Compare the2024 Audi Q5 SportbackVS 2024 Cadillac XT5

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Tires and Wheels
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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Both the Q5 Sportback and XT5 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 XT5’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 XT5 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 Sportback. But it costs extra on the XT5.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Q5 Sportback’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The XT5 doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

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. Only the XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Q5 Sportback has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Assist and Automatic Brake Activation automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Only the XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport offers Rear Cross Traffic Alert and the XT5’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert does not include automatic braking.

Both the Q5 Sportback and the XT5 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 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 Sportback is safer than the Cadillac XT5:

	Q5 Sportback	XT5
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	22%	24%
Leg Forces (l/r)	80/49 lbs.	213/542 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	187	287
Neck Injury Risk	34%	37%
Neck Stress	134 lbs.	155 lbs.
Neck Compression	30 lbs.	53 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 Cadillac XT5:

	Q5 Sportback	XT5
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	60	112
Chest Movement	.6 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	98 lbs.	151 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	817 lbs.	825 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	219	399
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	39 G’s
Hip Force	600 lbs.	799 lbs.

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 XT5 last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2017.

Warranty

The Q5 Sportback’s corrosion warranty is 6 years longer than the XT5’s (12 vs. 6 years).

Reliability

The Audi Q5 Sportback’s engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the XT5’s engines use an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

Engine

The Q5 Sportback’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 26 more horsepower (261 vs. 235) and 15 lbs.-ft. more torque (273 vs. 258) than the XT5’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Q5 Sportback’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 2 lbs.-ft. more torque (273 vs. 271) than the XT5’s optional 3.6 DOHC V6.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Q5 Sportback gets better mileage than the XT5:

			MPG
Q5 Sportback
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	22 city/28 hwy
XT5
	FWD	3.6 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy
	AWD	3.6 DOHC V6	18 city/26 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/27 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the Q5 Sportback’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The XT5 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

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 XT5. 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 much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The XT5 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 XT5 doesn’t offer launch control.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Q5 Sportback’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the XT5 (255/45R20 vs. 235/65R18).

The Q5 Sportback’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the XT5’s standard 65 series tires. The Q5 Sportback Premium Plus/Prestige’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the XT5’s optional 55 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 XT5. The Q5 Sportback Premium Plus/Prestige’s optional 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the XT5.

Chassis

The Q5 Sportback is 5 inches shorter than the XT5, making the Q5 Sportback easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The front step up height for the Q5 Sportback is .2 inches lower than the XT5 (18.3” vs. 18.5”). The Q5 Sportback’s rear step up height is 2 inches lower than the XT5’s (18” vs. 20”).

Cargo Capacity

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 XT5’s liftover is 30.9 inches.

Towing

The Q5 Sportback’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the XT5’s (4400 vs. 1000 pounds).

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Q5 Sportback is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the XT5. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and 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 XT5’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

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 XT5 can only close 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 XT5’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 XT5 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 XT5’s headlights are rated “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 XT5 doesn’t offer headlight washers.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Q5 Sportback to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The XT5 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

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 is only available on the XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Q5 Sportback owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Q5 Sportback with a number “5” insurance rate while the XT5 is rated higher at a number “8” rate.

The Q5 Sportback will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Q5 Sportback will retain 48.27% to 49.93% of its original price after five years, while the XT5 only retains 46.63% to 47.63%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Q5 Sportback is less expensive to operate than the XT5 because it costs $282 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Q5 Sportback than the XT5, including $44 less for a muffler, $271 less for a timing belt/chain and $320 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Audi Q5 Sportback and the Cadillac XT5, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Audi Q5 outsold the Cadillac XT5 by over two to one during 2022.

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