Better Family Car: A6 or Q5

[A4orce84]

Hello Everyone,

I'm a long time Audi die-hard fan, so not new to the brand (you can see my register date on the left). I've had a B5 A4 and currently drive a B6 A4 USP:

Old B5:


Current Car:


Question:
I had kiddo #2 recently (woohoo!), and as I am trying to think a bit longer-term, it's probably time to start looking into something that will support my growing family. Two carseats in the back of my B6 is starting to get really tight, so I think it's a good time to start looking at something bigger. So, A6 vs. Q5 is what I've narrowed my options down to. Not sure if anyone has gone through a similar exercise and landed on the A6 or Q5, but just looking for some opinions on why you ended up with your ride.

I know both platforms (A6 and Q5) can be fitted with the 3.0T, and I am guessing they are just tuned differently. I wish Audi still made the manual transmission an option on the A6, but alas, I guess I will settle for the slush-box transmission in either case. If there's anything else I should keep in mind, please let me know.

Thanks in advance to everyone for your time and help, it is greatly appreciated! =)

Thanks,
Asif

[Audibot]

If this is a car you're going to be keeping for some years, between the two vehicles you have listed, I think the Q5 will probably be more suited. Your family will be growing, and while not a father myself, have found getting kids in and secured in car seats was much easier in an SUV than car (plus you don't have to duck down). And as the kids grow and potentially start doing activities and such, the Q5 will be suited to haul the gear to/from (note: The A6 does have a good sized trunk though).

Regarding the transmission, the ZF 8-speed is really good. Not as quick as the DSG, but still pretty quick regardless--WAYYY better than the old ZF 5- and 6-speeds.

PS: Many of us wish there were manual options but the general populace is trending away from that.

[g huns]

I can't speak specifically to the Q5, I have a A6, wife and daughter both drive Lexus RX350s. You can haul about the same amount of kids and junk in an A6 as in most midsized SUVs. Only thing you give up is some cubic feet of cargo space since the SUV allows you stack you junk higher than the A6 trunk. I do find it easier to chuck kids into and out of car seats in the SUV though.

[Spitfire007]

Am I the only one that finds the q5 ugly?


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[A665]

I drive an '13 A6 and my wife drives a '16 Q5. More legroom in the rear seat of A6 and I believe a bit more shoulder room. The A6 trunk is surprisingly roomy, albeit in a different configuration than the Q5's.

My two girls are grown now, but as I reflect on the needs of my young family roughly 20 years ago, and as much as I enjoy my A6 and wife's Q5, I would not opt for A6 or Q5 if I had a young family today. I'd go with a larger SUV. I drove a Chevy Tahoe a few years back and absolutely loved having the room for humans & stuff that naturally come along with having kids. Bear in mind that you're not shopping for a vehicle that fits only your family and immediate belongings---before long, your kids will have friends that want/need to be in the vehicle with you on occasion, and they have stuff. Don't forget parents/in-laws, etc. You get the idea.

[TexasDfwS4]

Am I the only one that finds the q5 ugly?


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I’ve had S4’s (2) Q5’s (4) an S6, and 1Tahoe. My mistake was getting the 2018 SQ5 for myself not a good fit. It was the worst of all the others as far as looks and comfort. If you have been driving sedans all this time I would stick to that program. I drive the sedans in my house and my wife LOVES her Q5’s lol. The A6 is a great looking and a great driving machine so if it were me I would go with the A6.

[WatchMeSpend]

Am I the only one that finds the q5 ugly?


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Nope. Got in a Q5 in the dealership. Felt like an A4 quality wise and it is cramped the same inside. I look at the Q3 and feel that it looks more balanced although I don't want one either. Coincidently I never found the Q7 balanced looking either. The A6 is a step up in quality. I'd only get a Q5 because it was easier to get stuff in the back and I was shopping for practicality. Test drove a Q5 2.0T and a Q5 hybrid because a buddy wanted one.

[Audibot]

Nope. Got in a Q5 in the dealership. Felt like an A4 quality wise and it is cramped the same inside. I look at the Q3 and feel that it looks more balanced although I don't want one either. Coincidently I never found the Q7 balanced looking either. The A6 is a step up in quality. I'd only get a Q5 because it was easier to get stuff in the back and I was shopping for practicality. Test drove a Q5 2.0T and a Q5 hybrid because a buddy wanted one.

OP is looking at C7 vs B8, so not the new one. But I think your build-quality and size constraint comments are valid.

[rtbrjason]

I have a 13 Q5 and a 12 A6. The A6 is actually a lot more roomy inside and has the 3.0t vs the 2.0 in the Q5. The 3.0 Q5 is fairly uncommon so it will be more difficult to source if you’re looking at used. The back of the Q5 is mostly useless unless the seats are down and even then it’s still not much more room. The Q5 has the panoramic sunroof and it’s noisy (rattles). Overall quality between the two seems pretty far apart with the A6 being much nicer inside. The A6 lacks a few things the Q5 has, the main thing being the smart key for keyless entry and locking. I think newer A6’s will likely have that option though. I’d definitely go A6 between the two.

