Compare the2025 Audi new Q5VS 2025 Porsche Cayenne

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 new Q5 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Cayenne doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The new Q5 has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Cayenne doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Audi new Q5 achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Porsche Cayenne has not been tested.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The new Q5 has Car-to-X Services, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The Cayenne doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure.

The Audi new Q5 offers an optional Top View Camera System and it also offers an optional rear camera washer to make backing always safe, regardless of road dirt or grime, while the Porsche Cayenne doesn’t offer a camera washer, requiring manual cleaning.

Both the new Q5 and the Cayenne have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The Audi new Q5 has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Cayenne has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2025.

There are over 51 percent more Audi dealers than there are Porsche dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the new Q5’s warranty.

The Audi new Q5’s engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the Cayenne’s engines use an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

On the EPA test cycle the new Q5 gets better mileage than the Cayenne running its gasoline engine:

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Audi new Q5 higher (6 out of 10) than the Porsche Cayenne (4). This means the new Q5 produces up to 12.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Cayenne every 15,000 miles.

The EPA certifies the Audi new Q5 as a “Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (SULEV). The Porsche Cayenne is only certified to “Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (ULEV) standards.

The new Q5 offers an available sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The Cayenne doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the new Q5 can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Cayenne doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

For better maneuverability, the new Q5’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the Cayenne’s (38.7 feet vs. 39.7 feet).

The Audi new Q5 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 to 1400 pounds less than the Porsche Cayenne.

The new Q5 is 8.4 inches shorter than the Cayenne, making the new Q5 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The new Q5 has a larger cargo volume than the Cayenne with its rear seat up (27.6 vs. 27.3 cubic feet).

The new Q5 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 Cayenne doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

If the windows are left open on the new Q5 the driver can close all of them at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the Cayenne can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the new Q5 has standard extendable sun visors. The Cayenne doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Audi Q5/SQ5 outsold the Porsche Cayenne by over two to one during 2024.