Compare the2024 BMW X5VS 2024 Audi SQ5

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 X5 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The SQ5 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The BMW X5 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 X5 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.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The X5 offers an optional Active Park Distance Control that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The SQ5 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The X5’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 X5 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, 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 all wheel drive.

The BMW X5 weighs 631 to 1285 pounds more than the Audi SQ5. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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 X5 is safer than the SQ5:

The BMW X5 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 SQ5 is not a “Top Safety Pick” for 2024.

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the X5 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, 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 14 percent more BMW dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the X5’s warranty.

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.

The X5 s/xDrive40i’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 26 more horsepower (375 vs. 349) and 29 lbs.-ft. more torque (398 vs. 369) than the SQ5’s 3.0 turbo V6. The X5 xDrive50e’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 134 more horsepower (483 vs. 349) and 147 lbs.-ft. more torque (516 vs. 369) than the SQ5’s 3.0 turbo V6. The X5 M60i xDrive’s standard 4.4 turbo V8 hybrid produces 174 more horsepower (523 vs. 349) and 184 lbs.-ft. more torque (553 vs. 369) than the SQ5’s 3.0 turbo V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the X5 M60i xDrive 4.4 turbo V8 hybrid is faster than the Audi SQ5:

On the EPA test cycle the X5 running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the SQ5:

The X550e xDrive can travel with zero emissions for 40 miles. The SQ5 can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

The X5 has 3.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the SQ5 (21.9 vs. 18.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the X5 M Sport’s brake rotors are larger than those on the SQ5:

For better traction, the X5 has larger standard tires than the SQ5 (265/50R19 vs. 255/45R20). The X5’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the SQ5 (F:275/40R21 & R:315/35R21 vs. 255/45R20).

The X5’s optional 275/35R22 front and 315/30R22 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the SQ5’s optional 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the X5 offers optional 22-inch wheels. The SQ5’s largest wheels are only 21-inches.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the X5 can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The SQ5 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The X5 M60i offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The SQ5 doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The X5 M60i xDrive offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Audi doesn’t offer an active suspension on the SQ5.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the X5’s wheelbase is 6.1 inches longer than on the SQ5 (117.1 inches vs. 111 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the X5 is 2.6 inches wider in the front and 3.5 inches wider in the rear than the track on the SQ5.

The X5’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (49.7% to 50.3%) than the SQ5’s (54.3% to 45.7%). This gives the X5 more stable handling and braking.

For greater off-road capability the X5 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the SQ5 (8.7 vs. 8.2 inches), allowing the X5 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The front grille of the X5 uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The SQ5 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The X5 has 2.6 inches more front headroom, 2.3 inches more front shoulder room, 1.7 inches more rear headroom and 1.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the SQ5.

The X5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the SQ5 with its rear seat up (33.9 vs. 25.9 cubic feet). The X5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the SQ5 with its rear seat folded (72.3 vs. 54.1 cubic feet).

The X5’s cargo area is larger than the SQ5’s in almost every dimension:

The X5’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the tailgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The SQ5’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

The X5’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the SQ5’s (5952 vs. 4400 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Audi SQ5 is only 4400 pounds. The X5 offers up to a 7209 lbs. towing capacity.

Optional Trailer Stabilization Control on the X5 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 SQ5 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

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.

The X5’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. An easy entry system costs extra on the SQ5.

The X5’s standard Comfort Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside 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 SQ5 only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the vehicle.

The SQ5’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The X5’s optional 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 X5 offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the SQ5.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the BMW X5 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the SQ5.

The X5’s Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Control Parking will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The SQ5 Prestige’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park and it doesn’t offer remote control parking.

The X5 is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The SQ5 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Consumer Reports® chose the BMW X5 as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance.