Compare the2024 BMW X5 MVS 2023 Audi SQ5

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the X5 M are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The SQ5 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The BMW X5 M has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The SQ5 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The X5 M has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The SQ5 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The X5 M has a standard Active Park Distance Control that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The SQ5 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The X5 M’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The SQ5 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the X5 M and the SQ5 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.

The BMW X5 M weighs 1167 pounds more than the Audi SQ5. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the X5 M for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Audi only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the SQ5.

There are over 15 percent more BMW dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the X5 M’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 29 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks BMW higher than Audi.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW above average in long-term dependability. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Audi is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW third in overall reliability. Audi is ranked 6th.

The X5 M’s 4.4 turbo V8 hybrid produces 268 more horsepower (617 vs. 349) and 184 lbs.-ft. more torque (553 vs. 369) than the SQ5’s 3.0 turbo V6.

The X5 M has 3.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the SQ5 (21.9 vs. 18.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the X5 M’s brake rotors are larger than those on the SQ5:

For better traction, the X5 M has larger tires than the SQ5 (F:295/35R21 & R:315/30R22 vs. 255/45R20).

The X5 M’s 295/35R21 front and 315/30R22 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the SQ5’s standard 45 series tires. The X5 M’s tires are lower profile than the SQ5’s optional 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the X5 M has standard 21-inch front and 22-inch rear wheels. Smaller 20-inch wheels are standard on the SQ5. The SQ5’s largest wheels are only 21-inches.

The X5 M has active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The SQ5 doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The front and rear suspension of the X5 M uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the SQ5, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The X5 M offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Audi doesn’t offer an active suspension on the SQ5.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the X5 M’s wheelbase is 6 inches longer than on the SQ5 (117 inches vs. 111 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the X5 M is 3.3 inches wider in the front and 3.2 inches wider in the rear than on the SQ5.

The X5 M’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50.1% to 49.9%) than the SQ5’s (54.3% to 45.7%). This gives the X5 M more stable handling and braking.

For greater off-road capability the X5 M has a greater minimum ground clearance than the SQ5 (8.4 vs. 8.2 inches), allowing the X5 M to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The X5 M has 1.1 inches more front headroom, 2.3 inches more front shoulder room, .1 inches more rear headroom and 1.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the SQ5.

The X5 M has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the SQ5 with its rear seat up (33.9 vs. 25.9 cubic feet). The X5 M has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the SQ5 with its rear seat folded (72.3 vs. 54.1 cubic feet).

The X5 M’s cargo area is larger than the SQ5’s in almost every dimension:

The X5 M’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the tailgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The SQ5’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that BMW service is better than Audi. J.D. Power ranks BMW 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 1% lower rating, Audi is ranked 8th.

The X5 M has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The SQ5 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The X5 M’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. An easy entry system costs extra on the SQ5.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the X5 M offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The SQ5 doesn’t offer cornering lights. The X5 M also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The X5 M has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the SQ5.

The X5 M offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the SQ5.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the BMW X5 M has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the SQ5.

The X5 M’s Parking Assistant Professional can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Control Parking will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The SQ5 Prestige’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park and it doesn’t offer remote control parking.

The BMW X5 outsold the Audi Q5/SQ5 by 31% during 2022.