Compare the2023 Audi Q5 SportbackVS 2023 Jeep Cherokee

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The Q5 Sportback’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Cherokee doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the Q5 Sportback and Cherokee have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Q5 Sportback 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 Cherokee’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.

The Q5 Sportback has a standard Secondary Collision Brake Assist, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Cherokee doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

The Q5 Sportback Premium Plus/Prestige has a standard Top View Camera System to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Cherokee only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

Both the Q5 Sportback and the Cherokee 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, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras 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 Q5 Sportback is safer than the Jeep Cherokee:

	Q5 Sportback	Cherokee
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	22%	38.2%
Neck Stress	215 lbs.	408 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	80/49 lbs.	368/516 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	34%	37%
Neck Stress	134 lbs.	218 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	90/55 lbs.	241/259 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 Q5 Sportback is safer than the Jeep Cherokee:

	Q5 Sportback	Cherokee
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	60	64
Chest Movement	.6 inches	.7 inches
Abdominal Force	98 lbs.	133 lbs.
Hip Force	279 lbs.	363 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	185	264
Spine Acceleration	53 G’s	53 G’s
Hip Force	817 lbs.	938 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	43 G’s

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

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Q5 Sportback its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 128 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Cherokee has not been tested, yet.

Warranty

The Q5 Sportback comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Cherokee’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The Q5 Sportback’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Cherokee’s (12 vs. 5 years).

Reliability

The Audi Q5 Sportback’s engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the Cherokee’s engines use an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

Engine

The Q5 Sportback’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 81 more horsepower (261 vs. 180) and 102 lbs.-ft. more torque (273 vs. 171) than the Cherokee’s standard 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Q5 Sportback gets better mileage than the Cherokee:

			MPG
Q5 Sportback
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	22 city/29 hwy
Cherokee
	AWD	2.4 DOHC 4-cyl.	21 city/29 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/26 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the Q5 Sportback’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Cherokee doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The Q5 Sportback has 2.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Cherokee (18.5 vs. 15.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Q5 Sportback has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Cherokee. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

Transmission

The Q5 Sportback offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The Cherokee doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The Q5 Sportback’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Cherokee doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Q5 Sportback	Cherokee
Front Rotors	13.3 inches	13 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	10.95 inches
Opt Rear Rotors		12.6 inches

The Q5 Sportback’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Cherokee are solid, not vented.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Q5 Sportback has larger standard tires than the Cherokee (235/55R19 vs. 225/60R18). The Q5 Sportback’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Cherokee (255/45R20 vs. 245/65R17).

The Q5 Sportback’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Cherokee Trailhawk 4x4’s standard 65 series tires. The Q5 Sportback Premium Plus/Prestige’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Cherokee Altitude LUX’s optional 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Q5 Sportback has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Cherokee Trailhawk 4x4. The Q5 Sportback Premium Plus/Prestige’s optional 21-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels optional on the Cherokee Altitude LUX.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Q5 Sportback’s wheelbase is 4.4 inches longer than on the Cherokee (111 inches vs. 106.6 inches).

Passenger Space

The Q5 Sportback has .8 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more front shoulder room and 1.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Cherokee.

Cargo Capacity

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Q5 Sportback easier. The Q5 Sportback’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 29 inches, while the Cherokee’s liftover is 30.9 inches.

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

	Q5 Sportback	Cherokee
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	36”/69”	33.9”/67.6”
Max Width	48.5”	49.2”
Min Width	41”	39.4”

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the Q5 Sportback’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Cherokee doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Towing

The Q5 Sportback’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Cherokee’s (4400 vs. 2000 pounds).

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Q5 Sportback is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Cherokee. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Audi service is better than Jeep. J.D. Power ranks Audi 8th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 31% lower rating, Jeep is ranked 26th.

Ergonomics

The Q5 Sportback Prestige has a standard heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Cherokee doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

If the windows are left open on the Q5 Sportback the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Cherokee can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Q5 Sportback to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Cherokee doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The Q5 Sportback Prestige has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Cherokee doesn’t offer headlight washers.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Q5 Sportback to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Cherokee doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Q5 Sportback’s standard rear view mirror and optional side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Cherokee has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Both the Q5 Sportback and the Cherokee have standard heated front seats. The Q5 Sportback also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Cherokee.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Audi Q5 Sportback Premium Plus/Prestige has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Cherokee doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Q5 Sportback owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Q5 Sportback with a number “5” insurance rate while the Cherokee is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Q5 Sportback is less expensive to operate than the Cherokee because typical repairs cost less on the Q5 Sportback than the Cherokee, including $78 less for a fuel pump and $183 less for a timing belt/chain.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Audi Q5 Sportback, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Jeep Cherokee isn't recommended.

The Audi Q5 outsold the Jeep Cherokee by 56% during 2022.

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