Compare the2023 Porsche Cayenne CoupeVS 2023 Audi Q5 Sportback

The Porsche Cayenne Coupe 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 Sportback doesn’t offer knee airbags.

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

Both the Cayenne Coupe and the Q5 Sportback 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.

The Porsche Cayenne Coupe weighs 618 to 1628 pounds more than the Audi Q5 Sportback. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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 Coupe’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 74 more horsepower (335 vs. 261) and 59 lbs.-ft. more torque (332 vs. 273) than the Q5 Sportback’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The Cayenne S Coupe’s standard 2.9 turbo V6 produces 173 more horsepower (434 vs. 261) and 132 lbs.-ft. more torque (405 vs. 273) than the Q5 Sportback’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The Cayenne GTS Coupe’s standard 4.0 turbo V8 produces 192 more horsepower (453 vs. 261) and 184 lbs.-ft. more torque (457 vs. 273) than the Q5 Sportback’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid produces 194 more horsepower (455 vs. 261) and 243 lbs.-ft. more torque (516 vs. 273) than the Q5 Sportback’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid Coupe’s standard 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 409 more horsepower (670 vs. 261) and 390 lbs.-ft. more torque (663 vs. 273) than the Q5 Sportback’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the Cayenne Coupe running on electricity gets better mileage than the Q5 Sportback:

The Cayenne Coupe can travel with zero emissions for 15 to 17 miles (dependent on model). The Q5 Sportback can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

The Cayenne Coupe E-Hybrid’s standard fuel tank has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Q5 Sportback (19.8 vs. 18.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Cayenne Coupe’s standard fuel tank has 5.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Q5 Sportback (23.7 vs. 18.5 gallons).

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

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

The Cayenne Coupe 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 Sportback doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

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

For better traction, the Cayenne Coupe has larger standard tires than the Q5 Sportback (F:275/45R20 & R:305/40R20 vs. 235/55R19). The Cayenne Coupe’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Q5 Sportback (F:285/40R21 & R:315/35R21 vs. 255/45R20).

The Cayenne Coupe’s standard 275/45R20 front and 305/40R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series front and 40 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Q5 Sportback’s standard 55 series tires. The Cayenne Coupe’s optional 285/35R22 front and 315/30R22 rear tires have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile than the Q5 Sportback Premium Plus/Prestige’s optional 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Cayenne Coupe has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the Q5 Sportback. The Cayenne Coupe’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 21-inch wheels optional on the Q5 Sportback Premium Plus/Prestige.

The Cayenne Coupe 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 Sportback doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The Cayenne Coupe 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 Sportback.

The Cayenne Coupe has a standard driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Q5 Sportback’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Cayenne Coupe has a standard automatic load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Q5 Sportback doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

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

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Cayenne Coupe is 2.6 inches wider in the front and 2.9 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Q5 Sportback.

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

The front grille of the Cayenne Coupe 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 Sportback doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Cayenne Coupe has .1 inches more front legroom, 1.4 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear headroom and 2.2 inches more rear legroom than the Q5 Sportback.

The Cayenne Coupe has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Q5 Sportback with its rear seat folded (54.3 vs. 51.9 cubic feet).

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

Standard trailer sway control on the Cayenne Coupe 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 Sportback 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 Sportback, the Cayenne Coupe 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 Coupe’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 Sportback does not have an oil pressure gauge.

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

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

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

The Cayenne Coupe’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 Sportback 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 Coupe and the Audi Q5 Sportback, based on reliability, safety and performance.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Cayenne Coupe 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 Sportback isn’t in the top three.