Compare the2023 BMW X3VS 2022 Audi Q5

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The BMW X3 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Q5 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The X3 has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Q5 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The X3 offers optional Active Park Distance Control 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 X3’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 X3 and the Q5 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, 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, available all wheel drive and 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 BMW X3 is safer than the Audi Q5:

	X3	Q5
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	102	284
Neck Injury Risk	21%	22%
Neck Stress	202 lbs.	215 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	176	187
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.7 inches

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 BMW X3 is safer than the Audi Q5:

	X3	Q5
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.6 inches
Hip Force	275 lbs.	279 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	133	185
Spine Acceleration	45 G’s	53 G’s
Hip Force	794 lbs.	817 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	15 inches

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

Warranty

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the X3 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW 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 over 15 percent more BMW dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the X3’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates rated the X3 first among compact premium suvs in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The Q5 isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW above average in initial quality. With 74 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW above average in long-term dependability. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Audi is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW 2 places higher in reliability than Audi.

Engine

The X3 M40i’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 20 more horsepower (382 vs. 362) than the Q5 55 TFSI e’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the X3 M40i 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Q5 55 TFSI e:

	X3	Q5
Zero to 60 MPH	4.1 sec	4.5 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	11.1 sec	12.2 sec
Passing 30 to 50 MPH	2.5 sec	3 sec
Passing 50 to 70 MPH	3.1 sec	3.9 sec
Quarter Mile	12.8 sec	13.2 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	107 MPH	104 MPH
Top Speed	155 MPH	128 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The X3 has 2.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Q5 Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (17.2 vs. 14.3 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the BMW X3, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the Q5.

Brakes and Stopping

The X3 stops much shorter than the Q5:

	X3	Q5
70 to 0 MPH	158 feet	176 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	112 feet	136 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	138 feet	144 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the X3 has larger standard tires than the Q5 (245/50R19 vs. 235/60R18).

The X3’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Q5 45 TFSI’s standard 60 series tires. The X3’s optional 245/40R21 front and 275/35R21 rear tires have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile than the Q5’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the X3 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Q5 45 TFSI. The X3’s optional 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the Q5.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the X3 can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Q5 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the X3’s wheelbase is 1.8 inches longer than on the Q5 (112.8 inches vs. 111 inches).

The X3 M40i xDrive handles at .88 G’s, while the Q5 45 TFSI Premium Plus pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The X3 M40i xDrive executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.3 seconds quicker than the Q5 45 TFSI Prestige (25.9 seconds @ .72 average G’s vs. 27.2 seconds @ .65 average G’s).

Chassis

The front grille of the X3 uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Q5 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Cargo Capacity

The X3 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Q5 with its rear seat up (28.7 vs. 25.8 cubic feet). The X3 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Q5 with its rear seat folded (62.7 vs. 54 cubic feet).

The X3’s cargo area is larger than the Q5’s in almost every dimension:

	X3	Q5
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	36.5”/69”	36”/69”
Max Width	47”	48.5”
Min Width	43.3”	41”
Height	30.1”	29.7”

Towing

While the Q5 55 TFSI e can only tow 2000, any X3 can tow a minimum of 4400 pounds.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that BMW service is better than Audi. J.D. Power ranks BMW 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 1% lower rating, Audi is ranked 8th.

Ergonomics

The X3 offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Q5 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the X3 offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Q5 doesn’t offer cornering lights. The X3 also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The X3’s optional Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Q5 Prestige’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

Model Availability

The X3 is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Q5 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the X3 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the X3 will cost $600 less than the Q5 over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the X3 is less expensive to operate than the Q5 because typical repairs cost less on the X3 than the Q5, including $13 less for front brake pads, $7 less for a starter and $6 less for a fuel pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the BMW X3 will be $1224 to $2823 less than for the Audi Q5.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the BMW X3 and the Audi Q5, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The BMW X3 outsold the Audi Q5/SQ5 by 9% during the 2021 model year.