The Audi Q5, a luxury crossover SUV, shares the road with competitors like the reliable Acura RDX, the ever-elegant Jaguar F-PACE, and the well-rounded Volvo XC60.
There’s no question why the Audi Q5 has been continuously ranked one of the best SUVs in its class. With premium styling, ample safety features, and a capable, easy-to-use infotainment system, the Audi Q5 can be hard to beat.
That said, the Q5’s somewhat boring lack of standout qualities may lead potential buyers to more engaging alternatives. If the Audi Q5 just isn’t doing it for you, Jerry
, the car insurance
comparison super app, has the guide you need. Taking price ranges, standout features, and weaker points all into consideration, here are the Audi Q5’s top eight rivals. 1. Acura RDX
Starting price: $39,300 to $53,300
Selling points: Reliable and safe, super spacious, lots of standard features
Weak spots: Poor towing capacity, confusing infotainment system
More affordable than the Audi Q5, the Acura RDX packages great value into a solid build. Leather seating comes standard so you don’t have to pay extra for comfort in the RDX’s roomy 104 cubic feet of passenger space. Back seat passengers get the same spacious 38 inches of legroom as the Audi Q5 and the back cargo storage benefits from an extra four cubes to the Q5’s 54.
The RDX’s 10.2-inch infotainment system is both loved and hated. While it offers convenient tech like wireless smartphone integration and USB-A and USB-C charging ports, the touchscreen can be difficult to navigate. Standard safety features are abundant and highly rated, with forward-collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and pedestrian detection as just a few of your base-level offerings.
Though there aren’t any hybrid options and you won’t be able to tow more than 1,500 lbs, the RDX is still a solid luxury SUV with one of the best values out there.
2. BMW X3
Starting price: $43,700 to $69,900
Selling points: Balanced handling, powerful engine options, thrilling ride
Weak spots: Expensive, dated cabin design, small side mirrors
The 2022 BMW X3 delivers the brand’s trademark luxury on top of a peppy 2.0L 248-hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine. For an extra price, you can upgrade to a 3.0L 382-hp inline-six mild-hybrid, 473-hp inline-six, or an insane 503-hp inline-six for an Indy-500 thrill.
The BMW’s capable 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system is angled toward the driver, allowing you to navigate music and features as easily as your BMW navigates winding roads. BMWs have long been praised for their expertly crafted and calibrated powertrains and the 2022 X3 is no exception. Pairing high-performance agility with poised suspension, the BMW X3 is the exciting luxury SUV the Audi Q5 just isn’t cut out to be.
MORE: Car Loan for BMW 2022
3. Mercedes-Benz GLC
Starting price: $43,850 to $82,500
Selling points: Exceptionally quiet ride, highly customizable, intuitive infotainment system
Weak spots: Pricey, lacking standard safety features, short on cargo space
Like the Audi Q5, the 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLC has average cargo storage at best (56.5 cubic feet), but it makes up for it with premium trim and upholstery options from grey oak wood to cranberry leather. Both the plush driver and front passenger seats come power-adjustable, and a well-crafted cabin and composed suspension system foster a supremely smooth and quiet driving experience.
Though the GLC doesn’t hold out on high-class safety features like lane change assist and adaptive cruise control, these don’t come standard. Its versatile infotainment system can be conveniently operated via touch-sensitive controls on the steering wheel and for a few hundred more dollars, you can add on greater amenities like wireless charging.
In all, the GLC won’t cost you less than the Audi Q5. But its wide range of standalone luxury upgrades can make it more flexible to your needs if you’ve got the money.
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4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers4. Volvo XC60
Starting price: $42,650 to $70,595
Selling points: Spacious seating, ample standard safety tech, convenient warranty
Weak spots: Limited cubby storage, clumsy infotainment system, numb steering
Like the Q5, the 2022 Volvo XC60 blends style, safety, and technology well. Its cabin is cleanly designed with a spacious 103 cubic feet of total passenger volume and ranks alongside the Audi and Acura RDX with 38 inches of second-row legroom.
While the Volvo XC60’s 247-hp four-cylinder or 295-hp mild-hybrid engines may not make for the sportiest luxury crossover, the XC60 is at least a safe one. Standard driver assistance features are plentiful, including rear cross-traffic alert, blind spot monitoring, and traffic sign recognition. That said, its infotainment tech doesn’t have a tuning knob, which can make it difficult and distracting to adjust the radio while driving.
Where the XC60 shines most against the Q5 is its warranty, though: three years or 36,000 miles of complimentary scheduled maintenance is covered for the Volvo, whereas the Q5’s warranty covers none.
