Compare the2025 Audi new Q5VS 2026 Lexus NX

Both the new Q5 and NX have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The new Q5 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 NX’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.

The new Q5 has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The NX doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

The new Q5 has a standard Secondary Collision Brake Assist, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The NX doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the new Q5. But it costs extra on the NX.

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

Both the new Q5 and the NX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, 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.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Audi new Q5 is safer than the NX:

The new Q5’s corrosion warranty is 6 years longer than the NX’s (12 vs. 6 years).

There are over 25 percent more Audi dealers than there are Lexus dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the new Q5’s warranty.

The Audi new Q5’s engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the NX’s engines use an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

On the EPA test cycle the new Q5 gets better fuel mileage than the NX 350 running its gasoline engine (22 city/30 hwy vs. 21 city/28 hwy).

Both the new Q5 and the NX have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All new Q5s have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The NX 350h/450h+ doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

The new Q5 has 2.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the NX (17.2 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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

The new Q5’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The NX doesn’t offer launch control.

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

For better traction, the new Q5’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the NX (255/45R20 vs. 235/60R18).

The new Q5’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the NX’s optional 50 series tires.

The new Q5 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’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 NX doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the new Q5’s wheelbase is 5 inches longer than on the NX (110.9 inches vs. 105.9 inches).

The design of the Audi new Q5 amounts to more than styling. The new Q5 has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .34 Cd. That is lower than the NX (.34 to .35). A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the new Q5 get better fuel mileage.

The new Q5 has 1.4 inches more front shoulder room, 1.9 inches more rear legroom and 1.9 inches more rear shoulder room than the NX.

The new Q5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the NX with its rear seat up (27.6 vs. 22.7 cubic feet). The new Q5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the NX with its rear seat folded (57.1 vs. 46.9 cubic feet).

The new Q5’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the NX’s (4400 vs. 0 pounds).

The engine in the new Q5 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the NX. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

The new Q5’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. An easy entry system costs extra on the NX.

The power windows standard on both the new Q5 and the NX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the new Q5 is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The NX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

If the windows are left open on the new Q5 the driver can close all of them at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the NX can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the new Q5 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The NX doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

The NX Luxury/450+ F Sport’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The new Q5 Premium Plus/Prestige’s standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

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

The Audi new Q5 has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the rear view mirror. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Lexus charges extra for Homelink® on the NX.

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