X5 vs Q5

[Gemcoska]

First off... YES i know the comparison should be X5 vs Q7 and X3 vs Q5. But the comparison in this case is X5 and Q5.

I'm a LONG TIME BMW owner as were my parents, so its in my blood. When looking for a new addition to our garage, I was very adamant about the X5. However the wife is completely sold on the Q5. I'm trying to understand her preference and its just not happening. I'm hoping that this board will help me see the advantages of going X5 instead of the Q5 or vice versa.

I'm looking for some real help here so it would be great if we could keep the hate mongering to a minimum.

So what are your thoughts? Why did you go X5 instead of something else?

Thanks

[reihani]

The Q5 is great on gas. My X5M is averaging 26L/100km!!! Although my driving definitely does not help this.

[denaliman]

I think women generally tend to prefer the Q5 over the X5. I see far more women driving Q5's than X5's and more women driving X3's than X5's. The design of the Q5 is "softer" thus I think this is why women gravitate towards it. The Q5 interior is pleasing to the eyes as well. We were in the same position last year. Wife liked the Q5...she felt the X5 and X3 was to masculine or aggressive in nature. In the end we ended up with neither. She thought the Q5 was still too big for her so we ended up with another A4 s-line as she did before. I liked the Q5 it was a real nice car and I preferred it against the X3. What I did not like was the Q5 servotronic steering feel, it was to loose and seemed to wander for my liking. She won't even drive my X6M Stay happy and if she is the majority driver get her what she feels more comfortable with. If space and family travel, sports etc. is a concern the X5 is a better choice. Good Luck.

[dubsesd]

how about an SQ5? saw one the other day and it looked really nice. just remember that the q5 platform and body are at the very end of it life cycle and new redesigns are coming out. my wife prefered the x5 and thought the q5 was too small

[Gemcoska]

Thanks denaliman... some great feedback there. I think I concur with the man vs woman viewpoints. Well said.

All the S-line Audi's are great cars, but when I catch my self saying that... I go, well then I'd just get an M car...

What do you think will happen when the Q5 platforms go out? The new platform will make the previous ones very dated?

[mleun481]

SQ5 wasn't out at the time or else I may have considered it. I had a Q5 - it was nice, but needed more power and more room. My german shepherd could barely sit in the back seat without hitting his head on the roof. I also didn't like the small cargo space. I thought it was ok until I went grocery shopping.
Went to an X5, but still wanted more...got an X5M. Sacrifice fuel economy for room, HP and fun.

[Gemcoska]

Originally Posted by mleun481

SQ5 wasn't out at the time or else I may have considered it. I had a Q5 - it was nice, but needed more power and more room. My german shepherd could barely sit in the back seat without hitting his head on the roof. I also didn't like the small cargo space. I thought it was ok until I went grocery shopping.
Went to an X5, but still wanted more...got an X5M. Sacrifice fuel economy for room, HP and fun.

So when you say you wanted more, you wanted more HP, not more space right?

What about they styling and comfort of the two SUVs.


And lucky you with and X5M...

[mleun481]

I mainly wanted more HP, but wanted more room in the back for my dog. I think the Q5 is more comfortable. But, I also had run flats on the X5 so that doesn't help. For interior styling, I don't think either one is very exciting. I do like the carbon fiber trim in the X5M and the more aggressive exterior of the X5.

[boom]

Audis are just rebadged, under optioned Volkswagens. If she wants a Q5, get her a Tiguan. It'll have the exact same engine, more options, snazzier interior, and cost less. Audi always frustrates me for this reason. VAG just offers better combinations for Audis that VWs, e.g. AWD is available for the A3 but not the GTI in the 2.0T. Everything else is superior about the GTI.
All that said, I do like the electronics and creature comforts of the VAG cars over BMW. I struggled with the Toaureg V6 TDI/ X5d comparison but found the best option for me in a BMW.
Q5 is way smaller than an X5. That should be your biggest decision maker.

[nabizzy]

i think bmw makes the best SUVs from the germans, and from anyone else. The only real comparison imho is the cayenne. I wouldn't pick Audi SUVs over BMWs. I recently bought an A8L and I chose it head and shoulders over everything I drove in its class, and the S8 is the same imho, but as far as SUVs BMW is your best bet. Hope this helps, though i doubt it lol.

[Gemcoska]

Great inputs so far guys.

