The luxury wagon segment represents a tiny slice of the U.S. auto market. Still, for shoppers who want multi-terrain all-wheel-drive capability without the bulk or higher perch of an SUV, the choices are limited. In the midsized space, the Volvo V60 Cross Country and Audi A4 Allroad are the primary competitors. While the Subaru Outback is a wagon with off-road capabilities, it doesn’t qualify as an upscale vehicle, and its upcoming redesign places it more squarely in the crossover category.
For this comparison, we looked at the 2025 Volvo V60 Cross Country in the Plus trim versus the 2025 Audi A4 Allroad in the Premium Plus trim. Volvo doesn’t offer its usual base Core trim on the V60 Cross Country, so the better-equipped Plus serves as the starting point. Audi does sell a base Premium version of the A4 Allroad, but the Premium Plus trim is more directly aligned with the Volvo in terms of features and pricing.
With a starting price of $50,300, the V60 Cross Country holds a pricing advantage over the A4 Allroad, with its MSRP of $52,100. Despite the lower price, Volvo doesn't shortchange buyers. Both cars come similarly equipped with a panoramic sunroof, leather upholstery, heated front seats, navigation, adaptive cruise control, and SiriusXM satellite radio.
The V60 Cross Country pulls further ahead when long-term ownership costs are taken in to consideration. According to an Edmunds review (based on 15,000 miles per year for five years), the Volvo has an average per-mile cost of $0.88 versus $0.94 for the A4 Allroad. $0.06 may seem insignificant, but it adds up to a substantial gap. Over five years, V60 Cross Country owners can expect to incur $65,845 in costs, while their A4 Allroad counterparts will see upkeep and operating expenses totaling $70,821, a difference of $4,976. The Volvo offers notable maintenance savings at $3,578 versus $6,787 for the Audi. The V60 Cross Country also costs less at the pump: $11,601, compared to $12,040 for the A4 Allroad.
The Volvo also holds a small edge in fuel efficiency, with EPA ratings of 24 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway. This slightly outpaces the Audi’s 23 mpg in urban driving and 30 mpg on the open road. The V60 Cross Country also has a larger fuel capacity, with a tank that holds 15.9 gallons compared to the Audi’s 15.3 gallons. As a result, the Volvo has a maximum highway range of 493 miles versus 459 miles for the Audi. That extra 34 miles of range means fewer day-to-day stops at the pump and time savings on an extended road trip.
The Volvo also shines in interior space. Both wagons seat five, but the V60 Cross Country offers more cargo room, with 25.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats (versus 24.2 cubic feet in the Audi) and 60.5 cubic feet with the seats folded, which is two cubic feet more than the A4 Allroad. In the cabin, the V60 offers more front legroom (42.3 inches versus 41.3 inches) and the same amount of front headroom. The rear headroom is also better: 38.1 inches for the Volvo compared to 37.4 inches in the Audi.
The V60 Cross Country offers better real-world versatility than the A4 Allroad in two key areas. With 7.8 inches of ground clearance, the Volvo is better equipped for snow, uneven roads, or light off-pavement driving than the Audi’s 6.5 inches. In addition, despite being slightly larger overall, the V60 Cross Country also has a tighter turning circle – 37.1 feet versus 38.4 feet for the A4 Allroad. That makes the Volvo better suited for navigating parking lots or making U-turns, especially in tighter surroundings.
