When you are wondering what the differences are between the Audi Q5 vs Q7, it won’t take you long to realize that the differences can be both negligible and also glaring. Both of these vehicles are compact luxury SUVs with excellent performance, beautiful interiors, and features that make you feel like you are in the safest car in the world.
Still, one will outperform the other when comparing some of those features. This is a toss-up, and in many cases the better vehicle for you will come down to price and what you need in your luxury SUV. The Q5 will keep you happy if you don’t have much to carry. If you want a superior vehicle with slightly more to offer, the Q7 is going to be there all the way.
What is Audi Q5?
The Audi Q5 is a five-seater compact luxury SUV that brings both performance and style to the table. It is known to be a tech lover’s dream, but it also offers 201 horsepower (hp) in its base model or you can upgrade to a 261 hp powertrain or 362 hp hybrid vehicle. In either event, you are getting somewhere fast and working with a vehicle that is iPhone compatible and also offers Android Auto to accommodate every driver’s technical needs.
This is an SUV for a few people and doesn’t offer extensive row seating or room, but it is a high-performing SUV that stays true to the Audi name. In addition to being fully loaded with tech it also offers a series of safety features. It can drive like a dream too and has been compared to the Porsche Macan by car reviewers, though its performance is only slightly lower in horsepower and speed.
What is Audi Q7?
The Audi Q7 is a similar car to the Audi Q5 but it is slightly improved and functions as both a sports sedan and a luxury SUV. Here you are getting three rows of seating with a lot of technical fun and compatibility. Your passengers are going to be arriving in style with this one. As the driver, you are going to be enjoying superior performance with a 261-hp turbocharged engine and the all-wheel drive you expect with any SUV.
You can upgrade to a V6 that ups the performance ante to 335 hp and makes your vehicle sing performance. The interior is luxurious and roomy and offers all of your passengers an experience that feels almost just like home. This is a car that you are going to love to drive any day of the week, whether you are going to grab groceries, commuting, or heading out on a day-long road trip adventure.
Features of the Audi Q5 and the Audi Q7
When it comes to comparing the features of the Audi Q5 and the Audi Q7, the differences are clear. The Q5 is smaller, but it may offer better mileage unless you are going for the Q7s hybrid model. At the same time, if you are looking for a roomier car that feels like a big SUV, the Q7 will be your pick.
From a fuel economy standpoint, you are looking at 23 miles per gallon (mpg) in the city and 29 mpg for highway driving for the Q5. The hybrid model is going to get you 27 mpg which is on par with average SUV fuel economy. The Q7 is just a bit lower in mileage but is larger and has a lot more to pull on the roads. With the Q7 V6 you are getting 17 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway roads, but you might see up to 26 mpg on the four-cylinder.
The interiors of both vehicles are beautiful, and if you aren’t concerned about passenger load then you are going to have a tough time choosing between the two. You can get four people into the Q5, and they are all going to enjoy a luxurious, roomy interior. Inside the car, it will be quiet enough that you may not even notice you are driving. The driver’s side is described as cockpit style, and you will truly feel like you are almost piloting something in this car.
The Q7 is giving you a little bit more, and its luxury and roomy interior is a sight to behold. The exterior of the vehicle doesn’t scream too much other than, this is a great Audi SUV, so the luxury interior may surprise you. You’ll have three rows of seating here if you want it but you may sacrifice cargo space for this. Intuitive tech and controls compatible with Apple Car Play and Android Auto are nice touches on the base model that will have you prepared for any scenario on the roads.
From a safety standpoint, the base models of both vehicles offer more than the average sports sedan or SUV. Both vehicles offer driver-assist technology that makes you feel safer in the world. The automated emergency braking and forward collision warnings are just a start with the Q5. You’re also getting blind spot monitoring and cruise control that will make your drive just a little bit easier.
The Q7 doesn’t offer too many features that are superior when it comes to safety features and driving. If safety features are the tipping point for you, then both cars are comparable here with almost the exact same features on the base models. You do get lane assist and lane departure alerts with the Q7 and also get forward collision warnings and emergency braking with the Q7. Like the Q5, adaptive cruise control is part of the base package.
Performance Differences Between Audi Q5 and Audi Q7
There are few performance differences between these two vehicles. They are Audis. The name will speak for itself. The Q5 is bringing all-wheel drive and a turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 201 hp that can be upgraded to 261 hp with options. The upgraded model is going to get you from 0 to 60 miles per hour (mph) in just 5.5 seconds. If you go with the hybrid Q5, you are looking at a performance increase that shaves a second off of speed and gives you 362 hp and from 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds.
By comparison, the Q7 base model is a little bit better in performance on upgraded models but compares almost the same with the four cylinder. The four-cylinder of the Audi Q7 is getting you 261 hp while the upgrade to the V6 brings 335 hp. With the V6, you are getting from 0 to 60 mph in 5.0 seconds flat. One report indicates that is even faster than the Q8 but that is another story for another day.
Price Differences: Audi Q5 vs Audi Q7
You are getting more with the Audi Q7 so you are going to see that reflected in the price with a price difference of approximately $10 thousand on the base models. The Q5 is smaller, plain, and simple. The base price on the Q5 rings in at $43,300. You can upgrade to premium packages, of which there are three Premium, Premium Plus, or Prestige. The Premium will increase the size of your touchscreen and add LED lights to the table. If you need a built-in toll meter you’ll get that with the upgrade as well. The other premium packages will give you a sunroof, ventilated seating, a better sound system, and improved LED lighting depending on the package.
The Audi Q7 is going to have similar premium packages, and the base price begins at $57.5 thousand. Here you are paying for more room and better performance. The base model has a 261 hp package and you can add LED matrix headlamps in the upgrade of the Q7, and also the Q5. You have a wide range of interior trims to choose from as well such as the leather dashboard. Upgrades from the $57.5 will also get you more safety features that will make you feel even more comfortable in this very beautiful ride.
Benefits: The Audi Q5 vs the Audi Q7
It is very easy to say that the Audi Q7 is going to give you more, but there are benefits of the Q5 that may be superior. It does have better fuel economy, and its technology is reputed to be excellent. The base model comes with a beautiful infotainment center, Wi-Fi hotspot, and compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. You get more in the upgraded models that offer features that are literally called the Virtual Cockpit. A larger touchscreen at 12.3 inches ups the ante on tech with trip tracking, tachometers, and phone controls, just to name a few yummies you get in this package.
The Q7 on the other hand offers more performance features with great technology but less emphasis here. With the Audi Q7, you are getting a roomier car, but the fuel economy is lighter. You’ll spend more on gas to carry more people as is always the case when you add a third row.
The interior of every model of the Q7 is as sweet as you would expect. A dual dashboard infotainment center that includes two touchscreens for both luxury control and driver features such as climate control and Apple Car Play and Android Auto compatibility. You can also upgrade to the Virtual Cockpit car if that is what you want, but you may feel like you don’t need to.
Both vehicles are offering you the full benefits of the Audi experience with both safety, performance, and luxury in mind. You have to be really picky to find something not to like in either car. Each has its own benefits that may slightly vary from the other, and it will really depend on personal choice here.
I picked the Q7 for its roomy tech heaven style
In a perfect world where you can pick whatever car you want, I am going for the Q7 for the reason that it was built. This is just a better car. It may not offer what the Q5 does when it comes to fuel economy, but it definitely can operate with some horsepower in a roomier interior that sings luxury and comfort.
You are going somewhere in style in both cars, but this SUV makes you feel like the journey is the destination. Both vehicles make you feel this way, but the Q7 is designed to be improved. You’ve arrived when you drive the Q7 before you even start the engine.
