Definitely a few of these threads out here

We have a 2017 Q7 as well as my 2017 XC90 T8...

XC90 = more quiet, more comfortable, looks better, more room for passengers, more room for cargo.
Q7 = more power normally (My XC90 is a T8, so, I can smoke the Q7 from a stop, but in Pure/Hybrid, it's far less power), less comfortable for longer trips. The digital instrument gauge, however, beats the pants off the XC90.

However, my XC90 is an extremely problematic vehicle (in the last year of ownership, it's spend over a month in service).. The Q7, only regular maintenance, and a couple of bugs that were supposedly fixed via software updates last year. The only recurring issue with the Q7 is the poorly designed 2nd row outlet flip out - that breaks almost every other month, and it's usually not even being used by anyone.

I am NOT a fan of the current Q7 interface - it's clunky to navigate. The XC90, despite it being slow, is a little easier to work with. You don't need to keep going back to a home menu, or, jumping over to another feature.. You can just touch the screen, and, usually, you're going between 2 tabs of the 4 on the primary Sensus screen. However, the new 2019 Q8 and the e-tron Quattro look so much better.

You'll have lots of people post their opinions (as I just did), however, people will have their opinion. If you really want to compare and know, the best option is to drive it for a while.

 

It must be really nice to own two amazing SUV's. I'm not really looking to buy a Q7 since I just got my '19 XC90. However, I was looking at Q5's the other day and decided to scroll the Audi forums to look for any major or minor issues. Of course, I got distracted and ended up on the Q7 page. That when I started comparing the two in my head and just wanted to hear the opinions of others.

Also, I hear people talking about the laggy Sensus system but am yet to have any problems with it. It is slow for the first 10 seconds when I turn on my car from a cold start, other than that it feels as quick as my iPhone, no exaggeration. Maybe Volvo added a new processor to the '19's due to previous complaints.

 

Slightly more space for 3rd row seat occupants was important in my case.

 

I have MY 2016 XC90 but I don't experience any slowness of the Sensus. Boot up time is about 10-15 secs and I can live with it. Normally I open the driver's door right away while i.e. loading the luggage or tying my shoe so by the time I get into the car, Sensus is fully functional.

 

Disclaimer. I am in no way trying to “bash” any brand. This is my opinion and if you don’t like it, then your making yourself mad for no reason.


I had two XC90s. 2016 and 2018.


I then was able to get into a 2018 Q7 with adaptive chassis, prestige etc. Powertrain is awesome. MMI is great, and I’m happy.


I have absolutely no regrets to switching. The only thing I miss about the Volvo are the following

-sweedespeed of course

-The front windshield blades and washer is not as good as the Volvo system currently in place.

-Exhaust valves


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To Christopher.moor - This question was posted yesterday and you already responded ... so seems like you are still pretty active on here even though you are not an owner. Also, what about the space factor? XC90 has more cargo space than Q7 ... interesting a 3rd row larger SUV purchaser would not considered that a positive between the XC90 and Q7.

Regarding the XC90 vs. Q7 .... not sure which you are comparing but the Q7 2.0 is sluggish and sloppy as compared to the XC90 Momentum trim. Perhaps a fully loaded Q7 will out match the XC90 Inscription etc., but you are then paying thousands more and is no longer a good compare.

If you are in the market for a mid-$50's 3rd row SUV, the XC90 is hard to beat, and definitely not by the Q7.

 

To Christopher.moor - This question was posted yesterday and you already responded ... so seems like you are still pretty active on here even though you are not an owner. Also, what about the space factor? XC90 has more cargo space than Q7 ... interesting a 3rd row larger SUV purchaser would not considered that a positive between the XC90 and Q7.

Regarding the XC90 vs. Q7 .... not sure which you are comparing but the Q7 2.0 is sluggish and sloppy as compared to the XC90 Momentum trim. Perhaps a fully loaded Q7 will out match the XC90 Inscription etc., but you are then paying thousands more and is no longer a good compare.

If you are in the market for a mid-$50's 3rd row SUV, the XC90 is hard to beat, and definitely not by the Q7.

I have a fully loaded 3.0 supercharged Q7. The cargo space is also another thing I dislike, it's smaller. But I do appreciate having a electric 3rd row in place of it.

