Compare the2023 Audi Q5VS 2023 BMW XM

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Audi Q5 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 BMW XM doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

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

Both the Q5 and the XM 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, 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 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 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 128 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The XM has not been tested, yet.

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

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

The Q5 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 XM doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The Q5 55 TFSI e has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Q5’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The XM doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For better maneuverability, the Q5 40/45 TFSI’s turning circle is 2.3 feet tighter than the XM’s (38.7 feet vs. 41 feet). The Q5 55 TFSI e’s turning circle is 1.6 feet tighter than the XM’s (39.4 feet vs. 41 feet).

The Audi Q5 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1450 to 2000 pounds less than the BMW XM.

The Q5 is 1 foot, 4.9 inches shorter than the XM, making the Q5 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Q5 has .5 inches more front legroom and .5 inches more rear headroom than the XM.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Q5’s rear seats recline. The XM’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Q5 has a much larger cargo volume than the XM with its rear seat up (25.8 vs. 18.6 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Q5 easier. The Q5’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 29 inches, while the XM’s liftover is 32.8 inches.

The Q5’s standard folding rear seats are split to accommodate bulky cargo. The XM’s standard single piece folding rear seat is not as flexible; long cargo and a passenger can’t share the rear seat.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Q5’s available liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The XM doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

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

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

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