Compare the2023 Audi Q5 SportbackVS 2023 Infiniti QX55

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 QX55 doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the Q5 Sportback and QX55 have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Q5 Sportback 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 QX55’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.

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 QX55 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.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Q5 Sportback’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The QX55 doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

Both the Q5 Sportback and the QX55 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 Audi Q5 Sportback is safer than the Infiniti QX55:

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 Q5 Sportback its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 92 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The QX55 has not been tested, yet.

The Q5 Sportback’s corrosion warranty is 5 years longer than the QX55’s (12 vs. 7 years).

There are over 50 percent more Audi dealers than there are Infiniti 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 QX55’s engine uses an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

On the EPA test cycle the Q5 Sportback gets better fuel mileage than the QX55 (22 city/29 hwy vs. 22 city/28 hwy).

Regenerative brakes improve the Q5 Sportback’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The QX55 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Q5 Sportback’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The QX55 doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Audi Q5 Sportback uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The QX55 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Q5 Sportback has 2.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the QX55 (18.5 vs. 16 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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 QX55 doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the Q5 Sportback’s brake rotors are larger than those on the QX55:

The Q5 Sportback Premium Plus/Prestige’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the QX55’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Q5 Sportback Premium Plus/Prestige offers optional 21-inch wheels. The QX55’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The Q5 Sportback has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the QX55; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

The design of the Audi Q5 Sportback amounts to more than styling. The Q5 Sportback has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .33 Cd. That is lower than the QX55 (.35) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Q5 Sportback get better fuel mileage.

The Q5 Sportback has .3 inches more front headroom, 1.4 inches more front legroom and .8 inches more rear headroom than the QX55.

The Q5 Sportback has a 4400 lbs. towing capacity. The QX55 has no towing capacity.

The engine in the Q5 Sportback is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the QX55. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Audi service is better than Infiniti. J.D. Power ranks Audi 8th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 3% lower rating, Infiniti is ranked 9th.

The power windows standard on both the Q5 Sportback and the QX55 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Q5 Sportback is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The QX55 prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Q5 Sportback’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 QX55’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

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. The QX55 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 Sportback Prestige has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The QX55 doesn’t offer headlight washers.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Q5 Sportback to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The QX55 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Q5 Sportback’s standard rear view mirror and optional side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The QX55 has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Both the Q5 Sportback and the QX55 have standard heated front seats. The Q5 Sportback also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the QX55.

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 QX55 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 QX55 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Q5 Sportback will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Q5 Sportback will retain 48.81% to 48.82% of its original price after five years, while the QX55 only retains 44.12% to 44.72%.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Audi Q5 Sportback, based on reliability, safety and performance.