2023 Jeep Wrangler vs 2023 Audi Q5

The 2023 Audi Q5 featured a blend of subtle curves and angular accents, creating a look that was both classy and sporty. It was available in two body styles: the regular Q5 SUV and the Q5 Sportback, which had a sloping rear roofline for a sleeker silhouette. Despite the general dislike for "coupelike" styling, the Q5 Sportback was an exception, thanks to a spoiler-like element above the taillights that provided a more defined transition from hatch to tail section. Inside, the Q5 was refined with a simple layout, though its age was starting to show since its last redesign was five years ago. 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 was a nod to traditional design, avoiding the trend of oversized tablet-like screens. Materials quality was good, but the Q5 no longer felt as special as it once did, given the advancements by non-luxury manufacturers. Rear-seat passengers had durable plastic elements around them, ensuring longevity against wear and tear from children and pets. The Q5's sturdy build quality was evident, with no squeaks or creaks over rough surfaces, making it a solid choice among competitors like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Porsche.

The 2023 Jeep Wrangler, on the other hand, was the epitome of rugged design with its fourth-generation JL model. It was available in two-door and four-door Unlimited versions, with the option to remove the doors for an open-air experience. The Wrangler's windshield could fold down, and it offered various top options for open-air exploring. All models featured wide fenders, Jeep's iconic seven-slot grille, round headlights, and old-school exterior hood latches. The tailgate swung out, and the rear glass lifted up for easy cargo access. The new limited-edition purple paint color, Reign, added a unique flair to the SUV. Inside, the Wrangler was practical with easy-to-clean floor mats and seats, a body-colored dash, chunky HVAC controls, and a manual transfer case shifter. It was clear that the Wrangler prioritized functionality over luxury, making it a true off-road vehicle.

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) that made 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. However, once underway, the power was adequate. Handling was sporty, with precise steering that instilled confidence on curvy roads. The Q5 balanced compliance and cornering well, managing bumps and impacts without harshness. The engine and exhaust were quiet unless the accelerator was floored, and road and wind noise were well silenced for a calm cabin.

The 2023 Jeep Wrangler excelled in off-road performance with its solid axles front and rear and optional differential lockers. It offered a variety of engine options, including a standard V6 with 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, and a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 270 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Both engines could be paired with an eight-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmission. The 3.0-liter Ecodiesel V6 provided 260 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque, while the Wrangler Rubicon 392 featured a 6.4-liter V8 with 470 hp and an equal amount of torque. The Wrangler 4xe was a plug-in hybrid with two electric motors and a 17.3 kWh battery pack, offering 21 miles of all-electric range. Our tester, the Rubicon 392, was a powerhouse, capable of burnouts and rapid acceleration from 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds. It featured a Selec-Trac transfer case with a 2.72 low range and an Xtreme Recon package that increased the crawl ratio to 58:1. However, the 392 had flaws in its brakes and steering, with inadequate braking power and vague steering. These issues were less pronounced in other Wrangler trims with less powerful engines.

The 2023 Audi Q5's interior design had remained largely unchanged since 2018 but had aged well. The infotainment touchscreen was positioned 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 could accommodate six-footers comfortably. Storage options included several oddly sized and shaped compartments, with the door pockets being the most accommodating. The Q5 offered 25.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, slightly reduced to 24.7 cubic feet in the Sportback model.

The 2023 Jeep Wrangler's front seats were comfortable, but heated seats were only available in the 392 or with a cold-weather package. Ventilated seats were not offered. The rear seat could fit three in the four-door models, but it was a tight fit, and the small rear doors made entry and exit challenging. Storage for small items was limited, with a flat dash offering no cubby space and tiny glove box and center consoles. The Wrangler had a bin on top of the dash, but it risked overheating items placed there. Larger cargo space was also limited, with 72.4 cubic feet available with the rear seats folded. The hard top could be removed in one piece or in two front panels, and the soft top was fairly easy to remove, though the plastic rear window could be cumbersome. The Sky One-Touch power soft top was the easiest option, sliding back in 17 seconds and operable at speeds up to 60 mph. The Wrangler provided ample charging points, with USB-A and USB-C ports, 12-volt outlets, and a 115-volt outlet in the center console.

The 2023 Audi Q5 came standard with a 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen featuring sharp graphics and relatively quick responses, though it took a while to boot up and activate Apple CarPlay. Both CarPlay and Android Auto could be used wirelessly. Higher trims included a Bang & Olufsen audio system. The on-screen buttons in Audi's native infotainment system were large and easy to read, but the app buttons in Apple CarPlay were smaller and closer together. The Q5 could be monitored remotely via a smartphone app, allowing for feature control such as unlocking and temperature pre-conditioning. This Audi Connect Care service was included for a limited-time subscription, after which it required payment. Mid-range trims featured a customizable digital instrument panel.

The 2023 Jeep Wrangler came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen running Jeep’s Uconnect infotainment system, with an optional 8.4-inch screen. The system had no hard buttons, making it look complicated at first, but it was intuitive once drivers got used to it. Jeep’s off-road pages provided information about power distribution, temperatures, oil pressure, pitch and roll, and GPS coordinates with altitude. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were included and worked well. The Wrangler had practical tech features like a forward-facing camera for off-road trails and four auxiliary switches for aftermarket lighting, but it lacked advanced features like a digital key and over-the-air updates for vehicle performance.

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) gave 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. The Q5 Premium Plus trim 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. Rear-seat side impact airbags were optional on all trims.

The 2023 Jeep Wrangler had limited standard safety features, including a rearview camera, electronic roll mitigation, and stability control. Blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control were standard only on the top 392 model and optional elsewhere. Lane-keeping assist was not offered. The IIHS gave the Wrangler a mix of Good and Marginal ratings in crashworthiness, crash avoidance and mitigation, and seat belts and child restraints categories, with Poor ratings for headlights on some trims. The NHTSA gave the Wrangler four out of five stars for frontal crash tests and three out of five for rollover ratings, but it had not been rated for side crashes.