Compare the2023 Audi Q5VS 2023 BMW X5 xDrive45e

Safety
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
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 xDrive45e doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the Q5 and X5 xDrive45e 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 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.

Both the Q5 and the X5 xDrive45e have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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 Q5 is safer than the BMW X5 xDrive45e:

	Q5	X5 xDrive45e
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 xDrive45e:

	Q5	X5 xDrive45e
	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 xDrive45e 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 xDrive45e’s engine uses an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Q5 55 TFSI e running on electricity gets better mileage than the X5 xDrive45e running on electricity (60 city/61 hwy vs. 47 city/54 hwy MPGe).

On the EPA test cycle the Q5 running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the X5 xDrive45e running its gasoline engine:

			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 xDrive45e
	AWD	3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	19 city/22 hwy

Both the Q5 and X5 xDrive45e have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. The Q5 has a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Audi Q5 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The X5 xDrive45e requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

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 xDrive45e doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

Suspension and Handling

For better maneuverability, the Q5 40/45 TFSI’s turning circle is 2.6 feet tighter than the X5 xDrive45e’s (38.7 feet vs. 41.3 feet). The Q5 55 TFSI e’s turning circle is 1.9 feet tighter than the X5 xDrive45e’s (39.4 feet vs. 41.3 feet).

Chassis

The Audi Q5 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1050 to 1550 pounds less than the BMW X5 xDrive45e.

The Q5 is 10 inches shorter than the X5 xDrive45e, making the Q5 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

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 xDrive45e.

The front step up height for the Q5 is 1.2 inches lower than the X5 xDrive45e (18.3” vs. 19.5”). The Q5’s rear step up height is 2 inches lower than the X5 xDrive45e’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 xDrive45e’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 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

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 xDrive45e 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 $390 to $2490 less than the X5 xDrive45e 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 xDrive45e only retains 46.39%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Audi Q5 will be $2265 to $13925 less than for the BMW X5 xDrive45e.

Recommendations

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

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

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