Compare the2022 Audi Q5VS 2021 BMW X3 xDrive30e

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Audi Q5 are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW X3 xDrive30e doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the Q5 and X3 xDrive30e have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Q5 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The X3 xDrive30e’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

Both the Q5 and the X3 xDrive30e have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Audi Q5 is safer than the BMW X3 xDrive30e:

	Q5	X3 xDrive30e
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Compression	44 lbs.	64 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	80/49 lbs.	116/280 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	34%	38%
Neck Stress	134 lbs.	139 lbs.
Neck Compression	30 lbs.	72 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	90/55 lbs.	183/114 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Audi Q5 is safer than the BMW X3 xDrive30e:

	Q5	X3 xDrive30e
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	60	64
Abdominal Force	98 G’s	153 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	219	281
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	43 G’s
Hip Force	600 lbs.	624 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Q5 its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2021, a rating granted to only 73 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The X3 xDrive30e has not been fully tested, yet.

Reliability

The Audi Q5’s engines use a cast iron block for durability, while the X3 xDrive30e’s engine uses an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

Engine

The Q5 55 TFSI e’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 74 more horsepower (362 vs. 288) and 59 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 310) than the X3 xDrive30e’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Q5 55 TFSI e Electric Motor running on electricity gets better mileage than the X3 xDrive30e running on electricity (60 city/61 hwy vs. 59 city/61 hwy MPGe).

On the EPA test cycle the Q5 running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the X3 xDrive30e running its gasoline engine:

			MPG
Q5
	AWD	55 TFSI e 2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	25 city/27 hwy
		45 TFSI 2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	23 city/28 hwy
X3 xDrive30e
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	21 city/27 hwy

The Q5 55 TFSI e’s maximum driving range in pure electric mode is 23 miles, 5% further than the X3 xDrive30e’s 22 mile range.

Both the Q5 and the X3 xDrive30e have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stop lights and heavy traffic. All Q5s have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

The Q5 Hybrid’s standard fuel tank has 1.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the X3 xDrive30e (14.3 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Q5’s standard fuel tank has 5.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the X3 xDrive30e (18.5 vs. 13.2 gallons).

Transmission

The Q5 offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The X3 xDrive30e doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Q5’s brake rotors are larger than those on the X3 xDrive30e:

	Q5 45 TFSI	Q5 55 TFSI e	X3 xDrive30e	X3 xDrive30e
Front Rotors	13.3 inches	13.8 inches	13 inches	13.7 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Q5 has larger standard tires than the X3 xDrive30e (235/60R18 vs. 225/60R18). The Q5’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the X3 xDrive30e (255/45R20 vs. 245/45R20).

The Q5 has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the X3 xDrive30e; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

The Q5 55 TFSI e has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Q5’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The X3 xDrive30e doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For better maneuverability, the Q5 45 TFSI’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the X3 xDrive30e’s (38.7 feet vs. 39.4 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Q5 45 TFSI has a greater minimum ground clearance than the X3 xDrive30e (8.2 vs. 8 inches), allowing the Q5 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The Audi Q5 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 500 pounds less than the BMW X3 xDrive30e.

Passenger Space

The Q5 has .6 inches more front legroom, .1 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear headroom, 1.6 inches more rear legroom and .5 inches more rear shoulder room than the X3 xDrive30e.

Ergonomics

The Q5’s optional easy entry system raises the steering wheel when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The X3 xDrive30e doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Q5 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The X3 xDrive30e doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The Q5 Prestige has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The X3 xDrive30e doesn’t offer headlight washers.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Audi Q5, based on reliability, safety and performance.