Compare the2023 Audi e-tronVS 2023 BMW X5 xDrive45e

Safety
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Audi e-tron 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 X5 xDrive45e doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the e-tron and X5 xDrive45e have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The e-tron 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 X5 xDrive45e’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.

An active infrared night vision system optional on the e-tron helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera and near-infrared lights to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The X5 xDrive45e doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the e-tron and the X5 xDrive45e have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee 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 e-tron is safer than the BMW X5 xDrive45e:

	e-tron	X5 xDrive45e
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	23%	34%
Neck Stress	253 lbs.	308 lbs.
Neck Compression	16 lbs.	112 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	137/335 lbs.	636/584 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	323	342
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.8 inches
Neck Stress	157 lbs.	220 lbs.
Neck Compression	67 lbs.	91 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	244/319 lbs.	527/418 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 e-tron is safer than the BMW X5 xDrive45e:

	e-tron	X5 xDrive45e
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	44	72
Abdominal Force	117 lbs.	130 lbs.
Hip Force	236 lbs.	279 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	579 lbs.	584 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	8 inches	14 inches
HIC	279	308
Hip Force	631 lbs.	796 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 e-tron its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 89 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The X5 xDrive45e is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2022.

Engine

The e-tron’s standard electric motors produces 13 more horsepower (402 vs. 389) and 47 lbs.-ft. more torque (490 vs. 443) than the X5 xDrive45e’s 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid. The e-tron S’ standard electric motors produces 107 more horsepower (496 vs. 389) and 274 lbs.-ft. more torque (717 vs. 443) than the X5 xDrive45e’s 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the e-tron gets better mileage than the X5 xDrive45e running on electricity:

			MPGe
e-tron
	AWD	Electric Motors	78 city/79 hwy
		S Electric Motors	72 city/75 hwy
X5 xDrive45e
	AWD	Electric Motor	47 city/54 hwy

On the EPA test cycle the e-tron gets better mileage than the X5 xDrive45e running its gasoline engine:

			MPGe
e-tron
	AWD	Electric Motors	78 city/79 hwy
		S Electric Motors	72 city/75 hwy
X5 xDrive45e
			MPG
	AWD	3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	19 city/22 hwy

The e-tron can travel with zero emissions on a full charge for 208 to 226 miles. The X5 xDrive45e has to start its internal combustion engine after only 31 miles.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Audi e-tron higher (10 out of 10) than the BMW X5 xDrive45e (7). This means the e-tron produces up to 11.8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the X5 xDrive45e every 15,000 miles.

Tires and Wheels

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the e-tron has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the X5 xDrive45e.

Suspension and Handling

For better maneuverability, the e-tron’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the X5 xDrive45e’s (40 feet vs. 41.3 feet).

Passenger Space

The e-tron has 1 inch more front legroom and 1.7 inches more rear legroom than the X5 xDrive45e.

Cargo Capacity

The e-tron’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The X5 xDrive45e’s tailgate’s top part raises up, but the bottom part lowers, getting in the way of loading and making an uneven surface for sliding cargo.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the X5 xDrive45e, the e-tron Prestige has a passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The e-tron has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the X5 xDrive45e.

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