Compare the2025 Audi new Q5 SportbackVS 2026 Buick Envision

Both the new Q5 Sportback and Envision have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The new Q5 Sportback has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The Envision’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Audi new Q5 Sportback achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Buick Envision has not been tested.

The new Q5 Sportback has standard Secondary Collision Brake Assist, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Envision doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The new Q5 Sportback has Car-to-X Services, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The Envision doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure.

The new Q5 Sportback’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Envision doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the new Q5 Sportback and the Envision have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The Audi new Q5 Sportback has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Envision has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2025.

The new Q5 Sportback comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Envision’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The new Q5 Sportback’s corrosion warranty is 6 years and unlimited miles longer than the Envision’s (12/unlimited vs. 6/100,000).

The Audi new Q5 Sportback’s engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the Envision’s engine uses an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Buick vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Audi 4 places higher in reliability than Buick.

The new Q5 Sportback’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 40 more horsepower (268 vs. 228) and 37 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 258) than the Envision’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the new Q5 Sportback gets better fuel mileage than the Envision (22 city/30 hwy vs. 22 city/28 hwy).

The new Q5 Sportback has 1.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Envision (17.2 vs. 16.1 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The new Q5 Sportback has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Envision. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

The new Q5 Sportback offers an available sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The Envision doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The new Q5 Sportback’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Envision doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the new Q5 Sportback’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Envision:

For better traction, the new Q5 Sportback’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Envision (255/45R20 vs. 245/45R20).

The new Q5 Sportback’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Envision Preferred’s standard 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the new Q5 Sportback has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Envision Preferred.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the new Q5 Sportback can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Envision doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The new Q5 Sportback Prestige has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The new Q5 Sportback’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The Envision doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The new Q5 Sportback has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Envision doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the new Q5 Sportback’s wheelbase is 1.5 inches longer than on the Envision (110.9 inches vs. 109.4 inches).

The new Q5 Sportback has .5 inches more front legroom and 1 inch more front shoulder room than the Envision.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the new Q5 Sportback’s rear seats recline. The Envision’s rear seats don’t recline.

The new Q5 Sportback has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Envision with its rear seat folded (53.1 vs. 52.7 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the new Q5 Sportback. The Envision doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The new Q5 Sportback’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Envision’s (4400 vs. 1500 pounds).

The engine in the new Q5 Sportback is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Envision. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

The new Q5 Sportback’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Envision’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the new Q5 Sportback the driver can close all of them at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the Envision can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The new Q5 Sportback’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Envision’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the new Q5 Sportback to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Envision doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The new Q5 Sportback Premium Plus/Prestige has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Envision doesn’t offer headlight washers.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the new Q5 Sportback to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Envision doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

Both the Audi new Q5 Sportback and Buick Envision offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The new Q5 Sportback features standard power folding mirrors, which allow for easy, one-touch folding or unfolding at the driver’s discretion. This provides added convenience when maneuvering or parking, as well as when walking past the parked vehicle. In comparison, the Envision’s foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

The new Q5 Sportback has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning costs extra on the Envision.

The Audi new Q5 Sportback has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the rear view mirror. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Buick charges extra for Homelink® on the Envision.

The Audi Q5/SQ5 outsold the Buick Envision by 22% during 2024.