Compare the2023 Audi SQ5 SportbackVS 2023 Porsche Cayenne

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

Both the SQ5 Sportback and Cayenne have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The SQ5 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 Cayenne’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 Sportback’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.

The SQ5 Sportback 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’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the SQ5 Sportback’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 doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

Both the SQ5 Sportback and the Cayenne 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 Sportback its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 128 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Cayenne 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 Sportback’s warranty.

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

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

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Audi SQ5 Sportback uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The Cayenne 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 Sportback higher (5 out of 10) than the Porsche Cayenne (3 to 5). This means the SQ5 Sportback produces up to 16.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Cayenne 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 Sportback 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 doesn’t offer a brake assist feature.

The SQ5 Sportback’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Cayenne’s standard 55 series front and 50 series rear tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the SQ5 Sportback has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the Cayenne.

The Audi SQ5 Sportback may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 1350 pounds less than the Porsche Cayenne.

The SQ5 Sportback is 9.1 inches shorter than the Cayenne, making the SQ5 Sportback easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the SQ5 Sportback easier. The SQ5 Sportback’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 29 inches, while the Cayenne’s liftover is 31 inches.

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

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

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

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

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