2026 Audi A6 vs. 2026 Volvo V90

Car and Driver rates the all-new-for-2026 Audi A6 9.5/10, ranking it #2 in Best Luxury Mid-Size Cars behind the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, saying it has long been the choice for buyers seeking a conservatively styled, well-honed luxury sedan, with the completely redesigned 2026 model keeping a standard turbocharged V6 and standard all-wheel drive while adding new tech to better compete with rival executive four-doors from BMW, Genesis, and Mercedes-Benz. MotorTrend says the Volvo V90's luxury wagon competition includes the Mercedes-Benz E450 4Matic All-Terrain and Audi A6 Allroad, standing out as a stylish and practical alternative to SUVs with ample space, a smooth ride, and carlike handling, powered by a turbocharged and supercharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder mild hybrid making 295 hp and 310 lb-ft, sprinting to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds in MotorTrend's testing, with Volvo discontinuing the Plus equipment level for 2026 so all V90s now come standard with Ultra-level equipment.

Which to choose, and why

An all-new, #2-ranked A6

Car and Driver (opens in a new tab) rates the all-new-for-2026 Audi A6 9.5/10, ranking it #2 in Best Luxury Mid-Size Cars behind the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, saying the completely redesigned 2026 model keeps a standard turbocharged V6 and standard all-wheel drive while adding new tech to better compete with rival executive four-doors from BMW, Genesis, and Mercedes-Benz.

A 295-hp mild-hybrid wagon

MotorTrend (opens in a new tab) says the Volvo V90's luxury wagon competition includes the Mercedes-Benz E450 4Matic All-Terrain and Audi A6 Allroad, powered by a turbocharged and supercharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder mild hybrid making 295 hp and 310 lb-ft, sprinting to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds in MotorTrend's testing.

A stylish SUV alternative, trimmed down for 2026

MotorTrend (opens in a new tab) says the V90 stands out as a stylish and practical alternative to SUVs with ample space, a smooth ride, and carlike handling, with Volvo discontinuing the Plus equipment level for 2026 so all V90s now come standard with Ultra-level equipment.

Questions buyers ask

How much horsepower does the Volvo V90 have?

MotorTrend (opens in a new tab) says 295 hp from its mild-hybrid four-cylinder.

Is the Audi A6 all-new for 2026?

Car and Driver (opens in a new tab) says yes, completely redesigned.

Side-by-side matrix

The published fields that can change the decision.

Audi A6: 2 records · Volvo V90: 1 records.

Decision field	Audi A6	Volvo V90
Exact EPA records	2	1
Model / option labels	2	1
Drive layouts	All-Wheel Drive	All-Wheel Drive
Engines / propulsion	3L 6-cyl SIDI, 3L 6-cyl SIDI; Mild Hybrid	2L 4-cyl SIDI; Mild Hybrid
Transmissions	Automatic (AM-S7)	Automatic (S8)
Fuel types	Premium	Premium
EPA classes	Midsize Cars, Midsize Station Wagons	Midsize Station Wagons
Combined efficiency	23–24 MPG/MPGe	25 MPG/MPGe
Electric range	Not listed	Not listed
Annual fuel / energy estimate	$3300–3450 per year	$3200 per year

Head to head

Audi A6 vs. Volvo V90: size, power, capability and price.

Measure	Audi A6	Volvo V90
Starting price (KBB base)	$65,395	$68,095
Top trim price (KBB base)	$74,095	$68,095
Horsepower	362 hp	295 hp
Torque	406 lb-ft	310 lb-ft
0 to 60 mph	4.5 sec	6.1 sec
Curb weight	4,310 lb	4,330 lb
Length	196.8 in	195.2 in
Wheelbase	115.1 in	115.8 in
Cargo volume	13.5 cu ft	69 cu ft
Towing capacity	n/a	3,500 lb
Seating	5 seats	5 seats
Basic warranty	4 years	4 years

Figures are ranges across each model’s trims from Kelley Blue Book records (2026 model year); prices are KBB base prices.

