Compare the2023 Audi Q5VS 2022 Lexus NX

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 NX doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the Q5 and NX 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 NX’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 NX 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.

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

Both the Q5 and the NX 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, 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 6 years longer than the NX’s (12 vs. 6 years).

There are over 25 percent more Audi dealers than there are Lexus dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Q5’s warranty.

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

The Q5 has more powerful engines than the NX:

As tested in Car and Driver the Q5 55 TFSI e is faster than the NX 350 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder:

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

Both the Q5 and the NX 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. The NX 350h/450h+ doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Audi Q5 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The NX 350 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Q5’s standard fuel tank has 4 gallons more fuel capacity than the NX (18.5 vs. 14.5 gallons).

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 NX 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 NX doesn’t offer launch control.

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

The Q5 stops much shorter than the NX:

For better traction, the Q5’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the NX (255/45R20 vs. 235/60R18).

The Q5’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the NX’s optional 50 series tires.

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 NX; 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 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 NX doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Q5’s wheelbase is 5.1 inches longer than on the NX (111 inches vs. 105.9 inches).

The Q5 55 TFSI e Premium Plus handles at .83 G’s, while the NX 350 AWD pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Q5 45 TFSI Prestige executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.2 seconds quicker than the NX 450h AWD (27.2 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Q5 55 TFSI e has a greater minimum ground clearance than the NX (8 vs. 7.7 inches), allowing the Q5 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Q5 45 TFSI’s minimum ground clearance is .5 inch higher than on the NX (8.2 vs. 7.7 inches).

The Q5 has 1.3 inches more front headroom, 1.4 inches more front shoulder room, .8 inches more rear headroom, 1.9 inches more rear legroom and 2.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the NX.

The Q5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the NX with its rear seat up (25.8 vs. 22.7 cubic feet). The Q5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the NX with its rear seat folded (54 vs. 46.9 cubic feet).

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 NX’s liftover is 30.8 inches.

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

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

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

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 NX’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 NX doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

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

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

The Audi Q5/SQ5 outsold the Lexus NX by 586 units during the 2021 model year.