Compare the2026 GMC AcadiaVS 2025 Audi new Q5

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 Acadia are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The new Q5 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the GMC Acadia 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 Audi new Q5 has not been tested.

To deliver safety and visibility under dusty conditions the GMC Acadia’s backup monitor has a standard rear washer to keep the view clear. A camera washer system costs extra on the Audi new Q5.

Both the Acadia and the new Q5 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, front seat center airbag, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, 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, available all wheel drive, front parking sensors and driver alert monitors.

The GMC Acadia achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2025 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated moderate overlap front crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The new Q5 has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2025.

GMC’s powertrain warranty covers the Acadia 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Audi covers the new Q5. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the new Q5 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 5 times as many GMC dealers as there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Acadia’s warranty.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Acadia has a standard 220-amp alternator. The new Q5’s 150-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that GMC vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 70 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks GMC higher than Audi.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that GMC vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks GMC above average in long-term dependability. With 21 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Audi is rated below average.

The Acadia’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 60 more horsepower (328 vs. 268) and 31 lbs.-ft. more torque (326 vs. 295) than the new Q5’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the GMC Acadia uses regular unleaded gasoline. The new Q5 requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Acadia FWD’s standard fuel tank has 2.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the new Q5 (19.3 vs. 17.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Acadia AWD’s standard fuel tank has 4.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the new Q5 (21.7 vs. 17.2 gallons).

The Acadia has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The new Q5 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the GMC Acadia, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the new Q5.

For better traction, the Acadia has larger standard tires than the new Q5 (255/55R20 vs. 235/55R19). The Acadia’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the new Q5 (275/45R22 vs. 255/45R20).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Acadia offers optional 22-inch wheels. The new Q5’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The GMC Acadia’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Audi new Q5 only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The Acadia has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The new Q5 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Acadia has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the new Q5; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Acadia’s wheelbase is 10 inches longer than on the new Q5 (120.9 inches vs. 110.9 inches).

The front grille of the Acadia uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The new Q5 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Acadia uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The new Q5 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Acadia offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the new Q5 can only carry 5.

The Acadia has 4.4 inches more front headroom, 3.4 inches more front legroom, 4.3 inches more front shoulder room, 2.2 inches more rear headroom, 3.5 inches more rear legroom and 6.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the new Q5.

The Acadia’s cargo area provides more volume than the new Q5.

The Acadia’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the new Q5’s (5000 vs. 4400 pounds).

Standard Trailer Sway Control (TSC) on the Acadia uses the StabiliTrak® sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The new Q5 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Acadia’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The new Q5 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Acadia has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the new Q5 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The Acadia 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 new Q5.

The Acadia Denali Ultimate has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the new Q5.

The Acadia has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The new Q5 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Acadia is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The new Q5 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Consumer Reports® recommends the GMC Acadia, based on reliability, safety and performance.