2023 Audi Q5 vs 2024 Subaru Outback

The 2023 Audi Q5 presented a blend of elegance and sportiness with its exterior design, featuring subtle curves and angular accents. It was available in two body styles: the standard SUV and the Q5 Sportback, which boasted a sloping rear roofline for a sleeker look. Despite the typical reservations about coupelike styling, the Q5 Sportback stood out with a spoiler-like element above the taillights, providing a more defined transition from hatch to tail section. Inside, the Q5 offered a refined yet simple layout, though its age was beginning 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 rear seats. The 10-inch touchscreen was a nod to traditional design amidst a trend of larger screens, and while materials were of good quality, the Q5 no longer felt as special compared to non-luxury competitors. The build quality was robust, with no squeaks or creaks, making it a solid choice among luxury SUVs.

The 2024 Subaru Outback maintained its familiar look with minor tweaks to the Wilderness trim, including a new front fascia and LED fog lights. The dark gray cladding contrasted appealingly with the Autumn Green Metallic color, described as a "green-tinged dark khaki." The Outback's various trims featured different levels of black and chrome exterior fittings, with the Touring trim showcasing the most chrome in a tasteful manner. Wheel sizes and designs varied, with the Wilderness trim sporting matte black wheels. Inside, the top-trim test car impressed with Java Brown Nappa leather upholstery, offering a level of luxury unexpected from Subaru. The Outback Limited featured standard leather, while the Onyx Edition and Wilderness trims used StarTex synthetic leather. Base and Premium trims came with cloth seats, maintaining Subaru's reputation for capability over luxury.

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 lb-ft of torque. The midrange 45 TFSI increased output to 261 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque, exclusively available with the Q5 Sportback. The 55 TFSI was a plug-in hybrid powertrain delivering 362 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, with an estimated 23 miles of electric-only range. All Q5s featured a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and standard Quattro all-wheel drive. The Q5 Sportback with the 45 TFSI engine experienced a delay in power delivery due to the transmission, making initial acceleration feel sluggish. However, once underway, power was adequate, and handling was sporty, with precise steering. The Q5 balanced compliance and cornering well, with a quiet engine and exhaust, and minimal road and wind noise.

The 2024 Subaru Outback was powered by a "Boxer" horizontally opposed engine. The default 2.5-liter flat-four produced 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque, while XT trims, including the Wilderness, featured a 2.4-liter turbocharged engine with 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque, increasing towing capacity to 3,500 lbs. Subaru's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and a Lineartronic CVT were standard. The Touring XT test car's turbo engine managed the vehicle's weight well, with the CVT mimicking eight distinct gears. The brake pedal felt responsive, and steering was adequate, with the Outback offering a comfortable ride. The base Outback had 8.7 inches of ground clearance, while the Wilderness trim increased it to 9.2 inches, with all-terrain tires and an advanced X-Mode for off-road conditions.

The 2023 Audi Q5's interior design remained largely unchanged since 2018, with a well-placed infotainment touchscreen and traditional dials for climate controls. Outward visibility was good, aided by a narrow front roof pillar. The rear view was better than average, though parking cameras and sensors were still necessary. The front seats offered ample space for taller passengers, and the rear seats accommodated six-footers comfortably. Storage options were available, 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 Q5 offered 25.8 cubic feet of cargo space, slightly reduced in the Sportback model.

The 2024 Subaru Outback did not compromise on interior space despite its sleeker proportions. It offered more headroom up front compared to the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, and competitive rear-seat legroom. The Outback's cargo area measured 32.6 cubic feet with all seats in place and 75.6 with the rear seats folded. Feature availability was a key consideration, with dual-zone climate control standard on all but the base trim. Heated front seats and a power-adjustable driver's seat were standard from the Premium trim, with heated rear seats available on the Limited trim. Ventilated front seats were exclusive to the Touring trim, and a heated steering wheel was standard from the Onyx Edition. The hands-free power liftgate was optional on the Premium trim and standard thereafter, with raised roof rails and retractable cross bars standard.

The 2023 Audi Q5 featured a 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen with sharp graphics and quick responses, though system boot-up and Apple CarPlay activation were slow. CarPlay and Android Auto were available wirelessly, with a Bang & Olufsen audio system standard on higher trims. The Audi Connect Care service allowed remote monitoring and feature control via a smartphone app, with a limited-time subscription. Mid-range trims included a customizable digital instrument panel.

The 2024 Subaru Outback Touring was the only trim with a CD player, and Subaru offered both USB-C and USB-A ports on all but the base trim. The top-trim test car had an 11.6-inch portrait-oriented infotainment screen, with the base trim retaining a dual-7-inch-screen system. The Subaru Starlink multimedia platform included standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with wireless connectivity from the Premium trim. Climate controls were managed through the touchscreen, with hard buttons for defoggers and temperature adjustments. Wi-Fi capability was available on all but the base trim, with Bluetooth, HD Radio, and SiriusXM standard. Most trims featured a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system.

The 2023 Audi Q5 received five stars from the NHTSA for overall, frontal, and side protection, and four stars in rollover tests. The IIHS awarded it a Top Safety Pick+ designation. Standard safety features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and parking sensors. Higher trims added lane-keep assist, a surround-view camera, and traffic jam assist. The top Prestige trim featured matrix-design LED headlights, a head-up display, a semi-automated parking system, and a traffic sign reader.

The 2024 Subaru Outback earned a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS, with no differences in evaluation results from the previous year. The NHTSA awarded both the 2023 and 2024 models five stars overall. Safety features included the EyeSight suite with adaptive cruise control, automatic pre-collision braking, lane-keep assist, and automatic emergency steering. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard on the Onyx Edition. The Touring trim added a wide-angle camera, digital rearview mirror, and driver-attention monitor.