Compare the2024 Audi Q5 SportbackVS 2024 Buick Encore GX

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

Safety

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

Both the Q5 Sportback and Encore GX have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Q5 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 Encore GX’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 Sportback 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 Encore GX 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.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Q5 Sportback has a standard backup collision prevention system that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Encore GX doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

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

The Q5 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 Encore GX’s blind spot costs extra.

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

Both the Q5 Sportback and the Encore GX 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, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The Audi Q5 Sportback weighs 923 to 1155 pounds more than the Buick Encore GX. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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

	Q5 Sportback	Encore GX
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	22%	24%
Leg Forces (l/r)	80/49 lbs.	83/261 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	187	401
Neck Stress	134 lbs.	153 lbs.
Neck Compression	30 lbs.	82 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	90/55 lbs.	409/383 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 Sportback is safer than the Buick Encore GX:

	Q5 Sportback	Encore GX
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	60	91
Chest Movement	.6 inches	1.1 inches
Abdominal Force	98 lbs.	199 lbs.
Hip Force	279 lbs.	459 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	185	185
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	219	337
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	38 G’s

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

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 Sportback the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 98 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Encore GX last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2022.

Warranty

The Q5 Sportback comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Encore GX’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The Q5 Sportback’s corrosion warranty is 6 years and unlimited miles longer than the Encore GX’s (12/unlimited vs. 6/100,000).

Reliability

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

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Q5 Sportback’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the Encore GX’s camshafts. If the Encore GX’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

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

Engine

The Q5 Sportback’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 124 more horsepower (261 vs. 137) and 111 lbs.-ft. more torque (273 vs. 162) than the Encore GX’s standard 1.2 turbo 3-cylinder. The Q5 Sportback’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 106 more horsepower (261 vs. 155) and 99 lbs.-ft. more torque (273 vs. 174) than the Encore GX’s optional 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

The Q5 Sportback has 5.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Encore GX (18.5 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Q5 Sportback has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Encore GX. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

Transmission

The Q5 Sportback offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is more internally efficient than a CVT but just as easy to drive. The Encore GX doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The Q5 Sportback’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 Encore GX doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Q5 Sportback	Encore GX
Front Rotors	13.3 inches	11.81 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	10.39 inches

The Q5 Sportback’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Encore GX are solid, not vented.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Q5 Sportback has larger standard tires than the Encore GX (235/55R19 vs. 225/55R18). The Q5 Sportback’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Encore GX (255/45R20 vs. 245/45R19).

The Q5 Sportback Premium Plus/Prestige’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Encore GX Avenir’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Q5 Sportback has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Encore GX. The Q5 Sportback Premium Plus/Prestige’s optional 21-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels on the Encore GX Avenir.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Audi Q5 Sportback has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Buick Encore GX has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The Q5 Sportback has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Q5 Sportback flat and controlled during cornering. The Encore GX’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Q5 Sportback’s wheelbase is 8.8 inches longer than on the Encore GX (111 inches vs. 102.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Q5 Sportback is 2.5 inches wider in the front and 1.4 inches wider in the rear than on the Encore GX.

Passenger Space

The Q5 Sportback has 2.3 inches more front shoulder room, 2 inches more rear legroom and 2.9 inches more rear shoulder room than the Encore GX.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Q5 Sportback’s rear seats recline. The Encore GX’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The Q5 Sportback has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Encore GX with its rear seat up (24.7 vs. 23.5 cubic feet). The Q5 Sportback has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Encore GX with its rear seat folded (51.9 vs. 50.2 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Q5 Sportback easier. The Q5 Sportback’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 29 inches, while the Encore GX’s liftover is 30.5 inches.

The Q5 Sportback’s cargo area is larger than the Encore GX’s in almost every dimension:

	Q5 Sportback	Encore GX
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	36”/69”	31.8”/60.8”
Max Width	48.5”	53”
Min Width	41”	40.7”

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the Q5 Sportback’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Encore GX doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Q5 Sportback. The Encore GX doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Towing

The Q5 Sportback’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Encore GX’s (4400 vs. 1000 pounds).

Servicing Ease

The Q5 Sportback uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Encore GX uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

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

Ergonomics

The Q5 Sportback’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Encore GX’s passenger windows don’t close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Q5 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 Encore GX can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Q5 Sportback’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 Encore GX’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Q5 Sportback to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Encore GX doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Q5 Sportback’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the Encore GX’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Marginal.”

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 Sportback Prestige has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Encore GX doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Q5 Sportback has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Encore GX doesn’t offer cornering lights.

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

The Q5 Sportback’s standard rear view mirror and optional side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Encore GX offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Q5 Sportback has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the Encore GX. The Q5 Sportback also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Encore GX.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Q5 Sportback (except Premium) keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Encore GX doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Q5 Sportback 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 Encore GX.

The Q5 Sportback has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Encore GX Avenir.

Both the Q5 Sportback and the Encore GX offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Q5 Sportback has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Encore GX doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Audi Q5 Sportback, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Buick Encore GX isn't recommended.

The Audi Q5 outsold the Buick Encore by 34% during 2022.

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