehicle firm they founded with Sony. Genesis, Hyundai, and Kia are all owned by Hyundai Motor Group. Mazda is owned by Mazda Motor Corp. Mitsubishi, Nissan, and Infiniti are all owned by the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance. Following the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Peugeot S.A., a new company called Stellantis was created. According to the explanation, the word is derived from the Latin verb “stello,” which means “to dazzle with stars.” Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, Maserati, and Ram are now under Stellantis and are FCA brands that are offered in the United States. Other Stellantis automobile brands include Citroen, DS Automobiles, Opel, Peugeot, and Vauxhall. Subaru is owned by Subaru Corp. Jaguar and Land Rover are owned by Tata Motors. Owned by Tesla. Lexus and Toyota are owned by Toyota Motor Corp. Additionally, it owns stock in Suzuki and Subaru. The automotive brand VinFast, along with VinHomes, VinBigData, VinBioCare, and VinBrain, are all owned by VinGroup. Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Porsche, and Volkswagen are all brands owned by Volkswagen AG. Volvo, Polestar, and Lotus are all brands owned by Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (ZGH).
Is buying a Volvo worth it?
Most people associate the Swedish automaker Volvo with recognizable cars and station wagons. However, since the brand’s recent revival, Volvo has produced a large number of attractive automobiles that adhere to a strong Swedish design ethos.
However, the crucial query that the majority of people have is, “Are Volvos Reliable?” Volvo isn’t exactly a brand that comes to mind when people talk about reliable cars.
Therefore, we’re going to analyze the Volvo automobile brand today to assess its dependability, talk about the most and least trustworthy models, and identify its most frequent problems.
How Reliable is the Volvo Brand?
Depending on where you look, Volvo is a car brand with reliability that ranges from average to above average. Volvo is therefore probably not your first pick if you’re seeking for the most dependable brand. On the other hand, if you buy a Volvo, you can be sure that it will be a rather dependable vehicle.
However, just as with most automakers, there are some models from Volvo that are more trustworthy than others. It’s also important to note that Volvo does higher in other reliability metrics.
Volvo has a respectable dependability rating of 3.5 out of 5 and an Above Average rating, according to the people at RepairPal. Expect to spend about $769 a year on repairs and maintenance for a Volvo, which is more than the $652 average for all models. The typical number of times a Volvo is taken to the repair shop is 0.5, which is also significantly more frequently than the yearly average of 0.4.
In contrast to the average of 12 percent for all models, just 9 percent of Volvo repairs are deemed severe.
Are Volvos trustworthy? Of course, that depends on the models you want to apply. Consumer Reports gives the Volvo S60 sedan a 4 out of 5 rating, compared to the Volvo XC90’s 2 out of 5 expected dependability rating.
Most buyers of Volvos don’t do it with reliability in mind. However, we strongly advise that you examine the dependability rating of each model if reliability is important to you and you want to purchase one.
The best approach to purchase a car is through the CoPilot app. We’ll show you all you need to know about each listing, including how long it’s been on the lot and whether or not there are comparable cars in the area for less money. We’re built using the same technologies that dealerships use.
Excessive Oil Consumption
According to a few instances, people’s Volvos ran out of oil long before their next oil change, which is unlikely unless there is a problem, such as a cracked head gasket or unclean oil filters. In the worst situation, excessive oil use could ruin an engine, which would be expensive to replace.
Transmission Failure
The complete failure of the transmission is another problem that Volvo owners frequently mention. Numerous users reported that the transmission started to fluctuate before failing entirely. This problem was widespread with both the 2001 V70, a classic station wagon, and the 2005 XC90. Sadly, the transmission from those specific years was pricey and scarce.
As far as we are aware, the transmission is in good working order in the more recent models (2010 and after). The cost of repairing the transmission, though, can reach $4,000 if you own a Volvo V70.
Cooling Fan Issues
Another frequent issue with Volvo vehicles is overheating engines, which is primarily caused by problems with the radiator fan (also known as the engine cooling fan). The engine runs at the ideal temperature thanks to the cooling fan. Otherwise, the engine is vulnerable to overheating, which can have disastrous effects and expensive engine replacement.
The failure of the clutch assembly, a broken temperature sensor, a dirty air filter, and electrical problems are just a few of the many potential causes that could lead to a malfunctioning cooling fan. Most XC60 owners who report cooling fan problems are XC60 owners.
Volvo S60
This venerable Volvo sedan has been in production since 2000 and is among the most well-liked models offered. It’s a Volvo model that receives the most complaints due to its popularity.
Consumer Reports gives the 2021 model a 75 percent overall rating and a 4 out of 5 expected reliability rating. You will appreciate its stylish interior and renovated, aesthetically appealing appearance.
The S60 models from 2001 and 2012 are probably the ones you should avoid buying. This is due to the fact that the majority of S60 complaints were made between 2001 and 2012.
These are the ideal vehicles for college students since they can transport you, your friends, and your belongings everywhere you need to go, whether you need to squeeze into a small campus parking space or transport ten loads of laundry home.
Volvo V60
If you prefer the traditional station wagon, the Volvo V60 is a dependable option. Both versions of the 2021 V60 with gas engines and plug-in hybrids are offered.
The Volvo V60 is no exception to Volvo vehicles’ reputation for having some of the best safety features. The V60 has long been proud of its outstanding performance in crash and safety testing. Numerous standard safety features are included with it, including parking sensors, a rearview camera, frontal collision warning, blind spot monitoring, and many more.
You want to find the best bargain on the car you want, not actually purchase it. If a comparable vehicle is offered locally for less money, the CoPilot app will let you know, so you can be sure you received the best bargain.
Volvo V70
One of the most useful wagons to ever hit the road is the Volvo V70. The V70, which was superseded by the V90 in 2016, is a good and quicker replacement.
The V70 is a great family vehicle for lengthy road trips because of its spacious interior, abundance of safety features, and respectable towing capability. The third-generation versions offer more modern features and a facelift, therefore we advise choosing these.
The V70 is not without problems, though. Its wheel suspension should be carefully inspected because it has a high fault rate. The electronics of the V70, in particular its sensors and alarm systems, are another source of concern.
Volvo XC60
Modern safety features and technology are abundant in Volvo’s well-liked XC60, making lengthy rides more bearable. It does, however, have its share of flaws, and it is difficult to dismiss the numerous reported problems with this line.
Consumer Reports gives the XC60 a middling 60 overall rating, but only gives it a 2 out of 5 for expected reliability. Although it garnered high marks for comfort, safety, and performance, several dependability problems may put off potential buyers.
The most frequent issue is a failed cooling fan for the engine, which causes abnormally high engine temperatures that could cause overheating and engine damage.
Volvo XC90
If you’re going to steer clear of one Volvo, make it the XC90, especially the 2004, 2005, and 2016 models, advises Car Complaints.
This midsize luxury SUV has a ton of attractive, convenient, and safe features. Sadly, there have been a few instances of XC90 dependability problems. Many owners of the 2016 model asserted that the auto brake system had failed. Driving with the seatbelts are on and the Auto Brake feature is enabled is just terrifying, especially on the motorway.
The infotainment system on the XC90 also frequently malfunctions or reboots by itself, which is confusing while driving. Even very low mileage can experience this problem (900 miles).