2018 Audi Q5 vs 2018 Porsche Macan: Which is Best?

2018 Audi Q5 vs Porsche Macan ・ Photo by Audi / Porsche

Premium compact crossover vehicles pop up like dandelions in the spring. Every time you turn around, there’s another one. Two established models from the Volkswagen Group have staked their claim on the sportier end of the segment: the 2018 Porsche Macan and the 2018 Audi Q5.

The Macan made its debut as a 2015 model in the United States and continues in its first-generation form for the 2018 model year. With the least expensive starting price of any current Porsche model, the Macan sold 21,429 examples in the U.S. in 2017 – the best sales year for any Porsche in US history.

The 2018 Audi Q5 marks the start of the second-generation vehicle, the first major makeover since the Q5’s debut as a 2009 model in the U.S. In 2017, Audi sold 57,640 Q5 crossover vehicles, making the compact crossover the brand’s best-selling vehicle for the period.

With two hot-selling vehicles in the same class, our following assessment will answer the big question: 2018 Audi Q5 vs 2018 Porsche Macan: Which is Best?

Design

Neither the Macan nor the Q5 break new ground in the design department. Macan draws heavily from the Porsche design book for its sporty look, borrowing hints of the 911 front end and the Cayenne’s rear, both divine inspirations. Wearing the Porsche crest on its hood and the Porsche name prominently on its tailgate leaves little doubt as to the Macan’s heritage. The Q5 is equally proud of its four linked Audi circles, wearing them on a prominent grille and at the center of its tailgate. The Q5’s slightly higher roofline gives the crossover a wagon flavor, while the Q5 gets a sporty variant in the SQ5 with big wheels and some aero bodywork. Both the Macan and Q5 display mature, elegant stance and bearing, and superior fit and finish from end to end.

Porsche Macan

Photo by Porsche

Engine

The Macan comes with three engine choices from the bottom of the lineup to the top, delivered in varying levels of tune. A 2.0-liter turbocharged inline 4-cylinder engine comes in with 252 horsepower (base Macan and Macan Sport Edition,) the 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine is tuned to produce 340 horsepower in the Macan S and 360 in the GTS, while a 3.6-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine produces 400 horsepower in the Turbo and 440 in the Turbo with Performance Package. The Q5 range offers a choice of two engines, beginning with a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine that pumps out 252 horsepower, while SQ5 models come with a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine that can produce up to 354 horsepower.

Porsche Macan

Photo by Porsche

Transmission

Each Macan comes with a seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) dual-clutch automatic transmission and full-time all-wheel drive. The PDK transmission is admired for its quick shifts and durability. The Q5 uses Audi’s seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch automatic transmission and quattro all-wheel drive, while the SQ5 gets quattro all-wheel drive and a conventional eight-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission. The Q5 and Macan could fight it out to a draw in this category, but the availability of an additional gear on the SQ5 gives the advantage to Audi.

Audi Q5

Photo by Audi

Comfort/Amenities

Both Macan and Q5 are premium vehicles with superior levels of material selection, fit, and finish. Macan is a bit more driver-oriented, with a cockpit that favors the side with the steering wheel. Seating is firm and supportive with side-bolstering that helps keep both the driver and front-seat passenger securely planted during cornering maneuvers. The Q5 is a little softer and a little friendlier to passengers than Macan, with seats that are more suited for touring. Neither vehicle is particularly roomy in the second row, meaning that the stated passenger capacity of five assumes that the center position in the second row is occupied by a child or small adult.

Draw

Photo by Audi / Porsche

Cargo

Each of these vehicles still nominally belongs to the SUV category, and that “U” stands for “Utility.” With its taller greenhouse, the Q5 has the edge in cargo capacity with 26.8 cubic feet of luggage space behind its second row, and 60.4 cubic feet of cargo space with the second row folded flat. The Macan can handle only 17.7 cubic feet of luggage, expandable to 53.0 cubic feet of cargo behind the first row with the second row folded.

