Audi Q5 vs Renault Arkana

Audi Q5

Audi’s mid-size premium SUV.

Renault Arkana

Renault’s coupé-style compact SUV.

First car

Second car

Pick this one if…

Audi Q5

Pick the Q5 for refinement, a big boot and quattro traction in a premium mid-size SUV.

Best engine: The 40 TDI (diesel) or 40 TFSI (petrol).

Read the full guide

Pick this one if…

Renault Arkana

Pick the Arkana for a striking coupé-SUV with a roomy boot and an efficient hybrid.

Best engine: The 1.3 TCe (petrol) or E-Tech hybrid.

Read the full guide

Performance

EA888 45 TFSI · Petrol vs 1.3 TCe 140 · Petrol

	Audi Q5	Renault Arkana
Power	245 hp Winner	140 hp
Torque	370 Nm Winner	260 Nm
0–100 km/h	6,3 s Winner	9,8 s
Top speed	237 km/h Winner	200 km/h
Power-to-weight	136,5 hp/t Winner	105,3 hp/t
CO₂ emissions (WLTP)	183 g/km	132 g/km Winner
Consumption (WLTP)	8,1 L/100km	5,8 L/100km Winner

Dimensions & space

	Audi Q5	Renault Arkana
Boot	550 L Winner	480 L
Boot (seats folded)	1.550 L Winner	1.500 L
Wheelbase	2,82 m Winner	2,72 m
Length	4,66 m	4,57 m
Width	1,89 m	1,82 m
Height	1,66 m	1,58 m
Seats	5	5

Powertrain & tech

	Audi Q5	Renault Arkana
Platform	MLB Evo (longitudinal, shared with the A4/A5)	CMF-B
Drive	All-wheel drive	Front-wheel drive
Engine family	EA888 petrol · EA288 diesel · plug-in hybrid	1.3 TCe mild hybrid · E-Tech Hybrid 145
Fuel	Petrol · Diesel · Plug-in hybrid	Petrol · Hybrid
Transmission	7-speed S tronic (DSG)	6-speed manual · EDC7 · E-Tech automatic
Euro standard	Euro 6d-TEMP (early) · Euro 6d (later)	Euro 6d
LEZ access	Euro 6 diesel allowed in the LEZ (Brussels/Antwerp/Ghent)	Euro 6d allowed in the LEZ

Reliability & watch-outs

Known issues

Audi Q5

S tronic (DSG) needs maintenance on early cars
AdBlue/SCR issues on 2.0 TDI diesels
Early MMI infotainment quirks

Renault Arkana

Infotainment: freezes and lag
Electrical gremlins (12V battery)
E-Tech hybrid: 12V battery drain

Pros

Audi Q5

Big boot (550 l) & roomy cabin
Refined, composed ride (quattro)
Efficient, torquey EA288 diesel

Renault Arkana

Striking coupé design
Roomy boot (480–513 L)
Efficient E-Tech hybrid available

Cons

Audi Q5

Firm ride on S line / big wheels
Pricier than most rivals

Renault Arkana

Sloping roof limits rear headroom
No diesel offered

Driving experience

Audi Q5

Refined, effortless and supremely polished. Steering is light and accurate rather than talkative, the ride is supple and isolating, and the Q5 settles into a calm, confident lope. quattro ultra shuffles torque seamlessly for all-weather security, though it favours safe, neutral grip over playful engagement. Adaptive suspension keeps it composed and hushed on rough roads. The 40/45 TFSI petrols are smooth and willing, the 2.0 TDI pulls strongly and sips fuel, and the 55 TFSI e plug-in glides on electric power. The 7-speed S tronic is quick and smooth; the V6 8-speed tiptronic even more so. Overall a quiet, tech-rich SUV that puts long-distance comfort and easy confidence ahead of outright driver involvement.

Renault Arkana

A comfortable long-distance cruiser rather than a dynamic driver's car. Steering is light and accurate enough for daily use, and body control is reasonable, but the ride is firmer than many rivals — especially on larger wheels — and can feel unsettled over sharp bumps. The 1.3 TCe feels responsive once moving, while the E-Tech hybrid prioritises efficiency and can feel less linear under hard acceleration because of its multi-mode transmission. The EDC dual-clutch is smooth at higher speeds but can show low-speed hesitation or judder.