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We cross shopped both and the Q7 was really close to getting the nod, but the interior of the Inscription just felt much more comfortable and minimalist which we liked.

My Q7 Pro list.
Q7 3.0T powertrain is much better than the T6
Audi VC looks great and is not laggy, unlike Sensus. Plus Google Earth filling almost your entire gauge cluster is awesome. (I have an Audi with VC so I get to use both the Volvo system and VC every day.)

Cons list.
Cargo space. 27cu/ft vs 42cu/ft on the volvo with the third row down is a pretty large difference.
Wife thought it looked like a lifted minivan from the rear quarter view.
While the interior was very nice, the XC90 just felt and looked more luxurious. (Inscription trim level)

 

I look at both for 6 months and i finally decide to go with xc90 t8 inscription fully loaded. Pro for xc 90
- third row way better
- inside the feeling was like a nice living room instead a nice work office like q7
- hibryd drive train
- B&W sound sistem
- Sensus much nicer than the outdated pop up screen in q7
- much nicer exterior
Pro for q7
- the clicking sound of butons
- better handling
- some parts feel more better build
- the steering wheel with all leader not like the xc with plastic in center

 

my first post here but I'm not new to the brand and the topic.
I had a XC90 2016, actually I drive a Q7 and I'm replacing it with a XC90 2019.

all diesel as I live in Europe

I switched to Q7 as I had too many bugs with the XC90.
wife and kids didn't regret much the Volvo at the beginning as my 1st XC90 was a basic but on daily usage the difference was relevant.
large family and commute with the Q7 is not such a comfort journey. meanwhile I knew reliability of SPA improved and Inscription trim level with some additional packages and powerpulse have done the gamble.
someone wrote above that Volvo is a nice leather sofa while Q7 is a neat but anonymous office. I can just underwrite that.

going OT, X7 could be interesting but too pricy

 

XC90/Q7 boot space in litres
Third row up- 451/295
Third row down- 1102/775
All seats down- 1951/1955

If the V90 had a similar boot space and all corner air suspension I'd probably have that now

 

Where's the beating dead horse emoji? Can't find it.

 

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Here's the thing. Both vehicles are great. Volvo makes Audi pay attention as Audi makes Volvo pay attention. The consumer benefits in the end. My XC90 Inscription T8 with all the bells and stuff had a MSRP of $85,810. The Prestige 3.0 TFSI quattro with all the bells and stuff has a MSRP of $86,600. I don't think either car is going to disappoint anyone assuming you don't get a problem car. At this price point we are probably liking how wood grain feels in one car versus the other. The key is are you enjoying your car, whichever one you purchased. I love driving my Volvo. My next sports car is going to be either a used 2015/2016 Porsche 911 Turbo S Coup or a 2017/18 Acura NSX. They are two very different cars. Each one has a draw for me. The Porsche is just damn fast for a car that is built totally ass backward (though the engine is slowing making its way over the rear axle) and a technically sophisticated plugin hybrid. I could be a fan boy for either one.

 

In Australia the Q7 is a diesel only affair and all sales have currently been halted due to an AdBlue problem. This is a small thing and wouldn't dissuade me from buying one when this issue is resolved.

Going to an Audi forum will attract their buyers defending their purchasing choice. Similarly, coming to a Volvo forum.

They are both great cars. For us the Audi was too long to fit in our garage so that ruled it out. Also the boot space with all seats up was smaller. The quality of the leather wasn't as good. I preferred the interior of the XC90.

However, the Audi's diesel engine is great, the ride is much much better and is quieter than the XC90. The gearbox is also smoother. There are top tether and isofix points in the 3rd row which are absent on the XC90.

Having said all this, if there was a decent, economical petrol version of the Q7 in Australia, we might have gone the Audi route.

 

I drove Q7 few times (TDI 3.0). The main difference between XC90 and Q7 is the cabin silence (almost night and day). Q7 is extremely quiet and even during acceleration you do not hear almost anything (while XC90 is howling loudly). In most other aspect I prefer XC90 (look, inner comfort, interior size and especially cargo volume)

 

... (while XC90 is howling loudly). ...

This is about the D5 engine?

