Compare the2025 Mazda CX-70VS 2024 Audi Q5

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the CX-70 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Q5 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Mazda CX-70 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 Q5 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

With its standard Smart Brake Support, the Mazda CX-70 is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Audi Q5, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

The CX-70’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 Q5 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the CX-70 and the Q5 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, all wheel drive, 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.

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 Mazda CX-70 is safer than the Q5:

The Mazda CX-70 achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The Q5 last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2023.

Mazda’s powertrain warranty covers the CX-70 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Audi covers the Q5. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Q5 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 77 percent more Mazda dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the CX-70’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 10 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mazda higher than Audi.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda 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 Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda 12 places higher in reliability than Audi.

The CX-70 has more powerful engines than the Q5:

On the EPA test cycle the CX-70 running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Q5 running its gasoline engine:

The CX-70 PHEV can travel with zero emissions on electricity, only, on a full charge for 26 miles. The Q5 55 TFSI e has to start its internal combustion engine after only 23 miles.

The CX-70’s standard fuel tank has 4.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Q5 Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (18.5 vs. 14.3 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The CX-70 Turbo S’ standard fuel tank has 1.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Q5’s standard fuel tank (19.6 vs. 18.5 gallons).

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Mazda CX-70, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the Q5.

The CX-70 stops much shorter than the Q5:

For better traction, the CX-70 has larger standard tires than the Q5 (265/55R19 vs. 235/60R18). The CX-70 Premium’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Q5 (275/45R21 vs. 255/45R20).

The CX-70’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 Q5’s standard 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CX-70 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Q5. The CX-70 Premium’s 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the Q5.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-70’s wheelbase is 11.8 inches longer than on the Q5 (122.8 inches vs. 111 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the CX-70 is 3.5 inches wider in the front and 3.9 inches wider in the rear than on the Q5.

The CX-70 PHEV Premium Plus handles at .82 G’s, while the Q5 45 TFSI Premium Plus pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the CX-70’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the Q5 40/45 TFSI’s (38.1 feet vs. 38.7 feet). The CX-70’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the Q5 55 TFSI e’s (38.1 feet vs. 39.4 feet).

The CX-70 has .1 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more front legroom, 1.5 inches more front shoulder room, 1.4 inches more rear legroom and 1.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the Q5.

The CX-70 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Q5 with its rear seat up (39.6 vs. 25.9 cubic feet). The CX-70 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Q5 with its rear seat folded (75.3 vs. 54.1 cubic feet).

The CX-70’s cargo area is larger than the Q5’s in every dimension:

Maximum trailer towing in the Audi Q5 is limited to 4400 pounds. The CX-70 offers up to a 5000 lbs. towing capacity.

While the Q5 55 TFSI e can only tow 2000, any CX-70 can tow a minimum of 3500 pounds.

Standard Trailer Stability Assist on the CX-70 uses the Dynamic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Q5 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The CX-70’s standard Advanced Keyless Entry and Start allow you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, open the cargo door, and start the vehicle, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Keyless Start standard on the Q5 only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the vehicle.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the CX-70 has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Q5 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The Q5’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The CX-70 Turbo 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.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mazda CX-70 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Q5.

The CX-70 Premium Plus has a 115-volt a/c outlet in the cargo area, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Q5 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.