Q5 TDI vs X35d

[m3_08]

I know typically 'experts' compare x5 to Q7 but look at dimensions (they are very close) and mechanics : almost the same 3.o Diesel engines with same power/torque/mpg !!!!

I see Q5 has kind of dated electronics and it doesn't offer HUD, 360 cameras 7seats or full LED but overall is it a legit competitor?

Dimensions:
Q5 / X5

Front head room
39.4 in. 40.5 in.
Front leg room
41.0 in. 40.4 in.
Front shoulder room
57.7 in. 60.5 in.
Rear head room
39.0 in. 38.8 in.
Rear leg room
37.4 in. 36.6 in.
Rear shoulder room
56.4 in. 58.3 in.
Width
74.7 in. 76.3 in.
Height
65.2 in. 69.4 in.
Length
182.6 in. 193.2 in.
Ground clearance
7.9 in. 8.2 in.
Wheel base
110.5 in. 115.5 in.
Cargo capacity, all seats in place
29.1 cu.ft. N/A

[akhter]

thats cos the q7 is a raised minivan with awd

[Ray knight]

Q5 is closer to X3 size. its got nothing on the X5 if you drive them back to back.

[PunjabiM3]

Not even a comparison. I agree Q5 should be compared to X3 as they are the competing offerings from the two manufacturers. I personally like the Q5 over the X3 but prefer the X5 over the Q7. Q5 is larger than X3 I believe, as is the Q7 over the X5.

I believe the current generation of the Q7 looks much better than the new one on the horizon. However, the inside of the current Q7 is VERY dated, as is the Q5. If your budget allows, I would take the X5 over the Q5 easily. Q5 is very nice at the price point, but then have you looked at something like the new upcoming Lexus RX, MB offerings, and Acura MDX?

[m3_08]

Originally Posted by PunjabiM3

Not even a comparison. I agree Q5 should be compared to X3 as they are the competing offerings from the two manufacturers. I personally like the Q5 over the X3 but prefer the X5 over the Q7. Q5 is larger than X3 I believe, as is the Q7 over the X5.

I believe the current generation of the Q7 looks much better than the new one on the horizon. However, the inside of the current Q7 is VERY dated, as is the Q5. If your budget allows, I would take the X5 over the Q5 easily. Q5 is very nice at the price point, but then have you looked at something like the new upcoming Lexus RX, MB offerings, and Acura MDX?

///////
I agree about Q5 TDI is dated but mechanically it has excellent diesel engine and it's faster than x35D!
Also I'm not sure what is more reliable, x35d or Q5 TDI?
And last, x5 qualifies for business expense as a big SUV >6000 # and Q5 is not.

[wordsworth03]

I took actual measurements and they definitely are not comparable. The rear seats are so cramped compared to the X5 and the rear cargo area footprint is much smaller.

[Rustynail]

The Q-5 is a glorified VW Touareg .... The BMW X5 is a .... Well, it's a BMW X5. They are not even close to being a competing size. 5" more wheel base, 10" more length, huge. Almost 3" more shoulder room in the front is huge. Curb weight Q-5 TDI 4475 lbs X5 35d 4930 lbs. ... All I'll say beyond this is, go drive the two then tell me they are competitors.
Oh and by the way they both have identicle 0-60 times at 6.5 seconds. So a smaller lighter Q5 barley keeps pace with a larger, heavier more comfortable X5 ...

[Flying Ace]

You should wait for the next generation Q7. It lost about 400 lbs and was split from the Porsche chassis and uses the new MLB2 chassis, all in all, it'll be a smaller exterior package but retains the same interior dimensions.

The new Q7 will weigh in under 5000 lbs

[ABE2(aw/sw)]

Originally Posted by Flying Ace

You should wait for the next generation Q7. It lost about 400 lbs and was split from the Porsche chassis and uses the new MLB2 chassis, all in all, it'll be a smaller exterior package but retains the same interior dimensions.

The new Q7 will weigh in under 5000 lbs

The interior of the new Q7 look stunning. The exterior on the other hand, looks horrible, IMO.

[PunjabiM3]

Originally Posted by ABE2(aw/sw)

The interior of the new Q7 look stunning. The exterior on the other hand, looks horrible, IMO.

Well put. I find that since the previous lead designer of Audi left, their new designs have been very boring and safe. The new Q7, A4, and even the R8 do not look as good exterior wise as the previous generation.

[kip1]

I changed from a Q5 to X5. The Q5 was a very good car and I was sad to see it go. For me there were 2 main reasons to change. 1. Technology. The x5 has auto-start stop, night vision w pedestrian detection, 360 cameras, auto park,adaptive cc up to 0 km, adaptive leds these were not available then and also the cc went only to 30 km/h. 2. Size. We could fit a big familys stuff into the q5, but that meant you needed the comfort seats in the back and moved them 10cm towards the front. That meant as a 6 foot driver the steering wheel was almost touching my valuables. We can fit all of the stuff that was packed under the child seats+ in the back without needing to move the seats in the X5, it is just bigger. Then again the q5 fits parking spaces, the x5 doesnt, on the other hand q5 handles like a wagon, x5 feels more like a truck. Good luck wth the purchase, whatever you choose. Edit: The interior of the X5 is also substantially wider. So a person fits between the seats. Also for the x5 you get 7 seats and air suspension. Thats why I changed.

