Audi Q5 vs Renault Kadjar

Audi Q5

Audi’s mid-size premium SUV.

Renault Kadjar

Renault’s roomy, comfortable compact SUV.

First car

Second car

Pick this one if…

Audi Q5

Pick the Q5 for quattro, the 550-litre boot and the 40 TDI’s 400 Nm.

Best engine: The mid-range 2.0 TDI diesel for the best balance of economy and torque — or the 2.0 TFSI petrol.

Read the full guide

Pick this one if…

Renault Kadjar

Pick the Kadjar for a roomy, comfortable compact SUV with an affordable used supply.

Best engine: The 1.3 TCe (petrol) or 1.5 Blue dCi (diesel).

Read the full guide

Performance

EA888 45 TFSI · Petrol vs 1.3 TCe 140 · Petrol

	Audi Q5	Renault Kadjar
Power	245 hp Winner	140 hp
Torque	370 Nm Winner	240 Nm
0–100 km/h	6,3 s Winner	9,6 s
Top speed	237 km/h Winner	205 km/h
Power-to-weight	136,5 hp/t Winner	100,0 hp/t
CO₂ emissions (WLTP)	183 g/km	125 g/km Winner
Consumption (WLTP)	8,1 L/100km	5,6 L/100km Winner

Dimensions & space

	Audi Q5	Renault Kadjar
Boot	550 L Winner	472 L
Boot (seats folded)	1.550 L Winner	1.478 L
Wheelbase	2,82 m Winner	2,65 m
Length	4,66 m	4,45 m
Width	1,89 m	1,84 m
Height	1,66 m	1,61 m
Seats	5	5

Powertrain & tech

	Audi Q5	Renault Kadjar
Platform	MLB Evo (longitudinal, shared with the A4/A5)	CMF-CD
Drive	All-wheel drive	Front-wheel drive · All-wheel drive
Engine family	EA888 petrol · EA288 diesel · plug-in hybrid	1.2 TCe · 1.3 TCe · 1.6 TCe · 1.5 dCi/Blue dCi · 1.6 dCi · 1.7 Blue dCi
Fuel	Petrol · Diesel · Plug-in hybrid	Petrol · Diesel
Transmission	7-speed S tronic (DSG)	6-speed manual · EDC6/EDC7 · X-tronic CVT
Euro standard	Euro 6d-TEMP (early) · Euro 6d (later)	Euro 6 / 6d
LEZ access	Euro 6 diesel allowed in the LEZ (Brussels/Antwerp/Ghent)	Euro 6/6d allowed in the LEZ

Reliability & watch-outs

Known issues

Audi Q5

S tronic (DSG) mechatronics are the best-known weak point
EA288 diesels: AdBlue/SCR needs attention with mainly short trips
Direct-injection petrols: carbon buildup with lots of short trips

Renault Kadjar

1.2 TCe: timing chain and oil consumption
EDC/X-tronic: juddery at low speed
Electrical gremlins and R-Link freezes

Pros

Audi Q5

quattro standard
550-litre boot (1550 litres folded)
40 TDI has 400 Nm

Renault Kadjar

Roomy boot and comfortable ride
Affordable and plentiful used
Efficient 1.5 dCi diesel

Cons

Audi Q5

S tronic/tiptronic only — no manual gearbox
S line suspension rides firmly on large wheels

Renault Kadjar

1.2 TCe (early years) carries chain risk
Interior less modern than newer rivals

Driving experience

Audi Q5

As a model line, the Q5 steers accurately with light, consistent weighting and stays quiet at speed. Quattro gives reassuring, planted traction in all conditions. The 2.0 TDI is strong and frugal, the 2.0 TFSI is smooth, and the 55 TFSI e plug-in hybrid runs on electric for short trips. The S tronic shifts quickly. It is tuned for comfort over sharp handling.