I have test driven a few cars lately, the Q5, the Subaru Outback and the Lexus something. The Lexus is not a contender, however, we are having a hard time liking the Q5 better than the Outback, as crazy as that sounds!!

The Outback has more storage area, has a place to store the cargo cover when not in use, has a touch screen Navigation, uses regular gas and, the big difference, the seats seem more comfortable!

The 2010 Subaru is much quieter than other Outbacks and smoother and bigger.

Everything that the Q5 has is nicer, the sunroof is nicer, the Nav is "3D", the finish is great, BUT we find the seats a bit hard. It also has seat memory which is a great feature for us.

We hope to be doing a lot of travelling in the future.

I can't believe we are torn between these two cars, you would think the decision would be obvious, but the reality is that we are not finding it easy.

I wish I could take the Q5 for a 300 km test drive, those firm seats are a bit of a stickler for us.

 

Hi there.

You make some good points. I have never driven a Subaru.

Are you planning to drive this to the ground? If so (this is only my opinion) Japanese cars will last much longer and will be much less expensive to repair in the long term. If you're planning to sell this in a few years Audi will have a better resale value (again this is my opinion). I am not sure if you have safety concerns but be sure to compare safety as well between the 2. If you're planning to carry a lot of load while traveling have a closer look at torque and gas consumption with pay load.

My Q5 is about 7 months old and the seats have gotten much softer and much more comfortable over time.

My last suggestion is to take your time comparing, I compared 5 cars (in the same class) for about 6 months before coming down the the Q5. I was torn between GLK and Q5.

Go for as many test drives (different dealers) as you can and eventually you'll make an informed decision.

There is lots of good topics about the Q5 on this forum so have a look at them all. Also, don't forget to compare warranty options and all deals and incentives.

Good luck.

 

I also looked at a Subaru Outback in their showroom too - unfortunately, I did not get to drive one because I was only interested in the 3.6R which they did not have in stock. Anyway, the car is so much more spacious inside! The seats were very comfortable, and the trunk was huge. However, clearly the styling could be considered "dowdy" by some, and the interior was nowhere as luxurious as the Audi.

So, if practicality is the main priority, the Outback wins. However, if luxury is the priority, then the Q5 wins....

I was told by the local Subaru dealer that it's very hard to find a 3.6R in the States. Most of them carry just the 2.5 engine. Is that the case in Canada too?

 

You should probably check out a Subaru forum to answer your question. Personally I don't think Subaru and Audi are in the same class so it won't be a fair comparison.

 

if i didnt have money to waste I would stick with Subaru... great car company!

 

I would have gotten the outback if they had any in stock, 5 months to order the one I want. It really just boils down to paying extra for luxury. I wouldn't worry about the Q5 seats, they're so adjustable, even has lumbar support, you'll find them comfortable enough. If you're a bit out-doorsy like I am and can wait, I'd probably go with the outback. A trailer hitch, if it doesn't come factory installed on a Q5 will cost about $1500 to do afterwards. You could pick up a curt hitch online for $300 and install it yourself with the outback. Q5 accessories all need to register with the on board computer so I wouldn't think about installing it myself. Q5 running boards run 2k! I dinged my Q5 with my mountain bike and i was pissed for the entire day, had it been an outback, I don't think I wouldn't have cared so much. Not because it's cheaper but because the outback was made to be dinged up in the great out doors. Just ask yourself if 10k is worth the luxury and being in a prettier car.

 

You're paying more for German engineering. Comparing these two I dot' think is the right thing to do, 2 different classes of cars all together. The trailer hitch on the Q5 is more expensive because it connects to the ESP system. As far as Q5 accessories are concerned everything you need comes in the packages offered by the factory so I am not sure what more you need to add and register with the on board computer.

I go skiing every weekend of winter, I camp and hike frequently and the Q5 does just fine I've even done light off-roading with the Q5.

If you want a car that rugged look at buying a hummer.

 

The hummer brand is getting disbanded, although I guess that makes existing ones a bit more unique.

Don't get me wrong, I love my Q5, but I think I would have loved an outback too. Lets face it, yes you pay for German engineering, but you also pay a percentage for the luxury/appeal/name. The drive train on the subaru will last as long if not longer, the AWD on the subaru will be just as good if not better than the system on my Q5 and the controls on the Q5 are OK, but easy things like switching between your radio station presets will be more easily done in the outback. At the end of the day of course the Q5 is better, it's 15k OTD more.

I agree, they are different cars so it just depends on what you value. The outback will have de-icers on the wind shield and the option for a remote starter but the Q5 will be a hell of a lot more impressive at the valet.

 

I am curious what you did.
I am in the same boat. Love the Audi...hard to justify a gap of 10,000 dollars plus increased finance charge of 1.9 vs 3.5% plus other higher expenses down the line... but it drives so nicely?

What did you do? What advice do you have?"

 

These are not car same class impossible comparison
Audi Q5 is a premium class of the same MB GLK, BMW X3....