Compare the2023 Porsche CayenneVS 2023 Audi Q5

The Porsche Cayenne 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.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the Cayenne 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 Q5 doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the Cayenne and the Q5 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, rearview cameras, available lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Porsche vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 39 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Porsche higher than Audi.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Porsche vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Porsche above average in long-term dependability. With 30 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Audi is rated below average.

The Cayenne has more powerful engines than the Q5:

The Cayenne E-Hybrid’s standard fuel tank has 5.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Q5 Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (19.8 vs. 14.3 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Cayenne’s standard fuel tank has 5.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Q5’s standard fuel tank (23.7 vs. 18.5 gallons).

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Porsche Cayenne, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the Q5.

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

The Cayenne offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The Q5 doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The Cayenne Turbo has standard air brakes, which adjust the spoiler automatically during high-speed braking in order to shorten stopping distances. The Q5 doesn’t offer air brakes.

The Cayenne stops much shorter than the Q5:

For better traction, the Cayenne has larger standard tires than the Q5 (F:255/55R19 & R:275/50R19 vs. 235/60R18). The Cayenne’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Q5 (F:285/40R21 & R:315/35R21 vs. 255/45R20).

The Cayenne’s standard 255/55R19 front and 275/50R19 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series front and 50 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Q5’s standard 60 series tires. The Cayenne’s optional 285/35R22 front and 315/30R22 rear tires have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile than the Q5’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Cayenne has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Q5. The Cayenne’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the Q5.

The Cayenne offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The Q5 doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The Cayenne offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Audi doesn’t offer an active suspension on the Q5.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Cayenne’s wheelbase is 3 inches longer than on the Q5 (114 inches vs. 111 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Cayenne is 2.7 inches wider in the front and 2.5 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Q5.

The Cayenne handles at .96 G’s, while the Q5 45 TFSI Premium Plus pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Cayenne Turbo executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 3.3 seconds quicker than the Q5 45 TFSI Prestige (23.9 seconds @ .83 average G’s vs. 27.2 seconds @ .65 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Cayenne w/Rear Wheel Steering’s turning circle is 3.6 feet tighter than the Q5 40/45 TFSI’s (35.1 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Cayenne has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Q5 55 TFSI e (8.2 vs. 8 inches), allowing the Cayenne to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Cayenne Air Suspension’s minimum ground clearance is 1.4 inches higher than on the Q5 45 TFSI (9.6 vs. 8.2 inches).

The front grille of the Cayenne 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 Cayenne has .2 inches more front legroom, 1.4 inches more front shoulder room and 2.3 inches more rear legroom than the Q5.

The front step up height for the Cayenne is 1.6 inches lower than the Q5 (16.75” vs. 18.3”). The Cayenne’s rear step up height is 2 inches lower than the Q5’s (16” vs. 18”).

The Cayenne has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Q5 with its rear seat up (27.2 vs. 25.8 cubic feet). The Cayenne has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Q5 with its rear seat folded (60.3 vs. 54 cubic feet).

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

The Cayenne’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Q5’s (7700 vs. 4400 pounds).

While the Q5 55 TFSI e can only tow 2000, any Cayenne can tow a minimum of 7700 pounds.

Standard trailer sway control on the Cayenne uses the Porsche Stability Management 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.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Porsche service is better than Audi. J.D. Power ranks Porsche third in service department satisfaction. With a 14% lower rating, Audi is ranked 8th.

Unlike the driver-only memory system optional in the Q5, the Cayenne offers an optional driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle and climate settings and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The Cayenne’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Q5 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

Consumer Reports rated the Cayenne’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 Cayenne offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Q5 doesn’t offer cornering lights.

To better shield the driver and front passenger’s vision, the Cayenne has standard dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The Q5 doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

Optional air conditioned front and rear seats keep the Cayenne’s passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The Q5 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

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

The Cayenne’s optional Active Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Park Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Q5 Prestige’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park and it doesn’t offer remote control parking.

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

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Cayenne third among upper midsize premium suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Q5 isn’t in the top three.