Audi Q5

Photo by Audi

Infotainment/Technology

Porsche used to disdain infotainment in its vehicles, preferring to allow the music of its engine note to fill the conversational voids. However, that has changed in the Macan, which can be ordered with the latest version of Porsche Communication Management. Navigation is standard on all but the base model, Bose audio is standard, and a fantastic Burmester surround-sound system is available. Rear seat entertainment is also an option, along with a six-disc CD/DVD changer. Audi matches Porsche step-for-step with its own offerings in the available MMI Plus system. A Bang & Olufsen surround sound system is the top upgrade for audio, and the topper is the available Audi Virtual Cockpit which includes a customizable 12.3-inch LCD instrument panel that puts a wide variety of entertainment, navigation, mapping, vehicle status, and communications information directly in front of the driver at all times.

Audi Q5

Photo by Audi

Safety

The 2018 Audi Q5 has received a Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, and a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The 2018 Porsche Macan has not yet received a rating from either organization – not unusual for a low-volume premium imported vehicle. Each vehicle comes with the expected alphabet soup of safety features and technologies: ABS, EBD, ECT, LATCH, etc. Audi offers additional optional safety technologies like active lane assist, pre-sense city, side assist with pre-sense rear, collision assistance assist, high-beam assistant, turn assist, and a standard rear-view camera. Audi parking system plus with a top view camera is also an available feature, and quite useful.

Macan has an available lane change assistant with blind spot monitoring, lane keep assist, and adaptive cruise control with Porsche Active Safe, which will intervene with audible and visual warnings to help drivers avoid bumper-to-bumper collisions and can even increase brake force when it detects the need to do so.

Audi Q5

Photo by Audi

Driving Experience

If the need for speed is the absolute determining factor for your buying decision, the Macan Turbo with Performance Package is the hands-down winner. With 400 horsepower, a zero to 60 mph time of 4.6 seconds, and a top speed of 164 mph, this model is an Autobahn burner and a genuine sports car. The SQ5 is just a few ticks slower to 60 mph at 5.1 seconds with its 354 horsepower – still plenty fast for a compact crossover.

Both the Macan and SQ5 handle beautifully in all trim levels, with supple suspensions, precise steering, and flat cornering characteristics. Macan is a little sharper and a little agiler, while the Q5 can be more compliant on a long drive. Either vehicle will deliver a fun, comfortable ride that will delight enthusiasts and commuters alike, however, we have to give the edge to the Porsche for extending the top end performance. But for everyday driving, it’s a matter of taste and driving style.

: Porsche Macan

Photo by Porsche

Pricing

Macan is the most affordable Porsche in base trim starting at $47,800, and prices escalate from there. The Macan S starts at $55,400, Sport Edition at $60,400, GTS starts at $68,900, Turbo starts at $77,200, and Turbo with Performance Package starts at $87,700. The Q5 is a comparative bargain with a starting price of $41,500 in Premium trim. Q5 Premium Plus starts at $45,500, Prestige begins at $50,800, SQ5 Premium Plus starts at $54,300, and Prestige starts at $58,500. Of course, adding optional features will increase the bottom line in all models, and there are packages and options galore for each model and trim level of Porsche and Audi.

Audi Q5

Photo by Audi

Conclusion

Life is full of tough choices, however, this is not one of them. Whether you select a 2018 Porsche Macan or a 2018 Audi Q5, you’ll be getting a stylish, sophisticated, premium compact crossover vehicle. If you are a driver who prizes out-and-out performance, you may lean more toward the Macan. If you’re a daily commuter with a small family, the Q5 might be more suited to your taste. Both Porsche and Audi provide extensive opportunities to personalize your new vehicle, both in terms of performance and appearance.

If you’ve always wanted to join the Porsche fold but were never willing to accept the sacrifices of a two-seater sports car, Macan offers a good taste of the sports car driving experience in crossover form. If you are looking for a step up from the ordinary crossover vehicle, Q5 is a good introduction to the premium market. It all depends on your budget, your needs and your attraction to brand. The sweet spot for us is a reasonable price with impressive performance, and that leads to the conclusion and selection of the 2018 Audi SQ5 Prestige.

Audi Q5

Photo by Audi