Compare the2023 Toyota Rav4 PrimeVS 2023 Audi Q5

The Toyota Rav4 Prime has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps 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 Rav4 Prime XSE offers optional Parking Assist with Automatic Braking that use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The Q5 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

Both the Rav4 Prime and the Q5 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, 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.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Rav4 Prime the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 53 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Q5 has not been fully tested, yet.

Toyota’s powertrain warranty covers the Rav4 Prime 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Audi covers the Q5. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Q5 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Rav4 Prime for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota 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 4 times as many Toyota dealers as there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Rav4 Prime’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Rav4 Prime’s reliability 13 points higher than the Q5.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in initial quality. With 67 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 Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in long-term dependability. With 34 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 2023 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota first in overall reliability. Audi is ranked 6th.

The Rav4 Prime’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 101 more horsepower (302 vs. 201) than the Q5 40 TFSI’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The Rav4 Prime’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 41 more horsepower (302 vs. 261) than the Q5 45 TFSI’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the Rav4 Prime running on electricity gets better mileage than the Q5 55 TFSI e running on electricity (105 city/84 hwy vs. 60 city/61 hwy MPGe).

On the EPA test cycle the Rav4 Prime running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Q5 running its gasoline engine:

The Rav4 Prime can travel with zero emissions on electricity, only, on a full charge for 42 miles. The Q5 55 TFSI e has to start its internal combustion engine after only 23 miles.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Rav4 Prime uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Q5 requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Toyota Rav4 Prime higher (7 out of 10) than the Audi Q5 (5 to 7). This means the Rav4 Prime produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Q5 every 15,000 miles.

The Rav4 Prime has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Q5 doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Rav4 Prime stops shorter than the Q5:

The Rav4 Prime XSE handles at .83 G’s, while the Q5 45 TFSI Prestige pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Rav4 Prime SE’s turning circle is 2.6 feet tighter than the Q5 40/45 TFSI’s (36.1 feet vs. 38.7 feet). The Rav4 Prime XSE’s turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the Q5 55 TFSI e’s (37.4 feet vs. 39.4 feet).

The Rav4 Prime is 3.4 inches shorter than the Q5, making the Rav4 Prime easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the Rav4 Prime 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 Rav4 Prime has .1 inches more front legroom, .1 inches more front shoulder room and .2 inches more rear headroom than the Q5.

The Rav4 Prime has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Q5 with its rear seat up (33.5 vs. 25.8 cubic feet). The Rav4 Prime has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Q5 with its rear seat folded (69.8 vs. 54 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Rav4 Prime easier. The Rav4 Prime’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 27.8 inches, while the Q5’s liftover is 29 inches.

The Rav4 Prime’s cargo area is larger than the Q5’s in almost every dimension:

While the Q5 55 TFSI e can only tow 2000, any Rav4 Prime can tow a minimum of 2500 pounds.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Rav4 Prime uses the Vehicle Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Q5 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Rav4 Prime 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.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Rav4 Prime has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Q5 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

Consumer Reports rated the Rav4 Prime’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Q5’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Rav4 Prime XSE offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Q5 doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Rav4 Prime XSE offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet in the cargo area, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Q5 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Toyota Rav4 Prime and the Audi Q5, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Toyota Rav4 outsold the Audi Q5/SQ5 by over six to one during 2022.