Compare the2025 Audi Q5 SportbackVS 2025 Buick Envista

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The Q5 Sportback’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Envista doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Audi Q5 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 Buick Envista doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the Q5 Sportback and Envista have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The 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 Envista’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.

The Q5 Sportback has a standard Secondary Collision Brake Assist, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Envista 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 Q5 Sportback has a standard Maneuver Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Envista doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Q5 Sportback has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Envista doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Q5 Sportback’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Envista doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The Q5 Sportback Premium Plus/Prestige has a standard Top View Camera System to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Envista only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

The Q5 Sportback has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Envista’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Q5 Sportback has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Assist and Automatic Brake Activation automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Buick charges extra for Rear Cross Traffic Alert on the Envista and the Envista’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert does not include automatic braking.

The 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 Envista doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Q5 Sportback and the Envista have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems and rearview cameras.

The Audi Q5 Sportback weighs 1041 pounds more than the Buick Envista. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts. Crosswinds also affect lighter cars more.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Audi Q5 Sportback is safer than the Envista:

	Q5 Sportback	Envista
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	96	476
Neck Tension	245 lbs.	379 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.71 in	1.57 in
Shoulder Force	112 lbs.	335 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.98 in	1.5 in
Torso Deflection Rate	5 MPH	6 MPH
Pelvis	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Pelvis Force	1116 lbs.	1227 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	346	424
Neck Compression	89 lbs.	134 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	1.73 in	1.77 in
Torso Max Deflection	1.54 in	1.57 in
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

Warranty

The 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 Envista’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

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

Reliability

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

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Q5 Sportback’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the Envista’s camshafts. If the Envista’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Q5 Sportback has a standard 150-amp alternator. The Envista’s 130-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

Engine

The Q5 Sportback’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 124 more horsepower (261 vs. 137) and 111 lbs.-ft. more torque (273 vs. 162) than the Envista’s 1.2 turbo 3-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

Regenerative brakes improve the Q5 Sportback’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Envista doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The Q5 Sportback has 5.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Envista (18.5 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The 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 Envista. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

Transmission

A seven-speed automatic (SMG) is standard on the Audi Q5 Sportback, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Envista.

The Q5 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 Envista doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The 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 Envista doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Q5 Sportback	Envista
Front Rotors	13.3 inches	11.8 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	11.3 inches

The Q5 Sportback’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Envista are solid, not vented.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Q5 Sportback has larger standard tires than the Envista (235/55R19 vs. 225/60R17). The Q5 Sportback’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Envista (255/45R20 vs. 245/45R19).

The 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 Envista Preferred’s standard 60 series tires. The Q5 Sportback Premium Plus/Prestige’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Envista’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Q5 Sportback has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Envista Preferred. The Q5 Sportback Premium Plus/Prestige’s optional 21-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels optional on the Envista.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Audi Q5 Sportback has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Buick Envista has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Q5 Sportback’s wheelbase is 5 inches longer than on the Envista (111 inches vs. 106 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Q5 Sportback is 2.3 inches wider in the front and 1.7 inches wider in the rear than on the Envista.

Passenger Space

The Q5 Sportback has 1.7 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom and 2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Envista.

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

Cargo Capacity

The Q5 Sportback has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Envista with its rear seat up (24.7 vs. 20.7 cubic feet). The Q5 Sportback has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Envista with its rear seat folded (51.9 vs. 42 cubic feet).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the Q5 Sportback’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Envista doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

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

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Q5 Sportback’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Envista doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Towing

The Q5 Sportback has a 4400 lbs. towing capacity. The Envista has no towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The Q5 Sportback uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Envista uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

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

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the Q5 Sportback, the optional memory system makes it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle. The Envista doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Q5 Sportback’s optional easy entry system raises the steering wheel when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Envista doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Q5 Sportback Prestige has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, navigation instruction and driver assistance information readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Envista doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The 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 Envista’s power windows’ switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

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

The Q5 Sportback’s standard Audi Advanced Key allows you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Pushbutton Start standard on the Envista only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the vehicle.

The 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 Envista’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Q5 Sportback has a standard rear wiper. The Envista doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Q5 Sportback’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the Envista’s headlights are rated “Marginal.”

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

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Q5 Sportback has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Envista doesn’t offer cornering lights.

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

When the Q5 Sportback with available tilt-down mirrors is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Envista’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

Both the Audi Q5 Sportback and Buick Envista offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The Q5 Sportback offers optional 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 Envista’s foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

The Q5 Sportback has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the Envista. The Q5 Sportback also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Envista.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Q5 Sportback (except Premium) keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Envista doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Q5 Sportback has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the Envista.

The Q5 Sportback’s 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. The Envista doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

Both the Q5 Sportback and the Envista offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Q5 Sportback has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Envista doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

With standard voice command, the Q5 Sportback offers the driver hands free control of the radio and the navigation computer by simply speaking. The Envista doesn’t offer a voice control system.

Compared to the Buick Envista, the Audi Q5 Sportback eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries with its standard integrated Homelink® universal remote controlled from the rear view mirror.

The Q5 Sportback Prestige’s Park Steering Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Envista doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Audi Q5 Sportback, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Audi Q5 outsold the Buick Envista by almost six to one during 2023.

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