Certified Benz & Beemer Compares 2014 Porsche CAYENNE VS 2014 Audi Q5 Near Phoenix, AZ

The Cayenne offers an optional collision warning system, which detects an impending crash through forward mounted sensors and flashes a bright light and sounds a loud, distinctive tone to warn the driver to brake or maneuver immediately to avoid a collision. The system also pre-charges the brakes to begin deceleration more quickly. The Q5 doesn't offer a collision warning system.

Both the Cayenne and the Q5 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control and electronic stability systems to prevent skidding.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Cayenne has a standard 220 amp alternator (190 amp - Cayenne V8). The Q5’s 150 amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Cayenne third among midsize premium CUVs in their 2013 Initial Quality Study. The Q5 isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2013 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Porsche vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Porsche first in initial quality, above the industry average. With 28 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 13th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2013 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Porsche vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Porsche second in reliability, above the industry average. With 53 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 23rd.

The Cayenne has more powerful engines than the Q5:

As tested in Consumer Reports the Porsche Cayenne V6 is faster than the Q5 2.0T (automatics tested):

Regardless of its engine, the Cayenne’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. (Start/Stop isn’t accounted in present EPA fuel mileage tests.) Audi only offers an automatic engine start/stop system on the Q5 3.0T/Hybrid.

The Cayenne has 7.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Q5 Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (26.4 vs. 19 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Cayenne has 6.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Q5’s standard fuel tank (26.4 vs. 19.8 gallons).

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

The Cayenne’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs standard on the Q5 are solid, not vented.

The Cayenne offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The Q5 doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The Cayenne stops much shorter than the Q5:

For better traction, the Cayenne has larger standard tires than the Q5 (255/55R18 vs. 235/60R18). The Cayenne’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Q5 (295/35R21 vs. 255/45R20).

The Cayenne’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Q5 2.0T’s standard 60 series tires. The Cayenne’s optional tires have a lower 35 series profile than the Q5 3.0T/3.0 TDI/Hybrid’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Cayenne offers optional 21-inch wheels. The Q5’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The Cayenne (except Hybrid) offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The Q5 doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The Cayenne offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Audi doesn’t offer an active suspension on the Q5.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Cayenne’s wheelbase is 3.5 inches longer than on the Q5 (114 inches vs. 110.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Cayenne is 1.5 inches wider in the front and 2.2 inches wider in the rear than on the Q5.

The Cayenne GTS handles at .95 G’s, while the Q5 pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Cayenne Turbo executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.7 seconds quicker than the Q5 (24.8 seconds @ .81 average G’s vs. 27.5 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Cayenne has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Q5 (8.7 vs. 7.9 inches), allowing the Cayenne to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Cayenne Turbo’s minimum ground clearance is 2.85 inches higher than on the Q5 (10.75 vs. 7.9 inches).

As tested by Car and Driver while under full throttle, the interior of the Cayenne Diesel is quieter than the Q5 2.0T Premium Plus (70 vs. 71 dB).

The Cayenne has 1.5 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more front shoulder room, 1.2 inches more rear headroom and .3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Q5.

The Cayenne has a larger cargo area with its rear seat folded than the Q5 with its rear seat folded (62.9 vs. 57.3 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Cayenne easier. The Cayenne’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 25.5 inches, while the Q5’s liftover is 27.3 inches.

The Cayenne’s cargo area is larger than the Q5’s in almost every dimension:

The Cayenne’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the liftgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The Q5’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors in the Q5 Premium Plus/Prestige, the Cayenne offers an optional passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position (with optional power wheel adjuster) and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The Cayenne’s optional easy entry system raises the steering wheel when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Q5 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Cayenne’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge – which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Q5 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

Consumer Reports rated the Cayenne’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Q5’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors available for the Cayenne detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The Q5 doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

To better shield the driver and front passenger’s vision, the Cayenne has standard dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The Q5 doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

Both the Cayenne and the Q5 offer optional heated front seats. The Cayenne also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Q5.

Insurance will cost less for the Cayenne owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Cayenne with a number “5” insurance rate while the Q5 is rated higher at a number “8” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Cayenne is less expensive to operate than the Q5 because typical repairs cost much less on the Cayenne than the Q5, including $259 less for a water pump, $125 less for a starter, $11 less for fuel injection, $120 less for a fuel pump, $1338 less for a timing belt/chain and $81 less for a power steering pump.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Cayenne first among midsize premium CUVs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Q5 was rated second in its category.

Motor Trend selected the Cayenne as their 2011 Sport Utility of the Year. The Q5 has never been chosen.