Compare the2025 Audi SQ5VS 2024 Tesla Model Y

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

Safety

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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 Model Y doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The SQ5 has a standard Secondary Collision Brake Assist, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Model Y doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the SQ5. But it costs extra on the Model Y.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the SQ5’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Model Y doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The SQ5 Premium Plus/Prestige has a standard Top View Camera System to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Model Y only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

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 Model Y 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 Model Y doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

The SQ5 has a standard Audi Connect CARE, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Model Y doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the SQ5 and the Model Y 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, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems and rearview cameras.

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

	SQ5	Model Y
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	22%	25%
Neck Compression	44 lbs.	68 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	80/49 lbs.	298/427 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	187	211
Neck Stress	134 lbs.	165 lbs.
Neck Compression	30 lbs.	189 lbs.

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 Audi SQ5 is safer than the Tesla Model Y:

	SQ5	Model Y
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.6 inches	.6 inches
Abdominal Force	98 lbs.	145 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	185	358
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	219	283
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	39 G’s
Hip Force	600 lbs.	682 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

There are over 58 percent more Audi dealers than there are Tesla dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the SQ5’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Audi vehicles are better in initial quality than Tesla vehicles. With 24 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Audi higher than Tesla.

Engine

The SQ5’s 3.0 turbo V6 produces 54 more horsepower (349 vs. 295) and 60 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 309) than the Model Y RWD’s standard electric motor.

Transmission

The SQ5’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Model Y doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

The SQ5 stops much shorter than the Model Y:

	SQ5	Model Y
70 to 0 MPH	148 feet	161 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	112 feet	118 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

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

The SQ5 has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Model Y; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

The SQ5 has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the SQ5 flat and controlled during cornering. The Model Y’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The SQ5 has a standard driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Model Y’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The SQ5 has a standard automatic load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Model Y doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The SQ5 Prestige handles at .93 G’s, while the Model Y Long Range pulls only .88 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the SQ5’s turning circle is 1.1 feet tighter than the Model Y’s (38.7 feet vs. 39.8 feet).

For greater off-road capability the SQ5 has a 1.6 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Model Y (8.2 vs. 6.6 inches), allowing the SQ5 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

As tested by Car and Driver while cruising at 70 MPH, the interior of the SQ5 Prestige is quieter than the Model Y Long Range (66 vs. 68 dB).

Passenger Space

The SQ5 has 1.3 inches more front shoulder room and 2.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Model Y.

Cargo Capacity

The SQ5 has a much larger cargo volume than the Model Y with its rear seat up (25.9 vs. 16.9 cubic feet).

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 Model Y doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Towing

The SQ5’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Model Y’s (4400 vs. 3500 pounds).

Servicing Ease

A maintenance reminder system is standard on the SQ5 to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals for oil changes and vehicle inspections based on odometer mileage. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Tesla doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the Model Y.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the Model Y, the SQ5 offers an optional driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle and climate settings and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

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 Model Y doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

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 Model Y doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the SQ5 has a standard rear wiper. The Model Y doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

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 Model Y doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the SQ5 has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Model Y doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The SQ5’s standard side window demisters help clear frost or condensation from the side windows in the winter. The Model Y doesn’t even offer side window demisters, so the driver may have to wipe the windows from the outside to gain side vision.

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 Model Y doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the SQ5 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Model Y doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the SQ5 Premium Plus/Prestige keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Model Y doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the SQ5 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the SQ5 will cost $3680 to $4190 less than the Model Y over a five-year period.

The SQ5 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the SQ5 will retain 50.33% to 53.67% of its original price after five years, while the Model Y only retains 45.72%.

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