Compare the2024 Audi Q5VS 2024 Infiniti QX50

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The Q5’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The QX50 doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the Q5 and QX50 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 QX50’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 Q5 has a standard Secondary Collision Brake Assist, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The QX50 doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Q5. But it costs extra on the QX50.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Q5’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The QX50 doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

Both the Q5 and QX50 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 QX50’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Q5 and the QX50 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Audi Q5 is safer than the Infiniti QX50:

	Q5	QX50
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	22%	26%
Neck Stress	215 lbs.	245 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	80/49 lbs.	155/130 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	187	333
Neck Stress	134 lbs.	161 lbs.
Neck Compression	30 lbs.	48 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	90/55 lbs.	504/622 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Audi Q5 is safer than the Infiniti QX50:

	Q5	QX50
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	60	98
Chest Movement	.6 inches	1 inches
Abdominal Force	98 lbs.	151 lbs.
Hip Force	279 lbs.	306 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	15 inches	17 inches
HIC	219	333
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	39 G’s

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Audi Q5 is safer than the QX50:

	Q5	QX50
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	96	141
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.71 in	1.06 in
Shoulder Force	112 lbs.	178 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.98 in	1.73 in
Torso Deflection Rate	5 MPH	9 MPH
Pelvis	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Pelvis Force	1116 lbs.	1316 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

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 QX50 has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

The Q5’s corrosion warranty is 5 years longer than the QX50’s (12 vs. 7 years).

There are over 50 percent more Audi dealers than there are Infiniti dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Q5’s warranty.

Reliability

The Audi Q5’s engines use a cast iron block for durability, while the QX50’s engine uses an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Q5 has a standard 150-amp alternator. The QX50’s 130-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

Engine

The Q5 55 TFSI e’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 94 more horsepower (362 vs. 268) and 89 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 280) than the QX50’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Q5 running on electricity gets better mileage than the QX50:

			MPGe
Q5
	AWD	55 TFSI e Electric Motor	60 city/61 hwy
QX50
			MPG
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/29 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/28 hwy

On the EPA test cycle the Q5 running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the QX50:

			MPG
Q5
	AWD	55 TFSI e 2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	25 city/27 hwy
		40 TFSI 2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	23 city/29 hwy
QX50
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/28 hwy

The Q5 55 TFSI e can travel with zero emissions for 22 miles. The QX50 can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the Q5’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The QX50 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Q5’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The QX50 doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Audi Q5 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The QX50 requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Q5’s standard fuel tank has 2.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the QX50 (18.5 vs. 16 gallons).

Transmission

The Q5’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The QX50 doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Q5’s brake rotors are larger than those on the QX50:

	Q5 40/45 TFSI	Q5 55 TFSI e	QX50
Front Rotors	13.3 inches	13.8 inches	13 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	13 inches	12.1 inches

Tires and Wheels

The Q5 has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the QX50; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

The Q5 has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The QX50’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The Q5 offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The QX50’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

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 QX50 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

Passenger Space

The Q5 has 1.3 inches more front legroom and .2 inches more rear headroom than the QX50.

Towing

The Q5’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the QX50’s (4400 vs. 0 pounds).

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Q5 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the QX50. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Audi service is better than Infiniti. J.D. Power ranks Audi 8th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 3% lower rating, Infiniti is ranked 9th.

Ergonomics

The power windows standard on both the Q5 and the QX50 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Q5 is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The QX50 prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Q5’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The QX50’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

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 QX50 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

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 QX50 doesn’t offer headlight washers.

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 is only available on the QX50 Sport/Sensory/Autograph.

The Q5 Prestige’s Park Steering Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The QX50 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Q5 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Q5 will cost $755 less than the QX50 over a five-year period.

The Q5 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Q5 will retain 49.06% to 52.87% of its original price after five years, while the QX50 only retains 46.64% to 48.58%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Q5 is less expensive to operate than the QX50 because typical repairs cost much less on the Q5 than the QX50, including $53 less for a water pump, $19 less for a timing belt/chain and $859 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

The Audi Q5/SQ5 outsold the Infiniti QX50 by almost six to one during 2022.

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