 

audi vs volvo

I was recently on an Audi forum and came across a thread in the Q7 forum of owners comparing their cars to XC90's. I saw a lot of interesting discussion and opinions on what a Q7 owner thinks of the XC90, which is probably it's most direct competitor. A few wrote that while they love the looks of the XC90, they couldn't stomach the smaller engine and the louder noise. Some seemed very biased towards the Audi from the beginning. A lot talked about how they thought the build quality on the Audi was just miles better than the Volvo.

Here are my thoughts and opinions on the Q7 in no particular order:
- I really like the way it looks even though I wasn't a fan when it debuted. However, I firmly believe the XC90 is probably one of the most beautiful SUV's on the market right now.
- Audi's virtual cockpit seems better than Volvos digital dash.
- From what I've seen they seem to have fewer glitches and minor problems than the XC90.
- The interior layout, in my opinion, is a tad boring.
- The MMI system is easier to use while on the move than Volvos Sensus, however, I prefer that Volvo eliminated all the buttons and put it in the screen.
- Definitely agree with the statement that Audi's have excellent build quality, but Volvo's are also known for awesome build quality. Motortrend even said they are "built like nails."
- Would definitely love to have the 3.0 engine in my XC90.
- Audi is way more expensive when equipped with the same options as the Volvo.

These are a few of my thoughts on the topic and I'd love to hear what you all think.

We own 2016 XC90 inscription and 2108 allroad - both bought new.

Audi mmi is much tougher to use than Volvo system. Volvo system has many drops while Audi has had zero malfunctions.
Audi is clunky cabin vs Volvo - too many stalks, levers, positions to enter and the screen looks like someone just hung it on the dash
Seats are almost as good in Audi as in Volvo - but we like Volvo on long trips. We bought Audi because Volvo failed to offer a v60 type wagon at the the time.
Both engines have more than enough low and top end power. Audi is quieter.
We think Volvo is more elegant in finish than Audi - we own Prestige Audi and fully loaded Volvo.
Con of Audi is clunky mmi and too many stalks
con of Volvo is audio/map system seems unreliable with many updates and still drops out of use to reboot.

 

Hybrid was a must. T8 is an amazing powertrain. Much quieter around town in pure mode. More comfortable seats. Averaging 43mpgE. Minimalist interior better than Audi for me. Exterior looks much better than Audi for me. B&W sound much better than Audi for me. Local Audi dealer total asshole.

 

In California at least the XC90 T8 Plugin gets a red sticker that allows one person to drive in the diamond lane into 2022. That is a big deal in Southern California traffic. I don't believe you can get a plugin of the Q7. Or at least I have not seen it offered here.

 

Overall, I love the Q7. I prefer the XC90, or I used to, but too many problems, always something broken. I didn't get a single day of care-free driving in almost 30k miles with my T8. No problems so far with the Q7.

Q7 pros:
- Quieter. A lot quieter. Can't stress this enough.
- Much smoother on uneven surfaces (air on both vehicles, for comparison).
- Higher durability everything. The leather is not cracking. The dashboard is not falling apart. The moonroof is not leaking. The paint is not as soft.
- V6 rocks. Coupled with a superior gearbox, it's super smooth.
- Coming from a 2017 T8, range is a bit plus on the Q7.
- No Sensus-lag.

Q7 cons:
- Volvo had better seats. Even the super-expensive premium seats in Audi are not quite as good.
- Looks. The Q7 is ugly outside, ugly inside.
- Small cupholders, little storage. But, then again, Volvo didn't shine either.
- Third row is a joke.
- The weird angle screens. Everything is angled down, to reduce glare. But it feels weird, if you are tall.

 

Q7 pros:
- Quieter. A lot quieter. Can't stress this enough.
- Much smoother on uneven surfaces (air on both vehicles, for comparison).
- V6 rocks. Coupled with a superior gearbox, it's super smooth.

Yes, exactly and unfortunately ... This is from where Volvo people should humbly learn a lot. Driving Q7 and sitting then in XC90 is like moving from a smoothly breezing luxury car to a rattling tractor ...

