New BMW X5 vs new Audi Q7: Mat Watson compares the two latest luxury SUVs to pick a winner

Big, posh German SUVs are great if you want loads of interior space, a luxurious interior and all the latest tech. They tend to be very expensive, but even if your budget doesn’t stretch that far they can still give you an idea of the sort of features you’ll see on more average family cars in the future.

I recently went to see the all-new Audi Q7, followed shortly after by the new BMW X5. These are two heavy hitters in this segment, literally and figuratively – they both weigh more than 2.5 tonnes – so I’m going to compare their interiors, practicality, technology and specs to see which one is off to the strongest start.

Remember, you can buy a brand new or used car right here on Carwow. And you can sell your car, too. We’re here to help you through every step of your car-changing journey.

New BMW X5 vs new Audi Q7: prices

Let’s start by talking about the price.

BMW hasn’t confirmed how much the new X5 will cost yet, but you can expect it to be a bit more than the outgoing car. That model starts from just under £76,000, so you can expect the new one to cost around £80,000 for the basic diesel, rising to well over £100,000 for the all-electric iX5.

If you fancy a deal on the old X5, you can save an average of around £13,700 on one at the time of writing. It’s still a brilliant car which is great to drive, so it’s well worth considering.

Audi has confirmed the starting price of a new Q7 – it costs £82,560. That’s around £10,000 more than the outgoing car, and you can save an average of £7,400 on the current Q7 through Carwow at the time of writing. There’s currently no electric Q7 equivalent to rival the iX5.

New BMW X5 vs new Audi Q7: design

The BMW X5’s design follows on from the iX3 electric car, but I think the styling looks much better on this much larger SUV.

It has the coolest headlights of any BMW model. I love the X-shaped LED details, and they flash orange when you turn the indicators on. It’s super-cool. The rear lights look good as well, and the whole car just looks mean and imposing thanks to the tall bonnet and bluff front end.

The Audi Q7 has a few party tricks as well. The OLED taillights can be customised with different designs from the central touchscreen, and the headlights can project graphics onto the road ahead to warn people of upcoming hazards. It’s really clever.

You also get the standard massive grille you expect from a big Audi, and it has more of a boxy silhouette than the smooth and sporty X5.

That said, I slightly prefer the way the BMW looks. It just has a bit more presence about it.

New BMW X5 vs new Audi Q7: interior and technology

Moving inside, the BMW X5’s interior is really nice. It’s much more modern than the outgoing car, featuring technology shared with the iX3.

The main highlight is the Panoramic Vision display, which is a head-up display projected onto the base of the windscreen. It runs the entire width of the car and looks really impressive, although it is a bit gimmicky in places. I think BMW designed it and then realised there needed to be information to fill the passenger side, so you have things like your elevation above sea level over there. Pointless, if you ask me.

It is nice having your speed and sat nav directions in your direct eyeline though, and the large central touchscreen is also bright, responsive and easy to use. A passenger screen is also available as an option, and it has apps such as YouTube built in.

Interior quality is also really good. There’s loads of soft leather on the seats, dashboard and door cards, and you can even get trim panels made out of real slate. It is a shame that you get hard, scratchy plastics lower down, such as around the door pockets, where on the old X5 it was all soft-touch.

Moving into the Audi, things don’t get off to the best start. I really don’t like the massive, curved bezel around the infotainment screen, and the digital driver’s display isn’t as good as the BMW’s. Audi used to rule the roost in this regard, but the latest systems are just a bit dark and boring.

However, at least the infotainment system itself is really good. I reckon it’s a bit simpler than the BMW’s system because the menus are less confusing, although you do still have to control the direction of the air vents through the screen in both cars. Just give me a knob, please.

Material quality is good on the whole. Audi has got rid of most of the shiny black plastic found on its smaller cars and replaced it with less smudge-prone surfaces. The wood in the car I tested was especially nice, although I don’t think it feels quite as solid as the BMW.

And that’s why I think the BMW X5 has the best interior. I prefer the design, and it feels more premium than the Audi.

New BMW X5 vs new Audi Q7: space and practicality

One area where the Audi Q7 beats the X5 is practicality, because it’s available as a seven-seater whereas the BMW only has five seats.

Kneeroom in the second row is about the same in both cars, and you can slide and recline the seats as well, but the Audi has more head space on offer thanks to the boxier body. Space in the Q7’s third row is okay, but taller adults will struggle on longer journeys.

The Q7 also has a bigger boot when you fold the rearmost seats away – offering 722 litres of space to the BMW’s 650 litres. The BMW is still a really spacious car, but the Audi Q7 is more versatile.

New BMW X5 vs new Audi Q7: engines and performance

You’ll be able to get the BMW X5 with three different power options from launch. Entry-level cars will get a 3.0-litre diesel engine with 313hp, or there’s the 3.0-litre petrol plug-in hybrid with 612hp. That car will also be able to do up to 63 miles on electric power alone.

For the first time ever, there will also be an all-electric iX5. It has two electric motors putting out a combined 578hp, and these are powered by a 140kWh battery which is good for almost 500 miles of range.

There’s no electric version of the Audi Q7. Your choices for now are limited to a 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine with either 245hp or 300hp, and a plug-in hybrid model will come along at a later date. There are no technical details on that car yet, but if Audi’s other PHEV models are anything to go by then it could have around 80 miles of electric range.

Mat’s final verdict: which of these cars is best

I’ll have to wait until I can drive the new BMW X5 and Audi Q7 before I can reach a proper conclusion, but on first impressions I think the BMW X5 is slightly better than the Audi Q7.

I prefer its interior and exterior design, and it’s available with a wider variety of power options. The Audi may be a lot more practical, but unless you need to carry seven people then I reckon the BMW will be a better bet.

Will I change my tune after driving these cars? Keep an eye out over the next few months to find out.

Car change? Carwow!

Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.

Want to see the latest car content first? Add Carwow as a preferred source here. Click here to follow us on Reddit, where you can keep up-to-date with all the latest news, reviews, advice guides and videos. You can also subscribe to our WhatsApp channel to get the latest news sent straight to your phone.