Compared: 2023 Audi Q3 vs. 2023 Audi Q5

You'll find lots of amenities in these luxury SUVs, but the Q5 offers far more choice.

Clifford Atiyeh | 

Jan 4, 2023 | 3 min read

Audi

Audi is known for making expensive cars that age well and pack lots of tech. The subcompact Q3 and compact Q5 SUVs are its most popular models. Each car seats five, has standard all-wheel drive (AWD), and impresses shoppers with a well-styled interior. Should you find yourself trying to choose between the two, this comparison may help you make your decision.

Audi | Q3

Audi Q3 vs. Audi Q5: Price

The Q3 opens at about $39,000, but that version—the Q3 40, with a 184 hp, turbocharged, 2.0L four-cylinder—is currently unavailable. Right now, shoppers can spec only the 228 hp Q3 45, which costs around $40,000 to start. The Q5 range is more complex, coming in both a basic SUV shape and the more rounded Sportback body.

The regular-body Q5 40 starts at around $45,000 with a 201hp, turbocharged, 2.0L four-cylinder. The Q5 45 has a 261 hp version of that engine and costs about $48,000. The Sportback comes only in 261 hp form and opens at about $52,000. There’s a 362 hp, plug-in hybrid (PHEV) option for the regular SUV, too, but it is currently unavailable. Lastly, Audi sells the high-performance SQ5 in both body styles, each featuring a 349 hp, turbocharged V6 under the hood. The regular SQ5 SUV begins at about $57,500 and the Sportback at $61,000.

Audi | SQ5

Audi Q3 vs. Audi Q5: Features

The entry-level Q3 boasts an 8.8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus a digital instrument panel, front and rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, leather seats with heating up front, three-zone climate control, a panoramic sunroof, LED taillights with dynamic turn signals, and a power liftgate.

Apart from the sunroof, which is available feature and a larger infotainment screen, the base Q5 boasts all the same stuff, plus insulated window glass, walnut wood trim, Audi Connect app services, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, remote keyless entry, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality. You can find most of these things in the Q3 lineup, but you may need to select the top-of-the-line Premium Plus trim to get them. The Q5’s top trim, the Prestige, provides some features that no Q3 has, such as ventilated front seats, Audi’s matrix LED headlights, and a head-up display.

In terms of space, the Q5 is obviously roomier than the Q3, but it’s not large. The Q3 has around 94 cu.-ft. of passenger room and about 24 cu.-ft. of cargo space behind the back seat. The Q5, meanwhile, offers about 99 cu.-ft. and 25 cu.-ft., respectively.

Audi Q3 vs. Audi Q5: Fuel Economy

Both of these models require premium fuel. Regardless of body style, every gas-only version of the Q5 sees 25 mpg on the EPA’s combined test cycle. The PHEV performs much better, providing 61 MPGe during its 23 miles of electric range, and returning 26 mpg combined when operating on both gas and electricity, per the EPA’s 2022 estimates. As noted earlier, the PHEV is currently unavailable. As for the SQ5, in regular or Sportback form, it manages 21 mpg combined.

While the Q3 is smaller than the Q5, it’s not much more efficient. The 184 hp model returns 26 mpg combined, whereas the higher-power version sees 24 hp.

Clifford Atiyeh

Clifford Atiyeh is an independent writer, photographer, and creative consultant. He has reported for dozens of websites, magazines, and newspapers in his 20-year journalism career, during which he has tested more than 650 new vehicles. His automotive expertise focuses on product development, market analysis, and the litigation and legislation affecting the industry. Clifford is vice president of the New England Motor Press Association and runs a marketing consultancy.