Compare the2023 Audi SQ5VS 2023 Porsche Cayenne Coupe

The SQ5’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Cayenne Coupe doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the SQ5 and Cayenne Coupe have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The SQ5 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 Cayenne Coupe’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 SQ5’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the Cayenne Coupe.

The SQ5 has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Cayenne Coupe’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the SQ5’s standard rear cross-path warning system uses sensors in the rear to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The Cayenne Coupe doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

Both the SQ5 and the Cayenne Coupe 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 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 SQ5 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 128 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Cayenne Coupe has not been tested, yet.

There are over 56 percent more Audi dealers than there are Porsche dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the SQ5’s warranty.

The SQ5’s 3.0 turbo V6 produces 14 more horsepower (349 vs. 335) and 37 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 332) than the Cayenne Coupe’s standard 3.0 turbo V6.

On the EPA test cycle the SQ5 gets better mileage than the Cayenne Coupe running its gasoline engine:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Audi SQ5 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The Cayenne Coupe requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Audi SQ5 higher (5 out of 10) than the Porsche Cayenne Coupe (3 to 5). This means the SQ5 produces up to 16.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Cayenne Coupe every 15,000 miles.

In an emergency stopping situation, many drivers don’t press the brakes with enough force to stop the vehicle in the shortest distance. The SQ5 has a standard brake assist system to detect emergency braking situations (by how hard and how quickly the brake pedal is pressed) and then automatically apply maximum braking immediately in order to help prevent a collision. The Cayenne Coupe doesn’t offer a brake assist feature.

The SQ5 stops shorter than the Cayenne Coupe:

The Audi SQ5 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 to 1400 pounds less than the Porsche Cayenne Coupe.

The SQ5 is 9.9 inches shorter than the Cayenne Coupe, making the SQ5 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The design of the Audi SQ5 amounts to more than styling. The SQ5 has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .33 Cd. That is lower than the Cayenne Coupe (.34 to .35) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the SQ5 get better fuel mileage.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the SQ5 Prestige is quieter than the Cayenne Turbo GT:

The SQ5 has 1.4 inches more front headroom and 1 inch more rear headroom than the Cayenne Coupe.

The SQ5 has a much larger cargo volume than the Cayenne Coupe with its rear seat up (25.9 vs. 22 cubic feet).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the SQ5’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Cayenne Coupe doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

If the windows are left open on the SQ5 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 Cayenne Coupe can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The SQ5’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Cayenne Coupe’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the SQ5 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Cayenne Coupe doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the SQ5 has a standard rear wiper. The Cayenne Coupe doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the SQ5 has standard extendable sun visors. The Cayenne Coupe doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Insurance will cost less for the SQ5 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the SQ5 will cost $4055 to $12005 less than the Cayenne Coupe over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Audi SQ5 will be $20994 to $96888 less than for the Porsche Cayenne Coupe.

The Audi Q5/SQ5 outsold the Porsche Cayenne by over four to one during 2022.