Back in 2003 when the Volvo XC90 hit the American market, it was described as late to the SUV party by the automotive press. However, the party kept raging and the Swedish SUV has since become not only one of Volvo’s best selling offerings, but has also nabbed the bragging right of best-selling European SUV in North America – no doubt helped by its 3-row seat versatility that only minivan owners can claim superiority to. That same versatility and sales success must have weighed on Audi as they developed their later-to-the-party Q7 for public sale. With the Q7 now putting a few months of sales under its belt and a refreshening of the Volvo recently available on the market, it seemed natural to put the two stylish family trucksters up for a quick comparison.
The exact cars pictured here aren’t exactly direct competitors. What you see pictured is a Q7 with 4.2 Premium with FSI-powered V8 versus an XC90 with a generous coupling of options and the new base engine - a 3.2-liter I6. Though not direct, the comparison of the Q7 range vs. XC90 range is an interesting one. These two European manufacturers take a decidedly different road to achieve decidedly similar lineup even though both cars clearly have very distinct personalities and clientele.
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