The Audi A6 starts $2,700 lower: $65,395 against $68,095 before options and fees.
On peak horsepower, the Audi A6 leads: 362 hp against 295 hp.
On peak torque, the Audi A6 leads: 406 lb-ft against 310 lb-ft.
The Audi A6 is quicker to 60 mph: 4.5 sec against 6.1 sec.
The Audi A6 is lighter, comparing lightest trims: 4,310 lb against 4,330 lb.
On length, the Audi A6 leads: 196.8 in against 195.2 in.
On wheelbase, the Volvo V90 leads: 115.8 in against 115.1 in.
On cargo volume, the Volvo V90 leads: 69 cu ft against 13.5 cu ft.
Both list the same seating capacity: 5 seats.
Both list the same basic warranty: 4 years.

Background on each vehicle

What public sources say about the Audi A6 and the Volvo V90.

2026 Audi A6

The Audi A6 is an executive car manufactured by the German company Audi since 1994. Now in its sixth generation, the successor to the Audi 100 is manufactured in Neckarsulm, Germany, and is available in saloon and estate configurations, the latter marketed by Audi as the Avant.

Safety: Marketing As part of the Audi A6 Avant launch in the UK, BBH London, Knucklehead, The Whitehouse, The Mill produced the 'Hummingbird' TV commercial, directed by Daniel Barber. The commercial premiered during the ITV1's coverage of the Rugby World Cup. The commercial was to imagine what a bird designed by Audi would look like and to reflect the car's ultra-lightweight technology.
Awards: Audi A6 allroad quattro won Auto Bild Allrad's All-Wheel Drive Car of the Year under the Crossover category.

Source: Audi A6 (Wikipedia)

Engines. In 2005, the A6 won the World Car of the Year award, and has also won the Practical Caravan "Towcar of the Year" awards, due to its array of towing features such as adjustable suspension height and damping, and the presence of a 123 Trailer Stability Programme.

Body styles. In some specific European markets (like France), facelift models (2016 and onwards) received a never before offered 1.8 TFSI (190 PS) petrol engine. Models paired with the 7-speed automatic S tronic gearbox have an "ultra" tag added at the end of their name. A6L with 2.0 TFSI (180 PS) was sold as A6L TFSI in China.

Recent recalls (2 campaigns across the latest model years)

December 2025, Seat Belts:Rear/Other:Retractor. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2025 SQ6 E-Tron, SQ6 Sportback E-Tron, Q6 Sportback E-Tron, A6, A5, A6 Sportback E-Tron, Q6 E-Tron, S5, and S6 Sportback E-Tron vehicles. The automatic locking retractor may fail to engage when a child… Consequence: An improperly secured child seat can increase risk of injury during a crash.
December 2025, Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019-2026 vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may prevent the rearview camera image from displaying as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply… Consequence: A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

2026 Volvo V90

The Volvo V90 is a mid-size luxury wagon manufactured and marketed by Swedish automaker Volvo Cars from 2016 to 2025. Two months after the introduction of the sedan model, the Volvo S90, the V90 was revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2016.

Source: Volvo V90 (Wikipedia)

Models. The V90 is offered with various trim levels. In the United States the V90 was only available by special order, with dealers focusing on the V90 Cross Country. In 2021, it was announced that the V90 would no longer be sold in the United States, with 2021 being the final model year.

Engines. The V90 is only available with 2.0-litre, 4 cylinder petrol and diesel engines from the VEA family (Drive-E). The more powerful petrol engines are compound charged, as is the plug-in hybrid variant called the T8. The D5 diesel engine features Volvo's new PowerPulse technology that is designed to eliminate turbo lag as well as an i-Art injection system.

Open both dossiers

Resolve the exact engine, drive and EPA ID.

01 · 2026Audi A62 configurations →02 · 2026Volvo V901 configurations →

Comparison answer desk

13 answers for this exact pairing.

Q01Which is more efficient: the 2026 Audi A6 or the 2026 Volvo V90?

Efficiency

The 2026 Volvo V90 lists the higher combined-efficiency midpoint in this snapshot (25 vs. the 2026 Audi A6's 23.5 MPG/MPGe).