So all in all... if you were in my position, would you push for the X5 or settle for getting the wife the Q5?

[theaudir8fan]

My girlfriend has a Q5 and i have a X5M, in all fairness the Q5's ride is much softer and more comfortable than the X5, so if performance is not your wife's priority, Q5 is the better choice. Also Q5 fit a woman more as i found my GF to look better in it than all the other choices. Her brother has a XC60 and mom has a GLK, so it's like a side by side comparison.

Also never argue or persuade a woman, get her what she wants and keep her happy so you can have what you want. If not, she's going to blame it on you if there is anything she doesn't like down the road, haha

[Kaiser11]

It really comes down to the space and the primary use of the vehicle. If it will be the primary family transport of 4 people the X5 rules.
Have to agree with boom's comment regarding VAG Tiguan vs the Q5. My wife was looking at the a new Q5 and loved it. She did not like the hard lines of the X5 or the X3.We test drove the Tiguan and although it did not have all the luxury items she loved the intuitive driver interface. The Tig was equal to the Q5 in all other aspects room, safety ratings, comfort, and driving dynamics plus the VW is a lot less coin. The Driver interface with VW is fantastic and I think VW nailed it. Though the Tig does not have the soft lines of the Q5, The Tiguan with the 2.0TSi is a great vehicle with great engineering.
My .02 cents I would recommend looking at the Tiguan if she is considering the Q5. Bottom line Keep her happy so there is no contention when you want to upgrade your toys!

[windsailor]

Never looked at comparing VW and Audi but it makes sense. Up here cost wise, Audi is too expensive for being smaller and just 'softer' but...even when they're wrong wives are always right!

[Gemcoska]

Guess I owe a trip to the VW dealership

[GKyri]

Your wife doesn't want a VW, she wants an Audi. Regardless of underpinnings the Audi looks better than the Tiguan and has a far superior badge. The badge IS important - which why a woman would prefer a Louis Vuitton handbag to say a similar sized carrying contraption that will do the exact same thing but wont have the LV symbol!

Re X5 vs Q5, the fact is Q5 is smaller and more carlike. Less imposing than an X5 but pretty nonetheless. A drive of both will easily settle it.

[cb4]

The price difference between these two is substantial. If you don't need the extra room and are ok with the driving feel of the Audi then it seems like an obvious choice.

You are going to be paying 10k+ more for an equally equipped x5.

I would drive the q5 first and if your wife likes it then buy it. If you drive the x5 then your decision just got a lot harder.

[cb4]

I also want to remind those on this thread that the op is not asking for x5m v q5. Yes the x5m is not as "comfortable". But the other x 5 variants have a much softer suspension.

The diff between an x5m and x535d/i are significant.

[buckeyewalt]

Originally Posted by Gemcoska

Great inputs so far guys.

So all in all... if you were in my position, would you push for the X5 or settle for getting the wife the Q5?

You know what the old saying goes, "IF mama ain't happy, nobody is happy"

My wife and I looked at the Q5 and Q7 before we got our X5 and really the Q5 is more of a crossover than a SUV. If she is more comfortable with a Q5, get it but try to get her to look at an SQ5, lot more fun and maybe you could borrow it sometime!

Sometimes women get overpowered by a big vehicle as a X5 and are more comfortable in a smaller car. We all could give you our impressions of what you should have but the ultimate decision comes down to your wife and what she likes and is comfortable with. On a plus side with an SQ5, you do get their high output supercharged V6 to play with!

[nabizzy]

honestly best thing is to have her drive them all
x5 variants
tiguan (meh) lol
q5
sq5

etc etc


My mom hated the x5, and she loves the q5 and the rx350 lexus, perhaps because of the comment buckeyewalt made about the big vehicle small vehicle thing

test drives are free too lol. Just go sample them all so you don't have any regrets about perhaps not trying one or whatever.

[Gemcoska]

Thanks guys for all your help guys. Everyone did a really good job contributing. Oh and btw I posted this same post to TWO audi forums and I have still yet to have a response. I don't know what that means necessarily but its definitely discouraging to know i'm not gonna have alot of help from their community. Anyhow... you guys rock.

[nabizzy]

I am on Audi forums and they suck lol, I got better responses here for powder coating (something very general in the automotive community) than I did on the audi forums for my A8. We have all been spoiled by this forum haha.