Compare the2023 Audi Q5 SportbackVS 2023 Land Rover Discovery

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 Discovery doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Audi Q5 Sportback 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 Land Rover Discovery doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

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 Discovery 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.

Both the Q5 Sportback and the Discovery have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

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 Discovery has not been tested, yet.

The Q5 Sportback’s corrosion warranty is 6 years longer than the Discovery’s (12 vs. 6 years).

There are over 53 percent more Audi dealers than there are Land Rover dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Q5 Sportback’s warranty.

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

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 Q5 Sportback’s reliability 16 points higher than the Discovery.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Land Rover With 52 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Audi higher than Land Rover.

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

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

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Audi Q5 Sportback uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The Discovery requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certifies the Audi Q5 Sportback as an “Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (ULEV). The Land Rover Discovery is only certified to “Low Emissions Vehicle” (LEV) standards.

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 Discovery 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 Discovery doesn’t offer launch control.

For better maneuverability, the Q5 Sportback’s turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the Discovery’s (38.7 feet vs. 40.7 feet).

The Audi Q5 Sportback may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 800 to 1100 pounds less than the Land Rover Discovery.

The Q5 Sportback is 11.2 inches shorter than the Discovery, making the Q5 Sportback easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Q5 Sportback is 7.1 inches narrower than the Discovery, making the Q5 Sportback easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

The Q5 Sportback is 9 inches shorter in height than the Discovery, making the Q5 Sportback much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

The design of the Audi Q5 Sportback amounts to more than styling. The Q5 Sportback has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .33 Cd. That is lower than the Discovery (.36) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Q5 Sportback get better fuel mileage.

The Q5 Sportback has .8 inches more front headroom, 1.9 inches more front legroom and .4 inches more rear legroom than the Discovery.

The Q5 Sportback has a much larger cargo volume than the Discovery with its rear seat up (24.7 vs. 9.1 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Q5 Sportback. The Discovery doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Audi service is better than Land Rover. J.D. Power ranks Audi 8th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 50% lower rating, Land Rover is ranked 30th.

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 Discovery 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. Heated windshield washer nozzles cost extra on the Discovery.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Q5 Sportback has standard extendable sun visors. The Discovery doesn’t offer extendable visors.

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

Insurance will cost less for the Q5 Sportback owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Q5 Sportback will cost $1165 less than the Discovery over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Audi Q5 Sportback will be $8197 to $14615 less than for the Land Rover Discovery.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Audi Q5 Sportback, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Audi Q5 outsold the Land Rover Discovery by over 46 to one during 2022.