Compare the2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-In HybridVS 2022 Audi Q5

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid are reminded to check the back seat when a sensor determines the back seat is occupied. The Q5 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid Limited has standard Parking Collision Avoidance Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Q5 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Q5 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid and the Q5 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, 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.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid is safer than the Audi Q5:

	Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid	Q5
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	16%	22%
Neck Stress	149 lbs.	215 lbs.
Neck Compression	13 lbs.	44 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	50/51 lbs.	80/49 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.7 inches
Neck Injury Risk	27%	34%
Neck Stress	99 lbs.	134 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 Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid is safer than the Audi Q5:

	Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid	Q5
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	148	185
Hip Force	736 lbs.	817 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	14 inches	15 inches
Hip Force	576 lbs.	600 lbs.

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

Warranty

The Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Q5’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than Audi covers the Q5. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Q5 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Hyundai will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Audi only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Q5.

There are almost 3 times as many Hyundai dealers as there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid’s warranty.

Reliability

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid has a standard 760-amp battery. The Q5’s 420-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 54 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Hyundai higher than Audi.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in reliability, above the industry average. With 84 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 25th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 8 places higher in reliability than Audi.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid running on electricity gets better mileage than the Q5 55 TFSI e running on electricity (79 city/72 hwy vs. 60 city/61 hwy MPGe).

On the EPA test cycle the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Q5 running its gasoline engine:

			MPG
Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid
	AWD	1.6 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	33 city/32 hwy
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

The Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid can travel with zero emissions on electricity, only, on a full charge for 31 miles. The Q5 55 TFSI e has to start its internal combustion engine after only 23 miles.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Q5 requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid higher (7 out of 10) than the Audi Q5 (5 to 7). This means the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Q5 every 15,000 miles.

Tires and Wheels

The Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Q5 45 TFSI’s standard 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Q5 45 TFSI.

Suspension and Handling

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid is 1.2 inches wider in the front and 1.9 inches wider in the rear than on the Q5.

For better maneuverability, the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the Q5 45 TFSI’s (37.4 feet vs. 38.7 feet). The Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid’s turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the Q5 55 TFSI e’s (37.4 feet vs. 39.4 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Q5 55 TFSI e (8.2 vs. 8 inches), allowing the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Passenger Space

The Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid has 1.6 inches more front headroom, 3.2 inches more front legroom, 1.4 inches more front shoulder room, 1.5 inches more rear legroom and 1.8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Q5.

Cargo Capacity

The Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Q5 with its rear seat up (36.4 vs. 25.8 cubic feet). The Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Q5 with its rear seat folded (72.1 vs. 54 cubic feet).

The Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid’s cargo area is larger than the Q5’s in every dimension:

	Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid	Q5
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	42.4”/77.4”	36”/69”
Max Width	54”	48.5”
Min Width	43.4”	41”
Height	31”	29.7”

Towing

Standard Trailer Sway Assist on the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid uses the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Q5 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Q5 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Q5.

The Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid Limited has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Q5 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid Limited’s Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling the transmission and speed with the brake pedal. With its available fully controlled system, the driver just activates it and it parks autonomously, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Q5 Prestige’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid will cost $165 less than the Q5 over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid will be $11496 to $18293 less than for the Audi Q5.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid and the Audi Q5, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Hyundai Santa Fe outsold the Audi Q5/SQ5 by 69% during the 2021 model year.