Compare the2024 Audi Q5VS 2024 BMW X4

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 X4 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the Q5 and X4 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 X4’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 X4 have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Q5 has Automatic Brake Activation (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The X4’s Cross Traffic Warning doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Q5 and the X4 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 performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Q5 the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 98 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The X4 has not been tested, yet.

The Audi Q5’s engines use a cast iron block for durability, while the X4’s engines use an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

On the EPA test cycle the Q5 running on electricity gets better mileage than the X4:

On the EPA test cycle the Q5 running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the X4:

The Q5 55 TFSI e can travel with zero emissions for 22 miles. The X4 can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Audi Q5 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The X4 requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Q5’s standard fuel tank has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the X4 (18.5 vs. 17.2 gallons).

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 X4 doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

For better stopping power the Q5’s brake rotors are larger than those on the X4:

For better traction, the Q5’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the X4 (255/45R20 vs. 245/45R20).

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 X4 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For better maneuverability, the Q5 40/45 TFSI’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the X4’s (38.7 feet vs. 39.7 feet). The Q5 55 TFSI e’s turning circle is .3 feet tighter than the X4’s (39.4 feet vs. 39.7 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Q5 45 TFSI has a greater minimum ground clearance than the X4 (8.2 vs. 8 inches), allowing the Q5 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Q5 is 3.3 inches shorter than the X4, making the Q5 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Q5 has .2 inches more front legroom, .2 inches more front shoulder room, 1.8 inches more rear headroom, 2.5 inches more rear legroom and .5 inches more rear shoulder room than the X4.

The Q5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the X4 with its rear seat up (25.9 vs. 18.5 cubic feet). The Q5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the X4 with its rear seat folded (54.1 vs. 50.5 cubic feet).

The Q5’s optional easy entry system raises the steering wheel when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The X4 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

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 X4 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Q5 has a standard rear wiper. The X4 doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The Q5 Prestige has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The X4 doesn’t offer headlight washers.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Q5 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The X4 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Q5 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 X4.

Insurance will cost less for the Q5 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Q5 will cost $575 to $3335 less than the X4 over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Audi Q5 will be $7105 to $11424 less than for the BMW X4.

The Audi Q5/SQ5 outsold the BMW X4 by over six to one during 2022.