Volvo XC40 vs Audi Q3

[OtherS]

Trying to decide between the two and wondering if anyone had any advice. Google just gives me totally contradictory answers 😭

Specifically looking for comfort (both seat comfort and driving comfort) and ease of driving, especially on long motorway journeys - I'll also be getting adaptive cruise control and traffic jam assist either way so experience of that would be super helpful. And what they're like through potholes and floods - it's a bit like off-roading round here now so looking for something sturdy!

XC40

You won't find a more comfortable car than a Volvo, both for seat and drive. Reliable.

I drive every car I have like it's a tank and it took everything I threw at it from floods and potholes to some inadvertent off roading.

The one thing I will say is that they aren't particularly fuel efficient and are surprisingly thirsty vehicles.

We've just been through this, our choice was between the xc40, Q3 and Kia Sportage. (First 2 secondhand, almost new Sportage)

XC40 won for us hands down. For the same price, the xc40 was a higher spec (hybrid, better interior) than the Q3 and we both vastly preferred how it drove. The Q3 felt sluggish and clumpy in comparison.

This . Collected my xc40 on 1/9 and am barely getting 30mpg. The seats are so comfortable though ! I loved our xc90 but just don’t need the huge tank anymore . DH has an Audi and the sports seats are too hard for me .

XC40 was my first instinct, but some reviews say it's not as comfortable as the Q3, especially for long distances. Which surprised me.

Does anyone have the pilot assist? How is it?

No idea about the other car but I got an XC40 about a month ago. It is a pleasure to drive. I previously had a Land Rover Discovery Sport and was loathe to sell it, but it was getting on and I alternate between LR and Volvo so it feels
like a change.
I do many miles on the M6 so cruise control etc. is a must and I'm finding the steering assist fun - don't know any correct terms/names I'm afraid. The hybrid thing seems to save lots of fuel. Also it manages a 2 mile private access road full of bumps with ease, but, in fairness my XC70 and XC90 also had no problems with farm roads.

The pilot assist is the thing that keeps you the same distance from the car in front and steers for you on motorways. Also does traffic jams for you, which is something I am very interested in!

Cross post! I've just seen the assist thing is what you are interested in. You do have to keep your hands on the wheel but it does take over - in a good way.

I like my XC40, but will deliberately choose a longer route over one with lots of potholes as it isn't comfortable over potholes.

The cruise control is good, but I always turn off the lane assist as I find it irritating. I found it interesting when test driving how many of the 'safety features' the dealers would switch off as soon as we got in the car, because they are annoying. But that wasn't restricted to any one make.

I find the internal space in the xc40 disappointing. It doesn't feel much bigger than my old golf, but is much bigger on the outside, so can be annoying to park. I've got the 360 cameras and wouldn't have it without.

The things that swung it for me over the Audi were the higher spec for a similar price and how much faster it is. I've got the twin engine EV, and it's properly nippy. DH thinks it's a bit soulless because the speed comes without noise. It is quite hard to drive slowly.

I have the Q3 and my dh has the volvo xc40......both 2/3 years old and hybrid. Aesthetically I prefer the Q3( I have cream leather seats!) but for comfort and sturdiness I have to say, the Volvo wins. Both are petrol hybrid, automatic, cruise control etc but I have to say the Volvo seems more solid ...iykwim! So for a family car I'd go for the Volvo.

I think I'm less worried about the lane assist than the adaptive cruise control as I might be a bit unnerved by my steering wheel moving without me, but I like the idea of being able to just cruise and steer without having to keep adjusting my cruise control to the car in front. If I've not made it clear, I also very much like the idea of it doing traffic jams for me! I am horribly well acquainted with the M25...

I like the look of the Volvo suede-type seats, they do look comfy. Had similar before on a Porsche so probably biased. I have cream leather at the moment and they're not easy to keep clean! They are very smart though. But yet another saying the Volvo for comfort... which seems to be unanimous. Poor Audi! Wonder what the reviews were all about, maybe it's male bottoms vs female 😁

To be honest as far as driving experience is concerned, there is not much of a difference. Both have camera assisted parking and driving assist but you can disengage that if you prefer (driving assistance). I still love my Audi and like the assistance ( red light when too near car ahead, alert when veering from lane etc or too near something when parking)..but overall it is a comfortable, safe driving experience