[Kczach]

Have you considered a Q7? My sister has had a couple of them over the last ten years. Seems like there is plenty of space and the build is solid.

[himself]

I think you'll find the SUV more practical. Babies travel heavy and you can stack more vertically in the SUV and you can get a trailer hitch carrier. It's a coin toss on whether it's easier lifting them into a sedan vs SUV, or buckling them in an SUV vs a sedan. I prefer the SUV angle. Carriers also favor SUVs IMO as you can get them into your elbow better. I have 6 kids and we have SUV as the main kid hauler. At one point we had a Q7 and Honda Pilot to get everyone to/from. Now that some of the kids are older, I was able to switch over to a sedan, but my wife still has a people hauler.

-td

[Bike_Pilot]

Imo for two kids both are tight. Kid car seats are absurdly huge, then add super bags (which evolve into sports equipment bags as they get bigger), strollers, etc, it'll be full. For a focused family hauler I'd go bigger. Fwiw I use an LR4 for family hauling and my A6 is my commuter. I could definitely haul the fam in the A6 but for us th LR4 is mich better suited to it.

[Valpo A7]

We had a Jeep Grand Cherokee when our daughter was born. Our son was already about 7 at the time and both fit decently in the back even with the rear facing car seat. Our first trip with our daughter having to pack all the baby stuff we needed even that was tight along with luggage for the other 3 of us. I had to pack the back end above the seat line. The GC has 10 cu ft more space than the Q5. 39 vs 29 in the 5. Now it was mentioned about a Q7 and that space depends on if you have the 3rd row up or down. With the 3rd row down you get 42 cu ft. Only 11 with the third row up. Now for the A6, cargo space lists at about 1/2 or less of the Q5 or Q7. Under 15 cu ft.

For rear seat space on paper the A6, Q5, and Q7 are all pretty similar in dimensions.

For the area you all will be sitting all 3 choices are similar but you can’t haul much of anything in the 6.


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[MattyMarkey]

In both my A6 and S7, I had/have to utilize a cargo box to fit all the items a family of 3 (1 kid) needs when going on vacation to the Cape, or extended overnight stays. A car seat in the A6 was OK, but doable. My friend has an SQ5 and with 2 kids, it’s extremely tight - they purchased an Atlas as the family hauler.

If the only two options you’re considering are the A6 and Q5, you will very likely need/want a cargo box. I would prefer the ease of getting the kids in the Q5, but the driving characteristics of the A6.


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[Speedooooo]

I had this write up from another thread:

I was looking at an A6 or Q5 prior to having my first child. I now have two kids. A7 would have been the best of both worlds, but you get much better value with the A6 or Q5. I purchased a 2016 Q5 3.0T prior to my first child, and regretted it after the first few months of ownership. If you're a car guy the feeling of the Q5 just doesn't cut it. It's higher, has more body roll, and even tuned it's still not as fast as a stock A6 3.0T. I finally caved and swapped out the Q5 for a 2018 A6 3.0T, and absolutely love it.

I wouldn't suggest either vehicle if it's your main travel vehicle, but the Q5 is better than the A6 for long trips. Q5 wins the legroom battle, overall utility, and comfort. On paper the A6 has more legroom, but that's deceiving. If there’s a passenger behind you the A6 is better. However, rear facing car seats hit the upper portion of the front seat in the A6 because it sits so lows so it limits your front seat adjustability. I suggest you get a rear facing car seat, and test-drive both vehicles with the car seat behind the driver seat. I’m out of the rear facing car seat phase now so I don’t have any limitations for legroom.

The Q5 has more truck space, but that's deceiving. Get a stroller (or two) and put it in the trunks of the two vehicles. You have to put the strollers in horizontally in the Q5, and it takes up so much room that you don't have extra space for other cargo. The strollers go in vertically in the trunk of the A6 leaving much more room for other cargo. Overall utility the Q5 wins. Without large strollers the trunk space is better. Interior cabin space is larger. You can just cram more stuff into the Q5. You could also get a cargo carrier for the Q5 roof rails. A6 doesn't have that flexibility.

Again, I wouldn't suggest either vehicle if it's going to be your long trip hauler, but the Q5 is better than the A6 for that. If it's for your normal daily commute then get the A6. Also, the B9 A4/S4 has more space than the previous generations. I’ve actually thought about going to a B9 S4 now that the kids are forward facing, and I don’t necessarily need strollers anymore.

