Compare the2025 Audi SQ5VS 2024 Porsche Macan

The SQ5’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Macan doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the SQ5 and Macan have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The SQ5 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 Macan’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.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The SQ5 has a standard Maneuver Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Macan doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The SQ5 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. A system to reveal vehicles in the Macan’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the SQ5’s standard Rear Cross-Traffic Assist uses sensors in the rear to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side and Automatic Brake Activation automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. The Macan doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

The SQ5’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 Macan doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the SQ5 and the Macan 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, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and available around view monitors.

There are over 54 percent more Audi dealers than there are Porsche dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the SQ5’s warranty.

The SQ5’s 3.0 turbo V6 produces 88 more horsepower (349 vs. 261) and 74 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 295) than the Macan’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the SQ5 gets better mileage than the Macan:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Audi SQ5 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The Macan requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Audi SQ5, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the Macan.

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

The SQ5 stops much shorter than the Macan:

For better traction, the SQ5 has larger tires than the Macan (255/45R20 vs. 235/55R19).

The SQ5’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Macan’s standard 55 series front and 50 series rear tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the SQ5 has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the Macan.

The SQ5’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (54.3% to 45.7%) than the Macan’s (55.7% to 44.3%). This gives the SQ5 more stable handling and braking.

The SQ5 Prestige handles at .93 G’s, while the Macan pulls only .89 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the SQ5 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Macan (8.2 vs. 7.9 inches), allowing the SQ5 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The design of the Audi SQ5 amounts to more than styling. The SQ5 has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .33 Cd. That is lower than the Macan (.35 to .37) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the SQ5 get better fuel mileage.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the SQ5’s rear seats recline. The Macan’s rear seats don’t recline.

The SQ5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Macan with its rear seat up (25.9 vs. 17.2 cubic feet). The SQ5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Macan with its rear seat folded (54.1 vs. 53 cubic feet).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the SQ5’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Macan doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the SQ5’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Macan doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The SQ5 has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Macan doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The SQ5 Prestige has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Macan doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The SQ5’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Macan’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the SQ5 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Macan doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The SQ5 Prestige has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Macan doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the SQ5 has standard extendable sun visors. The Macan doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The SQ5 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 costs extra on the Macan.

Insurance will cost less for the SQ5 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the SQ5 will cost $475 less than the Macan over a five-year period.

The Audi Q5/SQ5 outsold the Porsche Macan by almost three to one during 2023.