Compare the2023 Audi Q5 SportbackVS 2022 Ford Bronco Sport

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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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 Bronco Sport doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the Q5 Sportback and Bronco Sport 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 Bronco Sport’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 Premium Plus/Prestige has a standard Top View Camera System to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Bronco Sport only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

Both the Q5 Sportback and the Bronco Sport 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, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and rear cross-path warning.

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 Ford Bronco Sport:

	Q5 Sportback	Bronco Sport
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	22%	26%
Leg Forces (l/r)	80/49 lbs.	123/237 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	34%	37%
Neck Stress	134 lbs.	177 lbs.
Neck Compression	30 lbs.	54 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	90/55 lbs.	385/291 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 Q5 Sportback is safer than the Ford Bronco Sport:

	Q5 Sportback	Bronco Sport
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	60	80
Chest Movement	.6 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	98 lbs.	198 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	219	255

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

Warranty

The Q5 Sportback comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Bronco Sport’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

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

Reliability

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

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Q5 Sportback’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the Bronco Sport’s camshafts. If the Bronco Sport’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

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

Engine

The Q5 Sportback’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 80 more horsepower (261 vs. 181) and 83 lbs.-ft. more torque (273 vs. 190) than the Bronco Sport’s standard 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder. The Q5 Sportback’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 11 more horsepower (261 vs. 250) than the Bronco Sport Badlands’ standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Q5 Sportback gets better fuel mileage than the Bronco Sport Badlands 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder (22 city/29 hwy vs. 21 city/26 hwy).

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

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

Transmission

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 Bronco Sport 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 Bronco Sport doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Q5 Sportback	Bronco Sport
Front Rotors	13.3 inches	12.1 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	11.9 inches

The Q5 Sportback’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Bronco Sport are solid, not vented.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Q5 Sportback has larger standard tires than the Bronco Sport (235/55R19 vs. 225/65R17). The Q5 Sportback’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Bronco Sport (255/45R20 vs. 235/65R17).

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 Bronco Sport’s standard 65 series tires. The Q5 Sportback Premium Plus/Prestige’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Bronco Sport’s optional 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Q5 Sportback has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Bronco Sport. The Q5 Sportback Premium Plus/Prestige’s optional 21-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels optional on the Bronco Sport.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Q5 Sportback’s wheelbase is 5.9 inches longer than on the Bronco Sport (111 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

Chassis

For excellent aerodynamics, the Q5 Sportback has standard flush composite headlights. The Bronco Sport has recessed headlights that spoil its aerodynamic shape and create extra drag.

Passenger Space

The Q5 Sportback has .4 inches more front shoulder room, .9 inches more rear legroom and .9 inches more rear shoulder room than the Bronco Sport.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Q5 Sportback’s rear seats recline. The Bronco Sport’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the Q5 Sportback’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the Q5 Sportback has a standard power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button, or optionally by just kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

Towing

The Q5 Sportback’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Bronco Sport’s (4400 vs. 0 pounds).

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Q5 Sportback is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Bronco Sport. 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 Ford. J.D. Power ranks Audi 8th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 27% lower rating, Ford is ranked 22nd.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the Q5 Sportback, the optional memory system makes it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Q5 Sportback’s optional easy entry system raises the steering wheel when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Q5 Sportback Prestige has a standard heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Q5 Sportback’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Bronco Sport’s standard power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver’s window opens automatically.

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 Bronco Sport doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

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 Bronco Sport’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 Bronco Sport 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 Bronco Sport 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 Bronco Sport doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Q5 Sportback’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Ford only offers heated mirrors on the Bronco Sport Big Bend/Outer Banks/Badlands.

When the Q5 Sportback with available tilt-down mirrors is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Bronco Sport’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

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 Bronco Sport offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Q5 Sportback has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the Bronco Sport, and aren’t available on the Bronco Sport Base. 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 Bronco Sport.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Q5 Sportback (except Premium) keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Bronco Sport doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Q5 Sportback has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning costs extra on the Bronco Sport and isn’t available on the Bronco Sport Base/Big Bend.

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 Bronco Sport doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

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

The Audi Q5 outsold the Ford Bronco Sport by almost 10 to one during 2020.