Compare the2022 Audi Q5 SportbackVS 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Velar

The Q5 Sportback’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Range Rover Velar doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Audi Q5 Sportback 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 Land Rover Range Rover Velar doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The Q5 Sportback 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 Range Rover Velar 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.

Both the Q5 Sportback and the Range Rover Velar 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, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

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 Sportback its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2021, a rating granted to only 73 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Range Rover Velar has not been tested, yet.

The Q5 Sportback’s corrosion warranty is 6 years longer than the Range Rover Velar’s (12 vs. 6 years).

There are over 60 percent more Audi dealers than there are Land Rover dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Q5 Sportback’s warranty.

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

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Q5 Sportback’s reliability 40 points higher than the Range Rover Velar.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Land Rover vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Audi 20th in reliability. With 117 more problems per 100 vehicles, Land Rover is ranked 33rd.

The Q5 Sportback’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 14 more horsepower (261 vs. 247) and 4 lbs.-ft. more torque (273 vs. 269) than the Range Rover Velar P250’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Q5 Sportback gets better mileage than the Range Rover Velar:

Both the Q5 Sportback and the Range Rover Velar have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stop lights and heavy traffic. All Q5 Sportback’s have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The Range Rover Velar P340/P400 doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

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

The Q5 Sportback 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 Range Rover Velar doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The Q5 Sportback’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 Range Rover Velar doesn’t offer launch control.

The Q5 Sportback’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Range Rover Velar’s standard 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Q5 Sportback has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Range Rover Velar.

The Q5 Sportback is 5 inches shorter than the Range Rover Velar, making the Q5 Sportback easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Q5 Sportback is 5.5 inches narrower than the Range Rover Velar, making the Q5 Sportback easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

The Q5 Sportback has 2.1 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more front legroom, .5 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear legroom and .9 inches more rear shoulder room than the Range Rover Velar.

The Q5 Sportback has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Range Rover Velar doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Q5 Sportback to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. Heated windshield washer nozzles cost extra on the Range Rover Velar.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Q5 Sportback has standard extendable sun visors. The Range Rover Velar doesn’t offer extendable visors.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Audi Q5 Sportback Premium Plus/Prestige has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Range Rover Velar doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Q5 Sportback 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 Range Rover Velar doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Audi Q5 Sportback, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Land Rover Range Rover Velar isn't recommended.

The Audi Q5 outsold the Land Rover Range Rover Velar by almost four to one during 2020.