Volvo and Audi have unique methods of building automobiles. Perhaps nowhere else in the North American auto industry is this more obvious than the Q7 and the XC90 dynamic. One is sensible and Swedish, the other German and stately. Which of these luxury mid-size SUVs comes out on top? Let’s break down the soft and hard factors that make the Q7 versus XC90 debate more spirited than you might think. As you’ll find, they’re two different approaches to creating a luxury SUV.
The Audi Q7 line-up offers two powertrain options: a two-liter turbo four-cylinder base engine in the Audi Q7 45 and a three-liter turbo V6 engine in the Audi Q7 55. That’s good for 261 horsepower and 335 horsepower respectively. This works out to 20 MPGs in the city, 26 on the highway for the four-cylinder, and 18 in the city, 23 on the highway from the V6.
The Volvo XC90 counters the Q7 not with sheer cubic displacement but with a diversifying range between the B5 and B6 variants with their own respective drivetrains based around the same two-liter four-pot mild hybrid architecture. The more affordable XC90 B5 makes do with 247 horsepower, while the upmarket B6 has 295. This works out to 23 MPG in the city and 30 on the highway for the B5 and 20 MPG city, 26 highway for the B6. The most powerful Q7 sprints to 60 mph in between 5.5 and 5.9 seconds, depending on who’s conducting the test.
Meanwhile, the XC90 B6 is a little more than half a second slower over the same distance. Keep in mind that the mild hybrid XC90 is separate from the bespoke XC90 plug-in hybrid, a vehicle with its own powertrain and a dedicated lineup of trims that can’t be compared directly to an ICE Q7. Ultimately, whether you prefer the Volvo or the Audi’s drivetrain depends on whether you want a sporty or efficient driving experience. But in today’s economy, efficiency might as well be a bigger bragging right, especially in this market segment.
A full-size luxury crossover SUV needs three things to succeed. Lots of leather, tons of features to match, and lots of interior space. These are areas where both the XC90 and Q7 hold a large degree of proficiency. Starting with the Audi, the Q7 has 38.8 inches of legroom behind the front seats and 29.2 inches in its paltry third row. However, all Q7s seat seven people, something like the XC90, whose seating array changes from six to seven depending on trim.
That said, the XC90 isn’t cramped inside, either. With 37 inches of second-row legroom and 31.9 inches in the third row, the very back seats in the XC90 are slightly more comfortable than the equivalent Q7. Rear cargo storage is similar between the two, with 15.8 cubic feet behind the third row of seats in place for the XC90. That’s compared to 14.2 cubic feet of space in the Q7. Feature-wise, the XC90 and Q7 are two masterclasses in over-engineered European luxury.
Even the base 45 Premium Audi Q7 at $60,500 comes with full leather upholstery, heated front seats, and a panoramic sunroof to go along with a 10.1-inch center infotainment display. Underneath the center screen, a separate 8.6-inch screen controls the HVAC and a few other functions. Elsewhere, a 12.3-inch Audi virtual cockpit digital gauge cluster makes for one of the most modern and sleek full-size crossover interiors that exists at this price point. The 45 Premium Plus at $64,300 ups the ante with a premium audio system, wireless phone charging, and power-folding wing mirrors.
At the top of the range, the Prestige trim at $77,900 adds Valcona/Cricket leather upholstery, a plush air-ride suspension, and LED headlights for a look unique to the most expensive trim. Inside and out, the 2025 Q7 is what a big Audi is supposed to be. I.e., cushy and tech-laden. But the XC90 is no economy car inside either. The base B5 XC90 Core trim MSRPs are at $57,400 and come trimmed in synthetic vegan leather instead of the real stuff.
It also comes with a nine-inch center infotainment screen, which is 1.1 inches smaller than the Q7, but the digital gauge cluster matches the Audi’s at 12.3 inches. Without an auxiliary screen to control the HVAC like the Audi, the XC90 integrates all these functions into the primary center screen. Either you’re okay with this arrangement, or it drives you crazy. It’s all down to the individual in that regard.
At $61,995, the B5 XC90 Plus adds a 360-degree surround-view exterior camera, a panoramic glass sliding roof, and a trim-specific front grille with a chromed frame, plus genuine leather seats over the vegan stuff. At $67,595, the B5 XC90 Ultra turns the leather quality up to 11 with ventilated Napa upholstery. It also comes with a Harman Kardon premium sound system, 21-inch black diamond alloy wheels, and a crystal gear selector by Orrefors glassware. At a considerable discount over what the top-level Q7 costs, the range-topping mild hybrid XC90 gives some real value for money.
Neither the Q7 or the XC90 are bad luxury SUVs by any means. But the biggest difference between the two comes in their respective design philosophies. The Audi is traditional European luxury to the core. It’s a stately luxury sedan re-sized to the mid-to-full-size crossover form factor and it’s priced and equipped as such. But the Volvo has a similar vibe, just with an added allure of cleverness that only comes from Swedish automakers.
In this respect, quirky types will much prefer the XC90. But for the best and brightest from one of the pre-established kings of German luxury, the Audi might fit what’s needed slightly better. But if clever design is the be-all-end-all in this market segment, we have to take our hats off to the Volvo here. Still, either selection is a pretty solid choice.