2020 BMW X5 vs. 2020 Audi Q7: Luxury SUV Comparison

Looking at buying an Audi Q7? Here’s why you should drive home the 2020 BMW X5 instead:

A technological marvel of engineering since before smartphones existed, the BMW X5 is one of the finest midsize luxury SUVs in America – nay, the world. Now, twenty years later, the 2020 BMW X5 is leading us into a new frontier with class-leading, jaw-dropping performance and an array of standard safety systems that few comparably priced SUVs have.

If you’re considering buying the Audi Q7, hit the drawing board before chiseling that decision in stone. Take a peek at the new and improved 2020 X5, instead.

More Power. More Speed.

The base Audi Q7 Premium is equipped with a 2.0L four-cylinder turbo (45 TFSI®) that makes 248 horsepower and 273 lb.-ft. of torque. Accelerating from zero to 60 mph takes a commendable 6.9 seconds. Pay up for a Q7 trim with the 55 TFSI® nets you a 3.0L 6-cylinder that makes 335 horsepower and 369 lb.-ft. of torque, allowing it to hit the 60-mph mark in a much quicker 5.7 seconds.

Can the BMW X5 beat the Audi Q7? You bet.

The BMW X5 sDrive40i features a 3.0-liter TwinPower Turbo inline-6 that produces 335 hp and 330 lb.-ft. of torque, redlining at a massive 5,200 rpm. Its zero-to-60 time? Just 5.2 seconds, thanks to an 8-speed Sport Automatic Transmission with manual shift modes.

Even the BMW X5 hybrid (xDrive45e) is a better road-peeler than the Q7. The hybrid-electric SUV features the same 3.0L turbo-6 as the sDrive40i, yet makes 389 hp and 443 lb.-ft. of torque thanks to its eDrive motor.

Step up and get behind the wheel of the 2020 BMW X5 xDrive50i, and you’ll quickly experience the thrill of German engineering. The xDrive50i BMW gets a 4.4-liter BMW TwinPower Turbo V8 that packs a 456-horsepower wallop and punches 479 lb.-ft. of torque through the gate. It takes just 4.6 seconds to go from full-stop to 60 mph.

Then there’s the big, bad wolf of the bunch: The BMW X5 M50i, with its M Performance 4.4L TwinPower Turbo V8. M50i X5 models can reach 60 mph in a blistering 4.1 seconds thanks to total torque output of 553 lb.-ft. and horsepower production of 523 bhp.

The sDrive and xDrive X5 models can also tow up to 7,200 pounds, which is more than the 4,400-pound limit in the Audi Q7’s 45 TFSI models.

2020 BMW X5 vs. Audi Q7: Performance Comparison

Better Fuel Economy.

If efficiency with premium unleaded is a primary concern, choose the 2020 BMW X5 SUV over the Q7.

The base ’20 X5 sDrive40i returns 21 city/26 highway mpg, both of which are excellent EPA-rated numbers for a high-performance luxury SUV.

Returning a combined 18 mpg, the M50i X5 BMW offers comparable fuel efficient to the Audi Q7 with its 55 TFSI setup. However, the BMW M50i also grants you nearly 200 more horsepower and lb-ft of torque to play with.

The crème de la crème of fuel-efficient BMW X5 models is undoubtedly the xDrive45e. It can travel 30 miles on pure-electric mode – the longest all-electric range of any BMW PHEV – while getting a combined 50 MPGe. No Audi Q7 SUV can match the plug-in hybrid X5 SUV.

2020 BMW X5 vs. Audi Q7: Fuel Economy Comparison

More Cargo Capacity.

Although the Audi Q7 seats up to 7, it offers significantly less maximum cargo volume than the new BMW X5. The X5 provides 72.3 cubic feet of space up to the front row, while the Q7 SUV, per its 2019-model spec sheet, only offers 69.6 cu. ft. Plus, the 2020 BMW X5 comes standard with the nifty power split tailgate.

2020 BMW X5 vs. Audi Q7: Cargo Volume Comparison

Better Safety.

Above all else, you want an SUV that’s safe for all occupants. The BMW X5 delivers that much-needed safety in spades.

An IIHS Top Safety Pick+ winner, the 2020 X5 checks all the boxes in terms of crashworthiness, while the 2020 Audi Q7 can only look on in amazement at BMW’s slew of green “Good” marks.

Standard on every BMW X5 SAV is Active Drive Assistant, BMW’s massive suite of advanced safety technology. This system includes:

• Active Blind Spot Detection
• Lane Departure Warning
• Daytime Pedestrian Protection
• Frontal Collision Warning with City Collision Mitigation
• Rear Cross Traffic Alert

Other standard safety gear in the 2020 BMW X5 include the following:

• BMW Assist eCall™ with Emergency Request SOS and Enhanced Automatic Collision Notification
• Programmable LED Daytime Running Headlights
• Adaptive Brakelights
• Rollover Sensors
• Active Protection System with Fatigue and Focus Alert
• Park Distance Control (front and rear)
• Rain-sensing Windshield Wipers
• Dynamic Cruise Control

Many similar 2020 Audi Q7 safety features are only available as a packaged deal, like Active Lane Assist, Rear Cross Traffic Assist, and Adaptive Cruise Assist.

BMW’s Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Extended Traffic Jam Assistant, Back-up Assistant, and other safety features are also available with the BMW X5 Driving Assistance Professional Package.

Build Your BMW X5 in South Florida

Care to learn more about or build your own BMW X5 in Miami? Bring your inquiries to our showroom, and we’ll get you behind the wheel of a luxury SUV tomorrow. Contact Braman BMW Miami at 786-235-9765 to plan a visit. Our Miami BMW dealership is located at 2060 Biscayne Blvd, and we proudly serve the entire South Florida region.