Certified Benz & Beemer Compares 2016 Audi Q5 VS 2016 Lincoln MKX Near Scottsdale, AZ

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Audi Q5 have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Lincoln MKX doesn’t offer pretensioners for the rear seat belts.

The Q5’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Lincoln MKX doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The Q5 has a standard Audi Backguard System, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Audi Backguard System moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Lincoln MKX doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tests front crash prevention systems. With a score of 3 points, IIHS rates the Pre Sense Plus optional in the Q5 as “Advanced.” The Lincoln MKX scores only 1 point and is rated only “Basic.”

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

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Q5’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Lincoln MKX doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

Both the Q5 and the Lincoln MKX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, available blind spot warning systems and rearview cameras.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Audi Q5 is safer than the Lincoln MKX:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and with its optional front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Q5 its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2016, a rating granted to only 61 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Lincoln MKX has not been fully tested, yet, but doesn’t qualify for 2015 or 2016 “Top Pick Plus.”

The Q5’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Lincoln MKX’s (12 vs. 5 years).

The Q5’s 3.0 turbo V6 diesel produces 150 lbs.-ft. more torque (428 vs. 278) than the Lincoln MKX’s standard 3.7 DOHC V6. The Q5’s 3.0 turbo V6 diesel produces 48 lbs.-ft. more torque (428 vs. 380) than the Lincoln MKX’s optional 2.7 turbo V6.

On the EPA test cycle the Q5 2.0T Hybrid Prestige gets better fuel mileage than the MKX 2.7 ECOBoost AWD (24 city/30 hwy vs. 17 city/24 hwy). The Q5 2.0T Hybrid Prestige gets better fuel mileage than the MKX FWD (24 city/30 hwy vs. 17 city/26 hwy).

On the EPA test cycle the Q5 3.0 TDI gets better fuel mileage than the MKX 2.7 ECOBoost AWD (24 city/31 hwy vs. 17 city/24 hwy). The Q5 3.0 TDI gets better fuel mileage than the MKX FWD (24 city/31 hwy vs. 17 city/26 hwy).

On the EPA test cycle the Q5 gets better fuel mileage than the MKX:

Regenerative brakes improve the Q5 Hybrid Prestige’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Lincoln MKX doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Q5 3.0T/Hybrid’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. (Start/Stop isn’t accounted in present EPA fuel mileage tests.) The Lincoln MKX doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Q5’s standard fuel tank has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Lincoln MKX AWD’s standard fuel tank (19.8 vs. 18.5 gallons).

For better stopping power the Q5 3.0T/3.0 TDI/Hybrid’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Lincoln MKX:

The Q5 3.0T/3.0 TDI/Hybrid’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Lincoln MKX are solid, not vented.

The Q5 stops shorter than the Lincoln MKX:

The Q5’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (52.9% to 47.1%) than the Lincoln MKX’s (58.3% to 41.7%). This gives the Q5 more stable handling and braking.

The Q5 2.0T Premium Plus handles at .86 G’s, while the Lincoln MKX Reserve AWD pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the Q5 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Lincoln MKX (7.9 vs. 7.8 inches), allowing the Q5 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Q5 is 7.4 inches shorter than the Lincoln MKX, making the Q5 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Q5 2.0T Premium Plus is quieter than the Lincoln MKX Reserve AWD:

The Q5 has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent vandalism, such as sugar in the tank and fuel theft. The Lincoln MKX doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The Q5’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Lincoln MKX’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

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

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The Q5 3.0T/TDI has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Lincoln MKX doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The Audi Q5 has won recognition from these important consumer publications:

The Audi Q5 outsold the Lincoln MKX by 46% during 2015.