Porsche Macan vs Audi Q5 – Which is Better?

We’ve written some Porsche comparisons, like the 997 vs 991, but we haven’t written any Porsche comparisons with other brands, until now. In this article, we will be covering the many differences and similarities between the Porsche Macan vs Audi Q5. Categories like price, size, performance, reliability, and more will be discussed in depth below. The Porsche Macan is classified as a luxury crossover SUV, while the Audi Q5 is classified as a compact luxury crossover SUV.

Porsche Macan vs Audi Q5 – The Basics

The Porsche Macan was first introduced in 2014 and is still in production today. The Macan was originally named the “Cajun” which stood for Cayenne Junior. The Macan only has 4 four models: base, T, S, and GTS. There was an update to the Macan in 2019 that featured an upgraded chassis, a refreshed front and rear look, and a redesigned interior. In 2023, Porsche is introducing an all-electric version of the Macan that has two electric motors and the same transmission that is featured in the Taycan.

To start off, the Audi Q5 is one of the brand’s top-selling vehicles. It was first introduced in 2008 and is still in production today.  There are two Q5 generations: the 8R Q5 (2008-2017) and FY Q5 (2018-Present). The 8R Q5 was built on the Volkswagen Group’s MLB platform, and the 8R Q5, is built on the MLB Evo platform. It is positioned between the Q4 e-tron and the Q7.

Since both of these brands are part of the Volkswagen Group, it should be no surprise that the Macan and the first gen Q5 share the same MLB platform and wheelbase. However, since the Macan is more luxurious than Audi, the platform and wheelbase have been heavily modified for the Macan.

Macan Generations

• First Generation (2014-2022)
• Second Generation (2023-Present)

Audi Q5 Generations

• 8R Q5 (B8) (2008 – 2017)
• FY Q5 (B9) (2018 – Present)

Porsche Macan vs Audi Q5 Price

It should come as no surprise that Porsche is more expensive, but we’ll go into just how expensive Porsches are versus Audis.

New Porsche Macan Price

In this portion, we will be going over the new 2023 Porsche Macan prices. As stated above, the Macan has four different trims: base, T, S, and GTS. The base and T have a 2.0L turbo engine, while the S and GTS have a 2.9L twin-turbo engine. Also, all of these trims come with special package upgrades: Premium, Premium Plus, or sport. The standard base Macan starts at $58,950, the Premium base Macan starts at $60,210, and the Premium Plus base Macan starts at $62,860. The standard Macan T starts at $64,550, the Premium Macan T starts at $65,810, and the Premium Plus Macan T starts at $68,460.

Now the fun part, the S and GTS. The standard Macan S starts at $69,850, the Premium Macan S starts at $71,110, and the Premium Plus Macan S starts at $73,510. Last, but certainly not least, the standard Macan GTS starts at $84,350, the Premium Plus Macan GTS starts at $88,990, and the special Sport Macan GTS starts at $96,260.

New Audi Q5 Price

In this portion, we will be going over the new 2023 Audi Q5 prices. The 2023 Q5 comes with many different engines: a 40 TFSI, a 45 TFSI, and a 55 TFSI hybrid. All of these engines can be found in all of the Audi trims. The Premium 40 TFSI Q5 price starts at $43,500, a Premium Plus 40 TFSI Q5 starts at $49,000, and a Prestige 40 TFSI Q5 starts at $54,500. A Premium 45 TFSI Q5 starts at $46,000, a Premium Plus 45 TFSI Q5 starts at $51,500, and a Prestige 45 TFSI Q5 starts at $57,000.

Lastly, a Premium 55 TFSI plug-in hybrid Q5 MSRP begins at $55,400, a Premium Plus 55 TFSI plug-in hybrid Q5 MSRP begins at $60,000, and a Prestige 55 TFSI hybrid Q5 MSRP begins at  $65,300. For those itching for more performance, there is a high-performance SQ5 option that begins at $55,800.

If you are curious about the trim differences with Audi’s, here is an article we wrote about the different Audi trims.

Used Porsche Macan & Audi Q5 Prices

For used Macans vs Q5s, since the Macan was introduced 6 years after the Q5, we will be using the 2014-2021 model years’ pricing for consistencies sake. A used Macan’s price ranges from $21,995 – $108,663* with an average price overall of $65,329, depending on model year and mileage. A used Q5s price ranges from $7,572 – $59,000* with an average price overall of $33,286, depending on model year and mileage.

*At the time of writing this article, we believe we are in a market where used vehicles are inflated, so consider that when seeing the used prices above. 

General Porsche Macan & Audi Q5 Topics

Porsche Macan vs Audi Q5 Size

Below are some basic details about the size and weight differences seen between the 2023 Porsche Macan and the 2023 Audi Q5.

Porsche Macan vs Audi Q5 Performance

For consistencies sake, we will be using the 2023 Porsche Macan and  2023 Audi Q5 factory performance specs.

