Compare the2025 Audi new Q5 SportbackVS 2025 BMW X4

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Audi new Q5 Sportback are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW X4 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the new Q5 Sportback and X4 have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The new Q5 Sportback has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The X4’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The new Q5 Sportback has Car-to-X Services, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The X4 doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure.

The Audi new Q5 Sportback 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 BMW X4 doesn’t offer a camera washer, requiring manual cleaning.

Both the new Q5 Sportback and X4 have rear cross-traffic warning, but the new Q5 Sportback has Rear Cross-Traffic Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The X4’s Cross Traffic Warning doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the new Q5 Sportback and the X4 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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 Sportback’s engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the X4’s engines use an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Audi vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Audi 1 place higher in reliability than BMW.

The new Q5 Sportback’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 20 more horsepower (268 vs. 248) and 37 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 258) than the X4 xDrive30i’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the new Q5 Sportback gets better mileage than the X4:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Audi new Q5 Sportback uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The X4 requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Audi new Q5 Sportback higher (6 out of 10) than the BMW X4 (4 to 6). This means the new Q5 Sportback produces up to 12.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the X4 every 15,000 miles.

The new Q5 Sportback 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 X4 doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

For better stopping power the new Q5 Sportback’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the X4:

For better traction, the new Q5 Sportback’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the X4 (255/45R20 vs. 245/45R20).

The new Q5 Sportback Prestige has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The new Q5 Sportback’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The X4 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For better maneuverability, the new Q5 Sportback’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the X4’s (38.7 feet vs. 39.7 feet).

The new Q5 Sportback has .2 inches more front legroom, .2 inches more front shoulder room, .7 inches more rear headroom and 2.5 inches more rear legroom than the X4.

The new Q5 Sportback has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the X4 with its rear seat up (25.4 vs. 18.5 cubic feet). The new Q5 Sportback has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the X4 with its rear seat folded (53.1 vs. 50.5 cubic feet).

The new Q5 Sportback’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The X4 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The new Q5 Sportback’s standard Audi Advanced Key allows you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Comfort Go standard on the X4 only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the vehicle.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the new Q5 Sportback has a standard rear wiper. The X4 doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The new Q5 Sportback Premium Plus/Prestige has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The X4 doesn’t offer headlight washers.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the new Q5 Sportback to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The X4 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Audi new Q5 Sportback has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the X4.

The Audi Q5/SQ5 outsold the BMW X4 by almost six to one during 2024.