Audi Q5 vs Ford Explorer: Specs Compared

Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Ford Explorer burns about $2,200 of fuel annually against $2,800 for the Audi Q5. That $600 yearly gap compounds to roughly $3,000 over five years and $4,800 over eight — often more than the price difference between two trims of the same vehicle, and the single largest running-cost line item separating these two.

City versus highway split: the Ford Explorer is the stronger commuter at 27 mpg city, while the Audi Q5 pulls ahead on the interstate at 30 mpg highway. If most of your driving is stop-and-go traffic the city figure is the one to weigh; for long-distance highway mileage the reverse is true, and the two vehicles effectively swap places depending on how you drive.

Powertrain choice: the Audi Q5 is recorded with 4 distinct engine configurations (SIDI, SIDI; Mild Hybrid, SIDI; PHEV), the Ford Explorer with 4 (SIDI, SIDI & PFI, SIDI & PFI; FFV). Across 36 recorded Audi Q5 configurations and 102 for the Ford Explorer, the wider the engine spread the more the real-world fuel efficiency depends on which version you actually buy, so check the specific model year and drivetrain rather than the headline number.

Drivetrain and class: the Audi Q5 is offered with All-Wheel Drive, the Ford Explorer with Part-time 4-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive. All-wheel drive typically costs one to two mpg combined against the same vehicle in front- or rear-wheel drive, which is worth remembering when the gap between these two is small. The EPA classes them as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD and Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.

Tailpipe emissions: at their cleanest configurations the Audi Q5 emits 148 g/mile of CO2 versus 322 g/mile for the Ford Explorer. Emissions track fuel consumption almost exactly, so the cleaner vehicle here is also the cheaper one to fuel.