Engines, Drivetrain, & Fuel Economy

Porsche Macan Performance

The Porsche Macan has two different engine options: a 2.0L turbo and a 2.9L V6 Twin-Turbo engine. The 2.0L Turbo engine puts down 261hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. It has a 0-60 time of 6 seconds and a top track speed of 144 mph. The 2.9L V6 Twin-Turbo engine puts down 375hp and 383 lb-ft of torque on the Macan S, but the GTS is tuned for more performance. In the GTS, the twin-turbo engine puts down 434hp and 405 lb-ft of torque. It boasts an impressive 0-60 time of 4.3 seconds and a top track speed of 169 mph.

For consistensies sake, we’ll cover gas mileage for both engines. The 2.0L Turbo gets a combined 21mpg with 19mpg in the city and 25mpg on the highway on an 17.1-gallon fuel tank. Lastly, the 2.9L twin-turbo gets a combined 19mpg with 17mpg in the city and 22mpg on the highway on an 17.1-gallon fuel tank.

Audi Q5 Performance

All three Q5 engines, 40 TFSI, the 45 TFSI, and 55 TFSI hybrid, are Audi’s popular 2.0 TFSIs, but the 55 TFSI is a 2.0 TFSI with an extra electric motor. The 40 TFSI quattro® engine puts down 201hp and 236 lb-ft of torque. It gets a combined 25mpg with 23mpg in the city and 29mpg on the highway on an 18.5-gallon fuel tank. The 45 TFSI quattro® engine puts down 261hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. It gets 23mpg in the city and 28mpg on the highway for a combined 25mpg. Last, but certainly not least, the 55 TFSI plug-in hybrid quattro® engine puts out 362hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. And it gets 23mpg combined on gas with a 14.3gal fuel tank and a total electric range of 390 miles.

All 3 engines come with Audi’s AWD system, Quattro®, standard and a 7-speed S Tronic automatic transmission. For those consumers wanting more performance, the SQ5 has a bigger 3.0L TFSI V6 engine that puts out 349hp and 369 lb-ft of torque.

Porsche Macan & Audi Q5 Reliability and Common Problems

Porsche Macan

Is the Porsche Macan reliable? Surprisingly, the Macan’s reliability is below average. We believe this could be because of some issues with the PDK transmission. However, RepairPal has given it a reliability rating of 1.5 out of 5, which is not great. This has placed the Macan dead last in reliability (11th out of 11) in the luxury compact SUV category. Model years that are viewed as the least reliable are 2016-2017. 2019 model years are viewed as the most reliable. The average annual ownership cost for a Porsche Macan is $1,265, which is above the average $859 seen in other luxury compact SUVs.

Common problems seen in Macans are PDK transmission issues, water pump failure, thermostat housing leaks, carbo buildup, and HPFP (High Pressure Fuel Pump) failure. Porsche Macan’s have the ability to reach 150,000-200,000 miles if properly maintained. If interested in reading a more in-depth guide on the Macan reliability and common problems, check out the article below.

Porsche Macan Common Problems Guide

Audi Q5

Is the Audi Q5 reliable? Compared to the Macan, the Q5’s reliability is much better. But, unfortunately, that’s not saying much. The Q5 gets a bad rep from the excessive oil consumption problems seen in the Gen2 EA888 engines. RepairPal rated the reliability of a Q5 a 3 out of 5, which puts the Q5 11th out of 14 for all luxury midsize SUVs. We would advise avoiding 2010-2014 model years because these that are viewed as the least reliable. The average annual ownership cost for an Audi Q5 is $928, which is above the average $805 seen in other luxury midsize SUVs.

Common problems seen in Q5s are excessive oil consumption, start-stop system malfunction, leaking fuel pump flanges, timing chain tensioner failure, and DRL failure. Audi Q5s can easily hit 150,000-200,000 miles, again, if maintained properly. However, the TDI (diesel engine) Q5’s are regarded as more reliable and can last up to 300,000 miles. If interested in reading a more in-depth guide on the Q5’s reliability and common problems, check out the article below.

Porsche Macan vs Audi Q5 – Which is Better?

So, which is better the Macan or the Q5? We feel this is rather subjective because consumers tend to have different needs and wants. But we can provide facts for both vehicles to allow anyone to come up with their own opinion on which vehicle suits their life better. The Porsche Macan is viewed as classier (for those that strive for status), it is more powerful, and allows a lot of customization when purchasing new. The Audi Q5 is cheaper, gets better gas mileage, and is more reliable. Both are great vehicles that have 5-star safety ratings, have similar tech and safety features, and both have very stylish interiors and exteriors.

If you happen to be on the fence between the two models, schedule a test drive with your local Audi and Porsche dealer. This is going to be the best research you can get.

Porsche Macan vs Audi Q5 Conclusion

To conclude this article, we know purchasing any vehicle, especially a luxury vehicle like the two listed above, can be a scary undertaking. However, we hope the information above assists any consumer in choosing between the Porsche Macan and the Audi Q5. If you are someone that has or has had first-hand experience with either vehicle, let us know your experience in the comments below. This will help with our research and help future readers in their purchasing decisions.

If you are wanting to read up on more Porsche comparison articles, here is an article for the Porsche Macan vs Cayenne.