The family SUV market just became a lot more competitive in 2015, as both Audi and Volvo renewed their biggest models. We know the Q7 and XC90 bring a lot to the table, but which one is better from a purely practical point of view?
The old Q7 couldn't even be considered a family SUV. It was big on the outside and small on the inside, not to mention heavy and thirsty. But the all-new model is much better.
In fact, many people say it's better than the BMW X5 from the interior build point of view.
The previous Volvo XC90 was also a bit long in the tooth. However, constant updates meant that it had the maximum safety rating from the IIHS right up until the end of production. The new one is also safe… and more.
The biggest difference here is under the hood, where Volvo got rid off all the big engines. Remember how the old SUV had a 4.2-liter V8 with 315 hp? Well, this one has a 2-liter with 400 hp, thanks to a supercharger, turbocharger and ample reserves of electric power.
In this department, the Audi is also kind of strange, because it's only available with 3.0-liter diesels, producing either 218 or 272 hp. Pretty soon, the UK market will also get a plug-in hybrid that's just been announced in Germany. However, that too will come with a 3.0 TDI.
The last two seats of the Volvo XC90 are slightly better regarding knee and headroom. The middle row can slide forward and USB ports are also available in the back. You know how those kids like to charge their phones!
In terms of driving, the Audi model has the slight edge over its Swedish competitor. It also features the most conventional dashboard of the two, as the XC90 only has eight physical buttons on its console. During our time with this model, we found that the configuration is polarizing - pleasant for some and infuriating for others. Audi may have more buttons, but learning where everything is placed in the MMI menus will probably take a few weeks.
Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida. Full profile
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