Compare the2022 Audi Q5VS 2021 Lexus NX Series

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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Both the Q5 and NX Series 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 NX Series’ 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.

The Q5 has a standard Secondary Collision Brake Assist, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The NX Series doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Q5. But it costs extra on the NX Series.

Both the Q5 and the NX Series have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, 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 Lexus NX Series:

	Q5	NX Series
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	22%	46%
Neck Stress	215 lbs.	509 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	80/49 lbs.	480/609 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	187	355
Neck Injury Risk	34%	42%
Neck Stress	134 lbs.	295 lbs.
Neck Compression	30 lbs.	70 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	90/55 lbs.	442/307 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 Lexus NX Series:

	Q5	NX Series
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	60	192
Chest Movement	.6 inches	.6 inches
Abdominal Force	98 G’s	148 G’s
Hip Force	279 lbs.	352 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	185	317
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Max Damage Depth	15 inches	15 inches
HIC	219	542
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	38 G’s
Hip Force	600 lbs.	828 lbs.

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

Warranty

The Q5’s corrosion warranty is 6 years longer than the NX Series’ (12 vs. 6 years).

There are over 24 percent more Audi dealers than there are Lexus dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Q5’s warranty.

Reliability

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

Engine

The Q5 45 TFSI’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 67 more horsepower (261 vs. 194) and 74 lbs.-ft. more torque (273 vs. 199) than the NX 300h’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The Q5 45 TFSI’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 26 more horsepower (261 vs. 235) and 15 lbs.-ft. more torque (273 vs. 258) than the NX 300’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Q5 55 TFSI e’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 127 more horsepower (362 vs. 235) and 111 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 258) than the NX 300’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Q5 running on electricity gets better mileage than the NX Series:

			MPGe
Q5
	AWD	55 TFSI e Electric Motor	60 city/61 hwy
NX Series
			MPG
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/28 hwy
	AWD	2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	33 city/30 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/28 hwy
		F Sport 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/27 hwy

On the EPA test cycle the Q5 running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the NX Series:

			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
NX Series
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/28 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/28 hwy
		F Sport 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/27 hwy

The Q5 55 TFSI e’s maximum driving range in pure electric mode is 23 miles, about 14 times as far as the NX 300h’s 1.6 mile range.

Both the Q5 and the NX Series 300h 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.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Audi Q5 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The NX 300 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Q5’s standard fuel tank has 2.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the NX Series’ standard fuel tank (18.5 vs. 15.9 gallons).

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Audi Q5 higher (5 to 7 out of 10) than the Lexus NX Series (3 to 7). This means the Q5 produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the NX Series every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

A seven-speed automatic (SMG) is standard on the Audi Q5, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the NX Series.

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 NX Series doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The Q5’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The NX Series doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Q5 45 TFSI	Q5 55 TFSI e	NX Series
Front Rotors	13.3 inches	13.8 inches	12.9 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	13 inches	11.1 inches

The Q5’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the NX Series are solid, not vented.

The Q5 stops much shorter than the NX Series:

	Q5	NX Series
70 to 0 MPH	161 feet	183 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	130 feet	136 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Q5 has larger standard tires than the NX Series (235/60R18 vs. 225/65R17). The Q5’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the NX Series (255/45R20 vs. 235/55R18).

The Q5 45 TFSI’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the NX Series’ standard 65 series tires. The Q5’s optional tires have a lower 45 series profile than the NX Series F Sport’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Q5 45 TFSI has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the NX Series. The Q5’s optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels optional on the NX Series.

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 NX Series doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Q5’s wheelbase is 6.3 inches longer than on the NX Series (111 inches vs. 104.7 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Q5 is 1.6 inches wider in the front and 1.3 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the NX Series.

The Q5 45 TFSI Premium Plus handles at .81 G’s, while the NX 300 F Sport AWD pulls only .76 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Q5 45 TFSI Prestige executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the NX 300h AWD (27.2 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 27.8 seconds @ .63 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Q5 55 TFSI e has a 1.3 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the NX 300h (8 vs. 6.7 inches), allowing the Q5 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Q5 45 TFSI’s minimum ground clearance is 1.3 inches higher than on the NX 300 (8.2 vs. 6.9 inches).

Passenger Space

The Q5 has 1.4 inches more front headroom, .4 inches more front shoulder room, 1.2 inches more rear headroom, 1.9 inches more rear legroom and 1.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the NX Series.

Cargo Capacity

The Q5 has a much larger cargo volume than the NX Series with its rear seat up (25.8 vs. 17.7 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Q5 easier. The Q5’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 29 inches, while the NX Series’ liftover is 31.2 inches.

Towing

The Q5’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the NX Series’ (4400 vs. 0 pounds).

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Q5 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the NX Series. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

The Q5 Prestige has a standard heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The NX Series doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Q5’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The NX Series’ power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Q5’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The NX Series’ standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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 NX Series 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 NX Series doesn’t offer headlight washers.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Q5 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The NX Series doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Q5 has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the NX Series. The Q5 also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the NX Series.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Audi Q5 offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The NX Series doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Q5 Prestige’s Park Steering Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The NX Series doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Q5 is less expensive to operate than the NX Series because it costs $463 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Q5 than the NX Series, including $123 less for fuel injection, $540 less for a timing belt/chain and $3 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Audi Q5 and the Lexus NX Series, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Audi Q5/SQ5 outsold the Lexus NX Series by 586 units during the 2021 model year.