Compare the2024 BMW X3 MVS 2024 Audi SQ5

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The BMW X3 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 X3 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.

The X3 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 X3 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 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the BMW X3 M is safer than the Audi SQ5:

	X3 M	SQ5
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	102	284
Neck Injury Risk	21%	22%
Neck Stress	202 lbs.	215 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	176	187
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.7 inches

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 BMW X3 M is safer than the Audi SQ5:

	X3 M	SQ5
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.6 inches
Hip Force	275 lbs.	279 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	133	185
Spine Acceleration	45 G’s	53 G’s
Hip Force	794 lbs.	817 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	15 inches

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 BMW X3 M is safer than the SQ5:

	X3 M	SQ5
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	45	96
Neck Tension	178 lbs.	245 lbs.
Neck Compression	45 lbs.	89 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Deflection	.59 in	.71 in
Pelvis	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	1049 lbs.	1116 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	156	346
Neck Tension	67 lbs.	223 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.16 in	1.73 in
Shoulder Force	112 lbs.	402 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.67 in	1.54 in
Torso Deflection Rate	7 MPH	11 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	MARGINAL
Pelvis Force	513 lbs.	1249 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the X3 M its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 67 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The SQ5 is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2023.

Warranty

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the X3 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 X3 M’s warranty.

Reliability

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 2024 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW 10 places higher in reliability than Audi.

Engine

The X3 M’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder produces 124 more horsepower (473 vs. 349) and 88 lbs.-ft. more torque (457 vs. 369) than the SQ5’s 3.0 turbo V6. The X3 M Competition’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder produces 154 more horsepower (503 vs. 349) and 110 lbs.-ft. more torque (479 vs. 369) than the SQ5’s 3.0 turbo V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the X3 M Competition is faster than the Audi SQ5:

	X3 M	SQ5
Zero to 60 MPH	4 sec	5 sec
Quarter Mile	12.3 sec	13.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	117.3 MPH	101.8 MPH

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the X3 M’s brake rotors are larger than those on the SQ5:

	X3 M	SQ5
Front Rotors	15.6 inches	13.8 inches
Rear Rotors	14.6 inches	13 inches

The X3 M stops shorter than the SQ5:

	X3 M	SQ5
60 to 0 MPH	104 feet	112 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction and acceleration, the X3 M has larger rear tires than the SQ5 (265/45R20 vs. 255/45R20).

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the X3 M’s wheelbase is 1.8 inches longer than on the SQ5 (112.8 inches vs. 111 inches).

The X3 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 X3 M more stable handling and braking.

The X3 M Competition handles at .95 G’s, while the SQ5 Prestige pulls only .88 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The X3 M Competition executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.5 seconds quicker than the SQ5 Prestige (24.2 seconds @ .86 average G’s vs. 25.7 seconds @ .73 average G’s).

Passenger Space

The X3 M has 2.6 inches more front headroom and .8 inches more rear headroom than the SQ5.

The front step up height for the X3 M is .5 inches lower than the SQ5 (18.5” vs. 19”). The X3 M’s rear step up height is 1.2 inches lower than the SQ5’s (18.5” vs. 19.7”).

Cargo Capacity

The X3 M has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the SQ5 with its rear seat up (28.7 vs. 25.9 cubic feet). The X3 M has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the SQ5 with its rear seat folded (62.7 vs. 54.1 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the X3 M easier. The X3 M’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 28.5 inches, while the SQ5’s liftover is 30.5 inches.

Servicing Ease

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.

Ergonomics

The SQ5’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The X3 M’s standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

The X3 M’s optional Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The SQ5 Prestige’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

Economic Advantages

The X3 M will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the X3 M will retain 54.06% of its original price after five years, while the SQ5 only retains 50.33% to 53.67%.

Recommendations

The BMW X3 outsold the Audi Q5/SQ5 by 2887 units during 2022.

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