2023 Audi Q5 vs 2023 Acura MDX

The 2023 Audi Q5's exterior styling combined subtle curves with angular accents, creating an appearance that was both classy and sporty. It was available in two body styles: the regular Q5 SUV and the Q5 Sportback, which featured a sloping rear roofline for a sleeker silhouette. The Sportback's design included a spoiler-like element above the taillights, providing a more defined transition from hatch to tail section, unlike some rivals with awkward rear ends.

Inside, the Q5 was refined with a simple layout, though its age began to show since its last redesign five years prior. Standard features included leather seating and heated front seats, with options for a heated steering wheel and heated rear seats. The 10-inch touchscreen atop the dash avoided the trend of oversized screens. Materials quality was good, but the Q5 no longer felt as special as it once did due to improvements from non-luxury manufacturers. Rear-seat passengers had durable plastic elements, ideal for children and pets. The Q5's sturdy build quality ensured a quiet ride over rough surfaces, making it a solid choice among luxury SUVs.

The 2023 Acura MDX offered standard and Type S versions, each with trim packages that increased equipment levels. Prices ranged from $49,550 to $73,200, plus a destination charge of $1,195. The Type S Advance trim, with its Apex Blue Pearl paint and Orchid interior, had an MSRP of $74,995, setting high expectations for quality, luxury, and driving dynamism, though it missed the mark in some respects.

The fourth-generation MDX was the first Acura SUV to wear the Type S badge, featuring subtle design elements like chicane-design LED lights and 21-inch wheels. The Type S Advance added open-pore wood and a leather-wrapped dashboard. Despite its appealing design, the MDX had some drawbacks, such as the body tapering at the doors, creating a dent-like appearance, and gloss black plastic on the dashboard making controls hard to find. The electronic transmission switchgear was also confusing, even for those familiar with it. Overall, the MDX Type S was attractive but had some design flaws.

The 2023 Audi Q5 offered three engine choices. The base 40 TFSI was a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder producing 201 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. The midrange 45 TFSI increased output to 261 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque and was the only engine available for the Q5 Sportback. The 55 TFSI was a plug-in hybrid powertrain (PHEV) making 362 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, with an estimated 23 miles of electric-only range. All Q5s came with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and standard Quattro all-wheel drive (AWD).

The Q5 Sportback with the 45 TFSI engine had a noticeable delay in power delivery, likely due to the slow-to-react transmission, making initial acceleration feel sluggish. Once underway, power was adequate, but passing slower traffic required planning. Handling was sporty, with precise steering that instilled confidence on curvy roads. The Q5 balanced compliance and cornering well, managing bumps without harshness. The engine and exhaust were quiet unless pushed hard, and road and wind noise were well silenced, providing a calm cabin.

The 2023 Acura MDX Type S featured a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 generating 355 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque, an increase over the standard 3.5-liter V6. However, the Type S weighed 285 pounds more than the lightest standard MDX with AWD. The twin-scroll turbo V6 used a 10-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters, powering all four wheels through Acura's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD). This system could put up to 70 percent of total engine output to a single rear wheel, enhancing cornering performance.

The MDX Type S had an Integrated Dynamics System with Snow, Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Sport+ driving modes, plus a Lift mode for increased ground clearance. Despite performance enhancements, the MDX Type S fell short, with an indecisive transmission, lack of ride compliance, squealing tires, and poor brake pedal modulation. The engine's power increase was not substantial, and fuel economy was poor, averaging 16.9 mpg in combined driving. The MDX Type S struggled as a driver's SUV, with issues in transmission response, brake feel, and suspension compliance, making it less predictable and less enjoyable to drive than expected.

The 2023 Audi Q5's interior design had remained largely unchanged since 2018 but had aged well. The infotainment touchscreen was placed atop the dash to reduce distraction, and traditional dials and buttons were provided for climate controls. Outward visibility was good, aided by a narrowly profiled front roof pillar and better-than-average rear visibility. The front seats offered ample space for taller passengers, and the rear seats accommodated six-footers comfortably, even in the Sportback model.

Front passengers had several storage options, though some were oddly sized. The wireless phone charger was on a sliding tray covering the cupholders, which were heated and cooled in the top trim. The door pockets were the most accommodating, holding larger drink bottles. The Q5 offered 25.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, with the Sportback slightly less at 24.7 cubic feet. While competitors like the BMW X3 and Genesis GV70 offered more cargo space, the Q5's capacity was still competitive.

The 2023 Acura MDX offered three rows of seats with options for two or three second-row seating positions and a spacious cargo area. The Type S Advance trim included 16-way power-adjustable front seats with heating, ventilation, and massage, wrapped in quilted leather upholstery. However, the seats were firm and didn't hold occupants in place as well as expected for a performance-oriented model. The second-row seat could be adjusted for more third-row space, but the third row was best suited for children.

The MDX's interior design prioritized style over storage space, with a small bin under the front center armrest and a touchpad interface that took up valuable space. The cargo area offered ample floor space and a sizable well under the reversible load floor panel, easily accommodating luggage and other items. The Type S Advance included a hands-free liftgate with a Walk Away Close function, adding convenience. The MDX provided 18.1 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 39.1 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 71.4 cubic feet with both rear rows folded flat.

The 2023 Audi Q5 came standard with a 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen featuring sharp graphics and quick responses, though it took a while to boot up and activate Apple CarPlay. Both CarPlay and Android Auto were available wirelessly. Higher trims included a Bang & Olufsen audio system. The on-screen buttons in Audi's native system were large and easy to read, but Apple CarPlay's app buttons were smaller and closer together, making them harder to use. The Q5 could be monitored remotely via a smartphone app, with features like unlocking and temperature pre-conditioning available through a subscription service. Mid-range trims included a customizable digital instrument panel.

The 2023 Acura MDX featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch infotainment display, but the screen wasn't touch-sensitive. Instead, it used a True Touchpad Interface (TTI) on the center console, accompanied by return and home buttons, a stereo volume knob, and a radio tuning rocker switch. The TTI design took up valuable center console space and partially blocked the wireless charging pad. The MDX included wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa Built-In, allowing for voice commands. Additional features included SiriusXM satellite radio, a native navigation system, and AcuraLink connected services with a complimentary three-year subscription. The top-tier audio system, the Signature Edition ELS Studio 3D, offered excellent sound quality. The Advance package added a 10.5-inch head-up display, though the traffic sign recognition system occasionally misread signs.

The 2023 Audi Q5 received five out of five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for overall, frontal, and side protection, and four stars in rollover tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the Q5 its highest score of "Good" in all crashworthiness tests and named it a Top Safety Pick+. Standard safety features included forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, a blind-spot monitor, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and front and rear parking sensors. Higher trims added lane-keep assist, a surround-view camera system, and traffic jam assist. The top Prestige trim included matrix-design LED headlights, a head-up display, a semi-automated parking system, and a traffic sign reader.

The 2023 Acura MDX included Acura Watch, a suite of driving assistance and collision avoidance systems. Standard features included forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, adaptive cruise control with low-speed following capability, and Traffic Jam Assist. All MDX models also had a blind-spot monitoring system and rear cross-traffic alert. Higher trims added front and rear parking sensors, low-speed automatic braking, and a surround-view camera system. The MDX received good crash-test ratings, earning a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS and an overall five-star rating from the NHTSA, though it received four stars for driver and front passenger protection in frontal-impact tests.