Compare the2025 Audi SQ5VS 2025 BMW XM

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Audi SQ5 are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW XM doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the SQ5 and XM have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The SQ5 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 XM’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 Audi SQ5 comes with a standard Top View Camera System with a rear camera washer to provide all-weather visibility, regardless of road dirt or grime, while the BMW XM doesn’t offer a camera washer, requiring manual cleaning.

Both the SQ5 and the XM have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, 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.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Audi vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Audi 1 place higher in reliability than BMW.

On the EPA test cycle the SQ5 gets better fuel mileage than the XM 4.4 turbo V8 Hybrid running its gasoline engine (19 city/24 hwy vs. 12 city/17 hwy).

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Audi SQ5 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The XM requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The SQ5 stops shorter than the XM:

The SQ5 has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the XM; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

The SQ5 has a standard automatic load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The XM doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The SQ5 Prestige handles at .93 G’s, while the XM pulls only .92 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the SQ5’s turning circle is 2.3 feet tighter than the XM’s (38.7 feet vs. 41 feet).

The Audi SQ5 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1800 pounds less than the BMW XM.

The SQ5 is 1 foot, 4.9 inches shorter than the XM, making the SQ5 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver while under full throttle, the interior of the SQ5 Prestige is quieter than the XM (76 vs. 83 dB).

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the SQ5’s rear seats recline. The XM’s rear seats don’t recline.

The SQ5 has a much larger cargo volume than the XM with its rear seat up (25.9 vs. 18.6 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the SQ5 easier. The SQ5’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 30.5 inches, while the XM’s liftover is 32.8 inches.

The SQ5’s standard folding rear seats are split to accommodate bulky cargo. The XM’s standard single piece folding rear seat is not as flexible; long cargo and a passenger can’t share the rear seat.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the SQ5’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The XM doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The SQ5’s standard Audi Advanced Key allows you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Comfort Access standard on the XM doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The SQ5 Prestige has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The XM doesn’t offer headlight washers.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the SQ5 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The XM doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Audi Q5/SQ5 outsold the BMW XM by over 24 to one during 2024.