Q7 cons:
- Volvo had better seats. Even the super-expensive premium seats in Audi are not quite as good.
- Looks. The Q7 is ugly outside, ugly inside.
- Small cupholders, little storage. But, then again, Volvo didn't shine either.
- Third row is a joke.
- The weird angle screens. Everything is angled down, to reduce glare. But it feels weird, if you are tall.

Very true as well ... Plus you forgot cargo space. You can put so much more into XC90. For me one of the key factors ...

 

DeMuro just did a review of the Q7 and mentioned how he prefers the XC90 in a couple of different instances

The Q7 looks are just so blah. There are so so many of them where I live and see them multiple times a day. It looks like a beefy Toyota Venza, not a car that does much for me in that department

 

DeMuro just did a review of the Q7 and mentioned how he prefers the XC90 in a couple of different instances

The Q7 looks are just so blah. There are so so many of them where I live and see them multiple times a day. It looks like a beefy Toyota Venza, not a car that does much for me in that department

Where I live there are SO MANY XC90's, there are 2 brand new ones down the street from me. The Q7 is pretty popular to, just not as much as the Volvo's here. I see plenty of S60r and V70r too, which are rare cars. Also, look at the new Mercedes EQC, it looks exactly like the toyota venza...

 

We considered the Q7, but the tiny third row was pretty much a deal breaker. Like others, I was bored by the exterior look (though I do really like the interior).
Finally, we had 2 friends that moved from the new Q7 to the XC90, and were happy with the move.

 

When the Q7 is fitted with the Q8 interior I'll be a buyer. Until then no space ship dash and popup screen for me.

 

I heard that this generation Q7, isn't getting the updated interior.

 

What I don't understand is the need for auto manufacturer's to dedicate so much space to climate controls given most are automatically temp controlled, and can even be set for auto defrost and account for sun positioning. I mean, how often do people really adjust the controls, absent the temp control? It is for that reason I take no issue with Volvo's minimalistic approach.

Along these lines, I find the Audi cockpit a bit busy, also looking at the high gloss interior. I would also think the Google map feature on the driver display would get old after a while. I mean, the driver is supposed to mind the road, right?

 

I change my temperature, fan speed, heated seat and wheel controls, numerous times while driving. I hate auto climate, it never gets it right for me...

 

Audi Owner complains about brake squeal! Sound Familiar?

2018 Q7 has high pitched brake squeal while backing & gradual braking. Audi USA and the dealership claim this is "normal". When I said; "To who?" they replied Audi is working on a fix but no time table is available. OK, so it's not normal then. Audi insults my intelligence by saying this is normal. HP brakes do make some noise, but constant squealing is not normal on a street car. The dealer said no inspection is necessary, that they already know about the problem. I insisted that they inspect the brakes, if not for safety alone. I asked the service writer if this has been an ongoing issue with this model, why were we not told that from the salesman when we were inquiring about the car. She said: "They can't if you know what I mean". After visiting the dealer I contacted Audi USA and opened a case for my complaint. I told them that I appreciated the fact that Audi was working on a solution, but I am not going to wait an indefinite amount of time for a fix. Additionally, I have no intention of purchasing another Audi because of their dishonest sales approach. I said I want to turn the car back in. Audi USA instructed me to go see the GM at the dealership where I bought it. That is my next step toward resolution to my problem. I intentionally omitted the dealership name until I give them the chance to make this right. So at this point, I only know two things; 1) I will be successful turning the car back to Audi 2) I will never again purchase an Audi product. Thanks for reading.

- Kevin H., Los Angeles, US

​

 

2018 Q7 has high pitched brake squeal while backing & gradual braking. Audi USA and the dealership claim this is "normal". When I said; "To who?" they replied Audi is working on a fix but no time table is available. OK, so it's not normal then. Audi insults my intelligence by saying this is normal. HP brakes do make some noise, but constant squealing is not normal on a street car. The dealer said no inspection is necessary, that they already know about the problem. I insisted that they inspect the brakes, if not for safety alone. I asked the service writer if this has been an ongoing issue with this model, why were we not told that from the salesman when we were inquiring about the car. She said: "They can't if you know what I mean". After visiting the dealer I contacted Audi USA and opened a case for my complaint. I told them that I appreciated the fact that Audi was working on a solution, but I am not going to wait an indefinite amount of time for a fix. Additionally, I have no intention of purchasing another Audi because of their dishonest sales approach. I said I want to turn the car back in. Audi USA instructed me to go see the GM at the dealership where I bought it. That is my next step toward resolution to my problem. I intentionally omitted the dealership name until I give them the chance to make this right. So at this point, I only know two things; 1) I will be successful turning the car back to Audi 2) I will never again purchase an Audi product. Thanks for reading.

