2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs 2021 Audi Q5

The 2021 Audi Q5 was a sharp-looking crossover SUV that embodied the Audi design language while maintaining its unique character. It featured an expressive front with LED headlights and a prominent Audi Singleframe grille, emphasizing width with horizontal elements. The body had crisp character lines, and the rear showcased bold, large taillights. The Q5's overall appearance was classy and modern, with exceptional fit and finish. The plug-in hybrid version, with S-Line trim pieces and enhancements, stood out even more, offering standard 19-inch wheels or optional 20-inch wheels. Inside, the Q5 maintained a classy and modern aesthetic, packed with technology yet uncluttered. The interior featured smartly grouped controls, high-quality materials, and a 10.1-inch touchscreen positioned for optimal driver visibility. The second row was well-appointed with standard leather seating surfaces.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, launched in 2005 and in its second generation, received an interior and exterior refresh in 2018, which carried over into 2021. This refresh introduced the dual-screen center console, a defining feature of Land Rover interiors. The Range Rover Sport offered various trims, including SE, HSE Silver, HST, HSE Dynamic, Autobiography, SVR, and SVR Carbon Edition. Standard features on the base SE trim included leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, an eight-speaker Meridian sound system, a WiFi hotspot, and the dual-screen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims added features like quad-zone climate control, a panoramic sunroof, and a 19-speaker Meridian sound system. The Autobiography trim offered high-end luxury with 22-way power-adjustable front seats and power soft-close doors. The SVR performance model featured a powerful V8 engine, sport seats, and a stiffer suspension, with the SVR Carbon Edition adding carbon fiber accents and 22-inch alloy wheels.

The 2021 Audi Q5 PHEV enhanced the driving experience with an additional 114 horsepower and 96 pound-feet of torque from a 14.1-kWh battery, resulting in a total combined output of 362 hp and 373 lb-ft of torque. This setup, paired with the crossover's 4,665-lb curb weight, delivered impressive acceleration, reaching 0-60 mph in 5.0 seconds. The Q5 PHEV achieved 65 MPGe combined and 27 mpg in gasoline-only mode. It featured a seven-speed S Tronic automatic transmission with full-time Quattro all-wheel drive and offered various driving modes, including battery-only and hybrid modes. The Q5's handling was characterized by speed-sensitive electromechanical power steering, a 38.4-foot turning radius, and a four-wheel independent suspension with minimal body roll and powerful braking.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered multiple powertrain options. The base P360 mild-hybrid powertrain combined a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six with a 48-volt electrical system, producing 355 hp and 365 lb-ft of torque. The HST model featured a more potent P400 powertrain with 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The HSE Silver Edition offered plug-in hybrid and diesel powertrains, with the P400e plug-in hybrid delivering 398 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque. The HSE Dynamic and Autobiography trims featured a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 with 518 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque, while the SVR and SVR Carbon Edition boasted a more powerful version with 575 hp and 516 lb-ft. All models had an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time four-wheel drive, with height-adjustable air suspension and a Terrain Response system for various terrains. The Range Rover Sport excelled off-road and offered impressive cornering abilities on paved surfaces. Most variants could tow up to 7,716 pounds, except the SVR, which could tow 6,613 pounds.

The 2021 Audi Q5 PHEV offered a practical and well-designed interior. It provided 25.1 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row, expandable to 53.1 cubic feet with the second row folded. The Q5's smart packaging allowed the battery pack to be placed under the luggage compartment floor, preserving cargo space. The second row offered 37.8 inches of legroom, 37.7 inches of headroom, and 56.5 inches of shoulder room, accommodating two adults comfortably and a third for shorter rides. The front seats were comfortable and supportive, with a wide range of adjustments, heating, and ventilation on the Prestige trim. The interior featured well-placed cupholders, cubbies, and a small storage bin in the center console.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport provided a maximum of 63.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 31.7 cubic feet with the second row in use. It offered an optional third row, increasing seating capacity from five to seven, with 10.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats when in use. While the third row was tight and best suited for children, the first and second rows provided ample headroom and legroom, combining space with luxurious appointments.

The 2021 Audi Q5 PHEV featured Audi's latest MMI 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system, complemented by a center-console touchpad. The Audi Virtual Cockpit Plus 12.3-inch HD instrument cluster offered customizable views, enhancing the cabin's futuristic feel. The Q5 included color/mood-adjustable LED ambient interior lights and an Integrated Toll Module (ITM) for toll road services. The Prestige Package included a Navigation Package, optimizing fuel consumption and battery usage in hybrid mode. A Bang & Olufsen 3D audio system with 19 speakers was available on Premium Plus models and standard on the Prestige trim. Wireless Apple CarPlay was included.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport's interior was dominated by a dual-screen center console. The lower screen controlled climate and vehicle settings, while the upper screen housed the infotainment system. Although not always intuitive, the system featured dials for multiple functions, including fan speed, temperature, and off-road settings. The upper touchscreen had simplified icons for menu navigation and switching between the native system and Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. A real volume button was located at the base of the lower screen. While the system had a learning curve, it was functional.

The 2021 Audi Q5 PHEV had not been rated by the IIHS, but the 2020 gasoline-only model received top "good" ratings in most categories, except for headlights, which received a "marginal" rating. The NHTSA awarded the 2021 gasoline model five stars, with PHEV ratings expected to match. Safety features included six airbags, an anti-lock braking system with brake assist, Audi Pre Sense basic, low-speed collision assist, power child safety locks, electronic stability control, electronic vehicle immobilization, anti-theft alarm, interior motion sensor, LED daytime running lights, LATCH connectors, a rearview camera, and TPMS. Available driver-assistance features included Audi Advanced Key, Audi Pre Sense rear, Audi Side Assist, Parking System Plus, adaptive cruise control, park steering assist, traffic-sign recognition, and a top-view camera system.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport came with standard driver assistance features like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and front-and-rear parking sensors. Adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert were available as options. Additional features included a surround-view parking camera, traffic sign recognition, driver drowsiness monitoring, and parallel and perpendicular park assist. A head-up display was also available.