[kip1]

Just to clarify, Id take the q5 over macan, x3, xc60 any day...

[m3_08]

Originally Posted by kip1

I changed from a Q5 to X5. The Q5 was a very good car and I was sad to see it go. For me there were 2 main reasons to change. 1. Technology. The x5 has auto-start stop, night vision w pedestrian detection, 360 cameras, auto park,adaptive cc up to 0 km, adaptive leds these were not available then and also the cc went only to 30 km/h. 2. Size. We could fit a big familys stuff into the q5, but that meant you needed the comfort seats in the back and moved them 10cm towards the front. That meant as a 6 foot driver the steering wheel was almost touching my valuables. We can fit all of the stuff that was packed under the child seats+ in the back without needing to move the seats in the X5, it is just bigger. Then again the q5 fits parking spaces, the x5 doesnt, on the other hand q5 handles like a wagon, x5 feels more like a truck. Good luck wth the purchase, whatever you choose. Edit: The interior of the X5 is also substantially wider. So a person fits between the seats. Also for the x5 you get 7 seats and air suspension. Thats why I changed.

Good sharing, thanks. All good, valid points.

[teodorjelev]

pictures X5 vs Q5

[DBV1]

Not really in the same class, as I would compare the Q5 to the Macan and X3. I would choose Macan first and X3 second. If I were comparing the Q5 to the X5, I would take the X5 diesel or Cayenne diesel.

[wjbender]

Originally Posted by kip1

Just to clarify, Id take the q5 over macan, x3, xc60 any day...

Cayenne/Macan handling is better than even the X5 - remember it is a Porsche! I drove all competition before buying the X 35d - the comfort, interior style/quality /electronics, handling trumped the Cayenne /Macan for me. I did like the exterior styling of the Cayenne/Macan better than all others

[kip1]

Cayenne handles better than x5, but luggage sizewise it competes with q5 more than x5. Macan is just a rebadged Q5, Q5 chassis and Q5 engines. Less space. Nicer interior in the Macan and some like the looks more, I would never pay Porsche prices for Audi technology.

Edit. All boot/size comparisons are made with cargo net in place, I forgot in tve US it might differ in some marques!

[chrisny]

Be careful with the numbers you get online, they're not always accurate (I think at one point, the F25 showed more cargo room than an X5, presumably because of the 3rd row in the X5 throwing the "all seats in place" number off). We have an F15 now but previously had an F25 X3 that we cross shopped with the Q5. The Q5 wheel wells make the opening so narrow, I don't care what the numbers say (#'s had it with slightly more cargo space than the X3), it's got less floor space and therefore less usable space. So we went with the X3. When that too proved too small, we went up to the X5 and gained quite a bit of useable space, between the much bigger floor footprint and not as much is lost at the top of the cargo area (at the cover) due to the way the X3 roofline cuts at a bigger angle. We fit way, way more in the X5 compared to the X3 which already trumped (slightly) the Q5 in terms of cargo space.

[Wardman]

Did the Q5 get an updated engine, I thought it was older and did not perform as well as the x5d when I looked in August of 2014.

[realsgy]

I also saw these numbers (cars.com or edmunds) and said 'no way'. I had Q5s parked next to me several times and that car is much smaller.

Aesthetics are subjective, but if I have to drive a SUV I want it to look tough. For me Audi SUVs look like chubby wagons on lift kits. Some people actually prefer the car-like look. The interior reminds me of the Passat with the thin chrome accents around the vents, steering wheel controls, transmission.

As for Cayenne, I am not that sure that a Cayenne will handle much better than an X5 with DHP although my only experience is with a first gen (2010) Cayenne S.

[exon]

Q5 follows Audi's more FWD oriented platform. So naturally its space efficiency i.e. ratio of interior space to exterior dimension is going to be a bit better than a RWD oriented platform.

One example of difference will be the footwell: in Audi they are wider and more spacious than a BMW or Mercedes, so you can more comfortably spreadout. RWD platform has very wide transmission tunnel that eats into front row leg space.

But still, Q5 is going to drive very differently than a X5. The weight/size difference is big, even though the interior space might be close.

BTW, Audi's supercharged V6 is sweet, none of the lag that N55 has at low speed.

[akhter]

I still don't get it. Why is Q5 being compared to X5? there are on different size and weight categories. I would expect the q5 to drive better since its smaller, lighter, lower, but i would also expect the x3 to be drive even better than either.

The dimensions are one thing, but if you see the cars side to side, you will know how different they are in size. the x5 has 3rd row--try fitting that into a q5...