There are so many small luxury crossovers on the market now, it's getting difficult to keep track of them all – and to distinguish one from another.

Volvo XC60 Volvo

At a glance, doesn't the new Mercedes-Benz GLK look much like a Land Rover LR2? And who can really tell the difference between a Mazda CX-7 and an Acura RDX?

Thankfully, Audi and Volvo have added spice to the market -- both in style and function, if not in name. Indeed the Audi Q5 3.2 and Volvo XC60 T6 nameplates are sure to get lost among the alphanumeric designations cluttering the car market, from A3 to ZR-1. But shoppers who test-drive these two will find them a cut above most small utility vehicles.

Both look and perform more like cars than trucks, and come closer to a sport sedan's handling. We have heard for years that crossovers are designed to haul like trucks and handle like cars. Many do neither and almost none handle like cars. But the Audi and Volvo feel light and nimble in most driving situations, despite surprising heft.

They have smooth-shifting transmissions and enough power to accelerate onto the highway, pass slower traffic and climb long hills without worry. They feel athletic arcing through sharp curves or making quick maneuvers in parking lots. Even though they don't offer any more utility than a station wagon, their relatively high, upright driving positions make them more comfortable over long distances. This makes getting in and out also easier on the knees and back, as you don't have to bend over or squat down to enter.

These crossovers are too small to haul as much as larger trucks, but can tow more than 4,000 pounds. That means you can take your motorcycle trailer, small boat or horse (but not two horses) with you.

Since most vehicle purchases, I am convinced, start with visual appeal, it is important that the Audi and Volvo are truly attractive. This may not sound like a trait worth trumpeting -- building a pretty car shouldn't be all that difficult. Still, the small and midsize crossover segment is home to a disproportionate number of ugly ducklings.

I found the Audi and Volvo exteriors about equally pleasing, though the XC60 hints at Swedish minimalism while the Audi is more adorned with chrome accents, snazzier wheels and a huge maw of a front grille. But what makes the cars obvious competitors is how much they are alike. Both are unabashedly flashy. Wherever I arrived, I knew the cars made good impressions. And I didn't feel at a disadvantage to people driving larger, more expensive models like the Audi Q7 and Volvo XC90. These two seemed to have all the luxury features their larger siblings have, just in a smaller size that was easier to manage.

Audi Q5 Audi

The cars' "numbers" are nearly identical. Each is about 15 feet long, six feet, two inches wide and weighs 4,200 pounds. Prices are similar as well – just over $37,000. But both will cost more than $40,000 when ordered with the optional features drivers typically want, including heated seats, high-end stereos, sunroofs and rearview cameras. It is a lot to pay for what amounts to a bulked-up medium station wagon.

The high price tags compelled me to look at differences that might give one car the advantage. These grew more apparent and significant the more I drove. The Audi has slightly less power (270 horsepower compared to 281 for the Volvo), but makes better use of it, accelerating to 60 miles an hour in just under seven seconds – a few tenths of a second faster than the Volvo. When I prodded the Volvo, it accelerated with an unpleasant mechanical groan, a stark contrast from the Audi's aggressive, melodic rumble. The Audi feels fast compared with sporty cars, not just other SUVs. The Volvo feels and sounds like it is working too hard.

Volvos are known for safety, and my XC60 test car came loaded with anti-crash features. One system senses when you are about to bump into another car and applies the brakes for you. Another warns when you are wandering out of your lane. The technology is interesting but annoying in day-to-day driving -- it chirps at more than you would like. I also hate the idea of a car that drives itself.

The Audi's recent selection as a top pick for crashworthiness by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is more impressive to me. Its body structure protects occupants well in crashes. Its restraint system, including the seat belts, airbags and the seats themselves, help support passengers's bodies and prevent neck, back and other injuries.

Inside, the Audi continues to pull away. Some drivers might like the Volvo's minimal décor and central console that seems to float. But the Audi's more traditional luxury interior is more comfortable and looks more expensive. Contrasting metal trim placed throughout the cabin accentuates attractive interior shapes. The Volvo's all-over gray seemed dull next to the Audi. The Audi's climate control and radio knobs, door handles and other levers and controls also felt better to the touch than those in the Volvo.

In a way, the Audi outshines the Volvo the same way Eames furniture outshines Ikea. While the Audi's price of about $44,000 with options tends to elicit the question, "Is that all it costs?" the Volvo's similar tab had me asking, "Is that all you get?"

Write to Jonathan Welsh at