Compare the2023 Audi Q5VS 2023 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid

The Q5’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Tucson Hybrid doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the Q5 and Tucson Hybrid 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 Tucson Hybrid’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 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 Tucson Hybrid 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.

Both the Q5 and the Tucson Hybrid 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 Q5’s corrosion warranty is 5 years longer than the Tucson Hybrid’s (12 vs. 7 years).

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

The Q5 45 TFSI’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 35 more horsepower (261 vs. 226) and 15 lbs.-ft. more torque (273 vs. 258) than the Tucson Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The Q5 55 TFSI e’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 136 more horsepower (362 vs. 226) and 111 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 258) than the Tucson Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the Q5 55 TFSI e is faster than the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid:

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

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

Both the Q5 and Tucson Hybrid 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.

The Q5’s standard fuel tank has 4.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Tucson Hybrid (18.5 vs. 13.7 gallons).

A seven-speed automatic (SMG) is standard on the Audi Q5, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Tucson Hybrid.

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

The Q5’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 Tucson Hybrid doesn’t offer launch control.

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

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

The Q5 stops shorter than the Tucson Hybrid:

For better traction, the Q5’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Tucson Hybrid (255/45R20 vs. 235/65R17).

The Q5’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Tucson Hybrid Blue’s standard 65 series tires. The Q5’s optional tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Tucson Hybrid SEL/Limited’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Q5 has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Tucson Hybrid Blue. The Q5’s optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels on the Tucson Hybrid SEL/Limited.

The Q5 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 Tucson Hybrid; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

The Q5 offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Tucson Hybrid’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

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 Tucson Hybrid doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Q5’s wheelbase is 2.5 inches longer than on the Tucson Hybrid (111 inches vs. 108.5 inches).

The Q5 has .1 inches more front shoulder room and .5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Tucson Hybrid.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Q5. The Tucson Hybrid doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Q5’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Tucson Hybrid’s (4400 vs. 2000 pounds).

The Q5 uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Tucson Hybrid uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The engine in the Q5 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Tucson Hybrid. 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 Hyundai. J.D. Power ranks Audi 8th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 34% lower rating, Hyundai is ranked 29th.

The Q5 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 Tucson Hybrid doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Q5’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 Tucson Hybrid’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the Q5 the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Tucson Hybrid can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Q5’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 Tucson Hybrid’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Q5 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Tucson Hybrid 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 Prestige has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Tucson Hybrid doesn’t offer headlight washers.

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

When the Q5 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 Tucson Hybrid’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Q5’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 Tucson Hybrid offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.