Compare the2023 BMW iXVS 2023 Audi Q5

The BMW iX has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Q5 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The iX has standard Active Park Distance Control that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Q5 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The iX’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Q5 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the iX and the Q5 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 BMW iX weighs 1040 to 1690 pounds more than the Audi Q5. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the iX for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Audi only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Q5.

There are over 15 percent more BMW dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the iX’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW above average in initial quality. With 74 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW above average in long-term dependability. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Audi is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW 2 places higher in reliability than Audi.

The iX has more powerful engines than the Q5:

As tested in Car and Driver the iX xDrive50 is faster than the Q5 55 TFSI e:

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

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

The iX can travel with zero emissions on a full charge for 274 to 324 miles. The Q5 55 TFSI e has to start its internal combustion engine after only 23 miles.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the BMW iX higher (10 out of 10) than the Audi Q5 (5 to 7). This means the iX produces up to 19.8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Q5 every 15,000 miles.

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

The iX stops much shorter than the Q5:

For better traction, the iX’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Q5 (275/40R22 vs. 255/45R20).

The iX’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Q5’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the iX has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Q5. The iX’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the Q5.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the iX’s wheelbase is 7.1 inches longer than on the Q5 (118.1 inches vs. 111 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the iX is 2.4 inches wider in the front and 3.9 inches wider in the rear than on the Q5.

The iX xDrive50 handles at .88 G’s, while the Q5 45 TFSI Premium Plus pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the iX has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Q5 55 TFSI e (8.8 vs. 8 inches), allowing the iX to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The iX’s minimum ground clearance is .6 inch higher than on the Q5 45 TFSI (8.8 vs. 8.2 inches).

The design of the BMW iX amounts to more than styling. The iX has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .25 Cd. That is significantly lower than the Q5 (.33 to .34) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the iX get better fuel mileage.

The front grille of the iX uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Q5 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The iX has 1.9 inches more front headroom, 3.8 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear headroom, .9 inches more rear legroom and 1.8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Q5.

The iX has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Q5 with its rear seat up (35.5 vs. 25.8 cubic feet). The iX has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Q5 with its rear seat folded (77.9 vs. 54 cubic feet).

The iX’s cargo area is larger than the Q5’s in almost every dimension:

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that BMW service is better than Audi. J.D. Power ranks BMW 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 1% lower rating, Audi is ranked 8th.

The iX has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Q5 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The iX’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. An easy entry system costs extra on the Q5.

Laser headlights, optional on the iX, produce their light by firing blue lasers through phosphorus, a process that uses one-half the power of the Q5’s LED headlights. Laser headlights can have double the range of LEDs with a much smaller surface area.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the iX has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Q5 doesn’t offer cornering lights. The iX also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The iX has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the Q5.

The iX offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Q5.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the BMW iX has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Q5.

The iX’s optional Automatic Parking Assistant can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Q5 Prestige’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.