- Kevin H., Los Angeles, US

​

Do a search for brake squeal and you're sure to find hundreds for every manufacturer. It's not uncommon and is usually fixed by using a pad with a different brake compound or simply applying a paste on the rear of the pads.

As far as the salesman not disclosing that's ridiculous. Next time use Google.

 

I like the air vents of the XC90 as they are, the ones in the newer models are to flashy for my taste.
But the Q7's wide, central slit-shaped air vent seems like a very interesting feature that
may avoid some/much cold air stream on the driver and passenger.
The design goals of different manufacturers may reflect cultural differences.
I am a (big) fan of scandinavian minimalistic-functional design.
Other manufacturers seem to design (more) to evoke awe (and less for functionality?),
but (@ Shania Twain), it don't impress me much

 

Cross Shopped Q7, XC90. RXL

Hi! Just joined and just bought my first Volvo! Our family just cross shopped Q7, XC90. RXL. Many things have already been mentioned so below is some things that made the decision for me.

RXL was no go as 3rd row is unusable. We can cross that out easily.

The Q7 is great, but to me the MMI setup in that vehicle seems a bit dated and the screen is tiny. It reminds me of my 2005 A6 from back in the day. Also no brake hold! Audi left a blank button where it should go. Our RX has 12.3inch display! Finally, the Q7 third row is not as usable as the XC.

BUT the biggest NO for us was, to get the Pilot Assist equivalent I had to step up to Premium Plus or Prestige. Also the dealers where I live only seem to stock 3.0 and not 2.0 adding $5,000+. On the XC I can get all the safety and driving aids on the T5 Momentum. Also did I mention that we got a 2018 left over XC90, so got a fair deal. (I think the XC90 sells so well you can't really get a great deal haha). Regardless, saved about $15,000 over a Q7 3.0 with Driver Assistance and Cold Weather. Promise I am not a cheapskate!!! It was more value for money decision.

This will be our first Volvo! I hope with model year 2018 most bugs and reliability issues have worked out. A little scared from reading the threads. Maybe should have leased...haha

 

We had cross shopped the Q7 in 2010 when we were looking at options and realizing the XC90 was even then a better option. The Q7 seems to have always had a cramped 3rd row (same platform as a Pepper/Touareg without getting a stretch job to squeeze the 3rd row in), the 2nd row was narrower than the XC90 then as well, it felt heavy around town compared to the 2010 XC90 with the flip side being the Q7 felt more like a highway cruiser. I'm not sure how they are now, but I recall the really astonishing bit then was that the 3rd row was so cramped, the headrests touched the tailgate glass. There was no way that was going to be a viable option for us. Plus for 80% of driving it felt cumbersome (around town and parking) vs. the more nimble XC90.

Going into our 2017 shopping, we didn't even consider a Q7 with a T8 being the main contender (over a V90CC). Our experiences with our 2010 made it such that a second XC90 was a no brainer.

As for new Q7... they do make great spontaneous garage smokers

It had been parked all day and unattended when it created some chaos close to the end of the work day. The sprinkler system in the garage and fast response from the fire dept kept it from doing it's job at torching the rest of the garage and the building above. It took the fire dept two engines more than 1hr to extinguish it - the hardest part was probably getting to it through the thick smoke it created. Its non-hybrid 3.0T wanted to burn badly I suppose and did a good job at melting a hole through its hood (must be a highly combustible composite ). It took another 2+ hrs before the garage cleared of smoke and firefighters could give the "all clear" for people to come back in to go home. I couldn't get out as the hoses were already laid down and fire dept was preventing cars from driving out (over their hoses) so had to park and walk out. Smoke was thick and impossible to see through and my throat remained irritated for a couple of days.

 

Oh my god I wonder what caused it to ignite a fire.