Coastal California demands a specific kind of luxury SUV. Foggy mornings, sunlit highway drives, winding back roads, and packed weekends all ask for comfort, capability, and calm confidence behind the wheel. The Volvo XC90 and the Audi Q7 sit at the top of the three-row luxury conversation, yet only one is better suited for coastal life. The team at Volvo Cars Monterey welcomes you to explore the differences and see what makes the Volvo XC90 the better choice for your California coast lifestyle.
Design That Fits the Coast
The Audi Q7 embraces a sporty, aggressive design, with sharp lines, a bold grille, and a performance-oriented stance that appeals to customers who want an SUV that announces itself. The Volvo XC90's Scandinavian design accentuates restraint and proportion, which feels more natural as you roll through Seaside, CA, with an ocean breeze drifting through the cabin.
Clean lines, signature Thor's Hammer LED headlights, and a poised yet understated profile help the Volvo XC90 look timeless rather than trendy. Interior materials reinforce that feeling, featuring open-pore wood, tailored textures, and a light-filled cabin.
Interior Comfort and Flexible Space
Three-row SUVs live or die by how well they handle real life. The Audi Q7 interior features high-grade materials and a driver-focused cockpit, yet the layout gives precedence to the front seats. The Volvo XC90 cabin is designed around you and your passengers. Thoughtful spacing, supportive seating in all three rows, and excellent outward visibility make longer drives feel relaxed rather than draining.
Families traveling between Palo Alto and weekend escapes appreciate the Volvo XC90 for its quieter cabin and logical layout. Controls stay simple, the portrait-style touchscreen stays easy to read, and storage solutions feel intentionally designed rather than added as an afterthought.
Intuitive Connectivity and Entertainment Technology
Audi packs the Q7 with screens and layered menus that impress at first glance but demand attention over time. The Volvo XC90 focuses on user-friendly technology, including Google built-in technology with integrated navigation, voice commands, and numerous apps that feel natural from the first drive.
Traffic updates, climate adjustments, and navigation cues remain easy to manage during busy drives through San Jose. Less distraction translates into more confidence, especially in stop-and-go coastal traffic.
Performance With Purpose
The Audi Q7 delivers strong turbocharged power and athletic handling, and Monterey-area drivers who prefer sportiness will notice that edge immediately. The Volvo XC90 harmonizes powerful performance with composure, offering steady, reliable acceleration, a sophisticated, comfortable ride, and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) options for reduced fuel consumption.
Highway cruising between Monterey and Salinas feels serene in the Volvo XC90, with suspension tuning that absorbs rough pavement and crosswinds with ease. It delivers smooth power, composed steering, and less driver fatigue on long drives.
Safety That Leads the Segment
Safety is still the keystone of Volvo engineering, and the Volvo XC90 reflects decades of leadership in this space. Standard safety features include advanced collision-avoidance systems, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring, and pilot-assist systems, all designed to support and protect passengers.
The Audi SUV offers a solid safety suite, but the renowned Volvo systems are also more predictable yet subtle. The Volvo XC90 intervenes smoothly and consistently, which cultivates trust over time rather than startling the driver.
What's the Verdict? The Three-Row Volvo XC90 Provides More Coastal Luxury
The Audi Q7 brings performance and prestige, yet the Volvo XC90 delivers a more complete luxury experience for coastal living. Design that ages gracefully, technology that respects the driver, safety that leads the industry, and comfort that supports all passengers are what give the Volvo XC90 an undeniable edge.
Three-row luxury works best when it feels effortless. The Volvo XC90 captures luxury and three-row utility perfectly, making every coastal drive calm and confidently premium.
Ownership Experience That Adds Value
Luxury SUV ownership goes way beyond the vehicle itself. Buying a new Volvo XC90 at Volvo Cars Monterey includes numerous perks, which include transparent and thoughtful long-term service. Certified technicians at our Volvo Service Center are here to perform scheduled maintenance, repairs, and routine care, helping customers keep their Volvo XC90 road-ready for coastal life year-round.
Shoppers can start their search from home by browsing our new inventory and applying for financing online, saving time during their visit to our showroom. Search our used inventory for additional options or configurations.