Compare the2025 Mazda CX-70VS 2024 Audi Q5 Sportback

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 Sportback 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 Sportback doesn’t offer knee airbags.

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 Sportback doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the CX-70 and the Q5 Sportback 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.

The Mazda CX-70 weighs 685 to 1020 pounds more than the Audi Q5 Sportback. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

Mazda’s powertrain warranty covers the CX-70 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Audi covers the Q5 Sportback. 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 Sportback 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’s standard 3.3 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 19 more horsepower (280 vs. 261) and 59 lbs.-ft. more torque (332 vs. 273) than the Q5 Sportback’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The CX-70 PHEV’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 62 more horsepower (323 vs. 261) and 96 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 273) than the Q5 Sportback’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The CX-70 Turbo S’ standard 3.3 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 79 more horsepower (340 vs. 261) and 96 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 273) than the Q5 Sportback’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

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

The CX-70 PHEV can travel with zero emissions for 26 miles. The Q5 Sportback can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

The CX-70 Turbo S’ standard fuel tank has 1.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Q5 Sportback (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 Sportback.

For better stopping power the CX-70 Turbo S/PHEV’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Q5 Sportback:

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

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

For better maneuverability, the CX-70’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the Q5 Sportback’s (38.1 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

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

The CX-70 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Q5 Sportback with its rear seat up (39.6 vs. 24.7 cubic feet). The CX-70 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Q5 Sportback with its rear seat folded (75.3 vs. 51.9 cubic feet).

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

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

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 Sportback 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 Sportback 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 Sportback only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The Q5 Sportback’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. Only the Q5 Sportback Premium Plus/Prestige offers wireless charging.

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 Sportback doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.