Compare the2026 Audi SQ5 SportbackVS 2026 Land Rover Range Rover Velar

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Audi SQ5 Sportback are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Land Rover Range Rover Velar doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the SQ5 Sportback are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Range Rover Velar doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The SQ5 Sportback has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Range Rover Velar doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Audi SQ5 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 Land Rover Range Rover Velar has not been tested.

The SQ5 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 Range Rover Velar 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.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The SQ5 Sportback has standard Maneuver Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Range Rover Velar doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The SQ5 Sportback has Car-to-X Services, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The Range Rover Velar doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure.

Both the SQ5 Sportback and the Range Rover Velar have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The Audi SQ5 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 Range Rover Velar has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2025.

The SQ5 Sportback’s corrosion warranty is 6 years longer than the Range Rover Velar’s (12 vs. 6 years).

Audi pays for scheduled maintenance on the SQ5 Sportback for 3 years and 30,000 miles. Audi will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance (up to 1 visits). Land Rover doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Range Rover Velar.

There are over 50 percent more Audi dealers than there are Land Rover dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the SQ5 Sportback’s warranty.

The SQ5 Sportback’s 3.0 turbo V6 produces 115 more horsepower (362 vs. 247) and 137 lbs.-ft. more torque (406 vs. 269) than the Range Rover Velar P250’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the SQ5 Sportback gets better mileage than the Range Rover Velar:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Audi SQ5 Sportback uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The Range Rover Velar requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The SQ5 Sportback has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Range Rover Velar. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

The SQ5 Sportback offers a standard 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 Range Rover Velar doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The SQ5 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 Range Rover Velar doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the SQ5 Sportback’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the Range Rover Velar:

The SQ5 Sportback’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Range Rover Velar’s standard 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the SQ5 Sportback has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the Range Rover Velar.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the SQ5 Sportback can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Range Rover Velar doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The front and rear suspension of the SQ5 Sportback uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the Range Rover Velar, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

For greater off-road capability the SQ5 Sportback has a 1.1 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Range Rover Velar (9.5 vs. 8.4 inches), allowing the SQ5 Sportback to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The SQ5 Sportback is 3.2 inches shorter than the Range Rover Velar, making the SQ5 Sportback easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The SQ5 Sportback has .3 inches more front legroom, .5 inches more front shoulder room, .8 inches more rear legroom and .3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Range Rover Velar.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the SQ5 Sportback’s rear seats recline. The Range Rover Velar’s rear seats don’t recline.

If the windows are left open on the SQ5 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 Range Rover Velar can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the SQ5 Sportback to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. Heated windshield washer nozzles cost extra on the Range Rover Velar.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the SQ5 Sportback has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Range Rover Velar doesn’t offer cornering lights. The SQ5 Sportback also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the SQ5 Sportback has standard extendable sun visors. The Range Rover Velar doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the SQ5 Sportback to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Range Rover Velar doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Audi Q5/SQ5 outsold the Land Rover Range Rover Velar by over five to one during 2025.