Compare the2023 Audi SQ7VS 2023 BMW X5 M

Safety
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Audi SQ7 have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The BMW X5 M doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Audi SQ7 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 M doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the SQ7 and X5 M have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The SQ7 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 M’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.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the SQ7 Prestige helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The X5 M doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the SQ7 and the X5 M have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Audi SQ7 is safer than the BMW X5 M:

	SQ7	X5 M
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	99	209
Neck Injury Risk	25%	34%
Neck Stress	186 lbs.	308 lbs.
Neck Compression	37 lbs.	112 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	61/46 lbs.	636/584 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	102	342
Chest Compression	.7 inches	.8 inches
Neck Stress	118 lbs.	220 lbs.
Neck Compression	38 lbs.	91 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	46/29 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 SQ7 is safer than the BMW X5 M:

	SQ7	X5 M
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Abdominal Force	128 lbs.	130 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	14 inches
HIC	290	308
Spine Acceleration	40 G’s	44 G’s
Hip Force	557 lbs.	796 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Engine

The SQ7’s 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 15 lbs.-ft. more torque (568 vs. 553) than the X5 M’s standard 4.4 turbo V8. The SQ7’s 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 15 lbs.-ft. more torque (568 vs. 553) than the X5 M Competition’s standard 4.4 turbo V8.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the SQ7 gets better mileage than the X5 M:

			MPG
SQ7
	AWD	4.0 turbo V8 Hybrid	14 city/20 hwy
X5 M
	AWD	4.4 turbo V8	13 city/18 hwy
		Competition 4.4 turbo V8	13 city/18 hwy

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the SQ7’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the X5 M:

	SQ7	X5 M
Front Rotors	15.8 inches	15.6 inches

Suspension and Handling

The front and rear suspension of the SQ7 uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the X5 M, which uses coil springs in front. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The SQ7 has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The SQ7’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 M doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For better maneuverability, the SQ7’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the X5 M’s (41 feet vs. 42 feet).

Chassis

The design of the Audi SQ7 amounts to more than styling. The SQ7 has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .35 Cd. That is lower than the X5 M (.38). A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the SQ7 get better fuel mileage.

Passenger Space

The SQ7 has standard seating for 7 passengers; the X5 M can only carry 5.

The SQ7 has 1.9 inches more front legroom, 1.4 inches more rear legroom and .4 inches more rear shoulder room than the X5 M.

The front step up height for the SQ7 is .9 inches lower than the X5 M (18.6” vs. 19.5”). The SQ7’s rear step up height is 1.3 inches lower than the X5 M’s (18.7” vs. 20”).

Cargo Capacity

The SQ7’s cargo area is larger than the X5 M’s in almost every dimension:

	SQ7	X5 M
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	19.5”/44.7”/80.7”	n.a./40.7”/70”
Max Width	52.5”	49”
Min Width	42.6”	44”
Height	30”	31.5”

The SQ7’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The X5 M’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.

Towing

The SQ7 has a 7700 lbs. towing capacity. The X5 M has no towing capacity.

Ergonomics

Laser headlights, standard on the SQ7 Prestige, produce their light by firing blue lasers through phosphorus, a process that uses one-half the power of the X5 M’s LED headlights. Laser headlights can have double the range of LEDs with a much smaller surface area.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The SQ7 Prestige has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The X5 M doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To better shield the driver and front passenger’s vision, the SQ7 has standard dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The X5 M doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

A manual rear sunshade and rear side window sunshades are optional in the SQ7 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The X5 M doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Audi SQ7 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the X5 M.

The SQ7 Prestige’s Park Assist Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Park Assist Plus will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The X5 M’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the SQ7 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the SQ7 will cost $170 to $495 less than the X5 M over a five-year period.

The SQ7 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the SQ7 will retain 50.51% to 51.06% of its original price after five years, while the X5 M only retains 45.35%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Audi SQ7 will be $15190 to $19386 less than for the BMW X5 M.

Recommendations

The SQ7 was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Five/10Best Trucks” for 3 of the last 6 years. The X5 M has never been a Car and Driver “Top Five/10Best Truck” pick.