MORE: How many miles can a Volvo last
5. Lexus NX
Starting price: $39,425 to $57,225
Selling points: Budget-friendly, excellent fuel efficiency, smart safety system
Weak spots: Noisy cabin, subdued handling, not much cargo storage
Though the Audi Q5 doesn’t lack safety tech, the Lexus NX takes it to another level. Front doors are electronically operated with collision-prevention tech to avoid striking a car or bicyclist, and standard safety features are stacked with blind-spot monitors, lane-keeping assist, and pedestrian detection.
For all of its high-tech safety features, the Lexus comes in at a lower cost than most luxury SUVs. Its standard four-cylinder gas engine gets an excellent 26/33/28 mpg city/highway/combined fuel efficiency while amping up to the hybrid engine offers an extra planet-loving 37/41/39 mpg.
That said, at just 203-hp for its standard 2.5L four-cylinder and just 239-hp for its cheaper hybrid, the NX won’t beat most other luxury SUVs off the line. But if safety and tech matter more to you than power under the hood, the NX could be a great fit.
6. Cadillac XT5
Starting price: $43,995 to $55,895
Selling points: Roomy, handsome styling, great (optional) rear camera mirror
Weak spot: Measly towing capacity, standard trim doesn’t offer many upgrade options
The 2022 Cadillac XT5 fits a few more suitcases than the Audi Q5 with 63 cubic feet of cargo volume that put it on par with the BMW X3 and Volvo XC60. It features one of the longest wheelbases in its class, giving it the highest total passenger volume on this list at 104.5 cubic feet.
While tall passengers stretch out in its spacious back row, the XT5 has a rearview mirror camera allowing drivers to see around people or objects blocking the rear window. That said, you can only opt for this camera, amongst other features like blind-spot monitoring and rain-sensing wipers, by upgrading to at least the Premium Luxury trim.
The Premium Luxury trim also grants access to the XT5’s more powerful 310-hp V6 engine for $50,990. To compare, the Q5’s Premium Plus trim equipped with a 261-hp hybrid four-cylinder costs $50,800. If you’re after power, the XT5 might be a better option.
7. Alfa Romeo Stelvio
Starting price: $45,150 to $86,850
Selling points: Sharp styling, thrilling performance, smooth handling
Weak spots: Pricey, sub-par interior quality, limited cargo room
For an SUV that’s as close to a sports car as you might get, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio is a fine selection. Its fiery 280-hp base inline-4 engine packs enough punch to outspeed every other base engine in the luxury SUV class. Upgrading to the Quadrifoglio’s Ferrari-derived 2.9L twin-turbo V6 will practically rocket you into space with a 0-60mph time of 3.6 seconds and 505 horses under the hood.
To put it simply, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio is one heck of a thrill ride that the Q5 is not. Perhaps in exchange for so much power and excitement, however, its interior quality isn’t quite as luxurious as other models. Seats tend to feel stiff and cheap, and cargo space, at 56.5 cubic feet, runs below average.
When considering how gorgeous of a powerhouse this SUV is though, it can be very easy to forgive the Stelvio’s interior flaws.
8. Jaguar F-PACE
Starting price: $50,900 to $86,600
Selling points: Surgical handling, performance power, great engine options
Weak spots: Lacks storage cubbies, buggy infotainment system, hefty price tag
Pairing practicality with inspiring performance, the 2022 Jaguar F-PACE is a breath of (expensive) fresh air. With a top-class suspension system, a range of engine options — from a 246-hp turbocharged four-cylinder to a 550-hp supercharged V8 — and a satisfyingly minimalist interior aesthetic, the F-PACE doesn’t leave much to complain about.
Though its 11.4-inch curved-glass “Pivi” infotainment system runs into occasional bugginess, over-the-air updates regularly work out the kinks. It lacks small item storage for front-seat passengers but makes up for it with an impressive 69.1 cubic feet of maximum cargo volume.
For a driving experience that offers both spirited thrill rides and a smooth daily commute, the Jaguar F-PACE is the best of both worlds.
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4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ driversAudi Q5 vs. the competition
To help you decide between the Audi Q5 and each of its capable competitors, here’s a comparison table of some important features.
| | | | | | Fuel economy (city/highway/combined) |
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| | Four-cylinder, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, V6 | | | | |
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| | Four-cylinder, hybrid, plug-in hybrid | | | | |
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| | Four-cylinder, hybrid I-6, V8 | | | | |
How to compare car insurance quotes in under a minute
As exciting as purchasing a new car might be, comparing the Audi Q5 to its luxury SUV alternatives can be time-consuming and difficult.
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