Compare the2023 Audi Q5VS 2023 BMW X5

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Audi Q5 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 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the Q5 and X5 have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Q5 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’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.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Q5. But it costs extra on the X5.

Both the Q5 and the X5 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 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 is safer than the BMW X5:

	Q5	X5
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	22%	34%
Neck Stress	215 lbs.	308 lbs.
Neck Compression	44 lbs.	112 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	80/49 lbs.	636/584 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	187	342
Chest Compression	.7 inches	.8 inches
Neck Injury Risk	34%	35%
Neck Stress	134 lbs.	220 lbs.
Neck Compression	30 lbs.	91 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	90/55 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 Q5 is safer than the BMW X5:

	Q5	X5
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	60	72
Chest Movement	.6 inches	.6 inches
Abdominal Force	98 lbs.	130 lbs.
Hip Force	279 lbs.	279 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	219	308
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	44 G’s
Hip Force	600 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 Q5 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 92 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The X5 is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2022.

Reliability

The Audi Q5’s engines use a cast iron block for durability, while the X5’s engines use an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

Engine

As tested in Car and Driver the Q5 55 TFSI e is faster than the X5 40i 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid:

	Q5	X5
Zero to 60 MPH	4.5 sec	4.9 sec
Quarter Mile	13.2 sec	13.6 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	104 MPH	101 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Q5 running on electricity gets better mileage than the X5:

			MPGe
Q5
	AWD	55 TFSI e Electric Motor	60 city/61 hwy
X5
			MPG
	RWD	3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	21 city/26 hwy
	AWD	3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	21 city/25 hwy
		4.4 turbo V8	16 city/22 hwy

On the EPA test cycle the Q5 running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the X5:

			MPG
Q5
	AWD	55 TFSI e 2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	25 city/27 hwy
		40 TFSI 2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	23 city/29 hwy
		45 TFSI 2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	22 city/29 hwy
X5
	RWD	3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	21 city/26 hwy
	AWD	3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	21 city/25 hwy
		4.4 turbo V8	16 city/22 hwy

The Q5 55 TFSI e can travel with zero emissions for 22 miles. The X5 can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Both the Q5 and the X5 have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Q5s have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. A disable switch for start/stop is only offered on the X5 M50i.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Audi Q5 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The X5 requires premium, 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 Audi Q5 higher (5 to 7 out of 10) than the BMW X5 (3). This means the Q5 produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the X5 every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

The Q5 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 X5 doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

Brakes and Stopping

The Q5 stops much shorter than the X5:

	Q5	X5
70 to 0 MPH	161 feet	172 feet	Car and Driver

Suspension and Handling

The Q5 55 TFSI e has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Q5’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The X5 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For better maneuverability, the Q5 40/45 TFSI’s turning circle is 2.6 feet tighter than the X5’s (38.7 feet vs. 41.3 feet). The Q5 55 TFSI e’s turning circle is 1.9 feet tighter than the X5’s (39.4 feet vs. 41.3 feet).

Chassis

The Audi Q5 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 650 to 750 pounds less than the BMW X5.

The Q5 is 10 inches shorter than the X5, making the Q5 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The design of the Audi Q5 amounts to more than styling. The Q5 offers aerodynamic coefficients of drag from .33 to .34 Cd (depending on bodystyle and options). That is lower than the X5 (.36 to .38) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Q5 get better fuel mileage.

Passenger Space

The Q5 has 1.1 inches more front legroom, .6 inches more rear headroom and .6 inches more rear legroom than the X5.

The front step up height for the Q5 is 1.2 inches lower than the X5 (18.3” vs. 19.5”). The Q5’s rear step up height is 2 inches lower than the X5’s (18” vs. 20”).

Cargo Capacity

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Q5 easier. The Q5’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 29 inches, while the X5’s liftover is 30.8 inches.

The Q5’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The X5’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

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 Prestige has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The X5 doesn’t offer headlight washers.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Q5 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Q5 will cost $2005 less than the X5 over a five-year period.

The Q5 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Q5 will retain 48.77% to 50.66% of its original price after five years, while the X5 only retains 47.3% to 48.55%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Q5 is less expensive to operate than the X5 because it costs $82 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Q5 than the X5, including $57 less for a water pump, $1233 less for a muffler, $58 less for front brake pads, $75 less for fuel injection, $34 less for a fuel pump, $139 less for front struts, $1057 less for a timing belt/chain and $1635 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Audi Q5 will be $14049 to $21753 less than for the BMW X5.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Audi Q5 and the BMW X5, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Audi Q5/SQ5 outsold the BMW X5 by 17% during the 2021 model year.