[Fast001]

Hello Everyone,

I'm a long time Audi die-hard fan, so not new to the brand (you can see my register date on the left). I've had a B5 A4 and currently drive a B6 A4 USP:

Old B5:


Current Car:


Question:
I had kiddo #2 recently (woohoo!), and as I am trying to think a bit longer-term, it's probably time to start looking into something that will support my growing family. Two carseats in the back of my B6 is starting to get really tight, so I think it's a good time to start looking at something bigger. So, A6 vs. Q5 is what I've narrowed my options down to. Not sure if anyone has gone through a similar exercise and landed on the A6 or Q5, but just looking for some opinions on why you ended up with your ride.

I know both platforms (A6 and Q5) can be fitted with the 3.0T, and I am guessing they are just tuned differently. I wish Audi still made the manual transmission an option on the A6, but alas, I guess I will settle for the slush-box transmission in either case. If there's anything else I should keep in mind, please let me know.

Thanks in advance to everyone for your time and help, it is greatly appreciated! =)

Thanks,
Asif

I switched from a 2014 A6 TDI to a 2021 SQ5. Have two kids, one in rear facing seat and one in front facing. The only two benefits are the panoramic roof that both kids seem to enjoy and being easier to put kids in and out due to SQ5 being higher. That’s it though….. SQ5 is noticeably smaller. I can’t put rear facing Uppababy Mesa behind myself (I’m 6’2)- it doesn’t fit, so I get a constant benefit of backseat jolts from my 3yo. In A6 she couldn’t reach… Trunk is smaller as well, the only way I can fit the frame from Uppababy Vista stroller is upright, which means I can’t use the retractable trunk cover and so on. Q5 or SQ5 sits on A4 platform and you know what’s that like already. I’m assuming you are deciding between c7 generation A6 and B8 generation Q5. Q5 will have a dated interior compared to A6 as well. So my vote goes for A6. Try to find a 3.0 TDI and you’ll love the torque as well as silly fuel economy of under 10l/100km city and 6.5l/100km highway.


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[Alabama]

In both my A6 and S7, I had/have to utilize a cargo box to fit all the items a family of 3 (1 kid) needs when going on vacation to the Cape, or extended overnight stays. A car seat in the A6 was OK, but doable. My friend has an SQ5 and with 2 kids, it’s extremely tight - they purchased an Atlas as the family hauler.

If the only two options you’re considering are the A6 and Q5, you will very likely need/want a cargo box. I would prefer the ease of getting the kids in the Q5, but the driving characteristics of the A6.

Good insight. Adding a removable cargo box to an A6 certainly alters the comparison to the SUV. I suspect for anyone currently using a short shifter, the driving characteristics of the A6 will win out. Sadly, manual transmission is no more with Audi. Apparently even Porsche barely sells any.

[sepheroth86]

I have a 5 month old and put the car seat in the middle of my A6.

I am leaning toward an A8L for the additional back seat room.

[TexasDfwS4]

Is the OP still working on the problem?

[BobbyWatts]

I had a b8 q5 and a C7.5 a6 at the same time with just 1 kid, so I can tell you all of the pros and consÂ… we got rid of our q5 in less than 2 years for a Grand Cherokee bc it was too small.

If this is kid #2, I’d definitely do the q over an a6 if those are the only 2 choices. I love my 6 - it’s a great car, but strollers, extra luggage, and all the other “stuff” that comes with extra people makes it brutal in comparison to anything larger.

[QuattroRocket]

I had an SQ5 for a few years and loved it but its tough as a family car. It was just me and my 2 little girls so we managed but there is very little storage space in it behind the rear seats. Know that you will want a rooftop box for sure if there is 4 of you and if your kids are grown (teens) then the A6 is all around a way better choice.

[baldy]

I'll join the conversation as well. Currently have an A6 TDI and the wife has an A3 TDI. We had a Q5 TDI in the family and a Touareg TDI before that as well.

The Touareg was quiet like the A6 with similar interior quality, almost identical cluster, Dynaudio sound which blows the Bose junk in my A6 out of the water. Interior space was similar to the A6, with the bonus of extra height in the trunk. It had factory ordered sport suspension so it rode fairly stiffly and the wide tires offered decent grip despite some body lean. Went back with the buyback as they offered basically what I bought it for initially.

The Q5 replaced the Touareg. It's basically an A4 on stilts. Much smaller in every way, however the S-Line seats were awesome on long trips in the mountains. B&O stereo was decent, however the Touareg sounded clearer (but had less deep bottom end without a sub). I was fortunate to get a Technik that had the adaptive suspension package. This is a game changer as I could ride in Cadillac mode on subpar roads, then switch to bone jarring sport mode in the mountains to enjoy the curves. Fuel economy was also better due to its lower weight, and being a 2014 with the newer TDI engine.

Still have the A6 TDI. Front and rear seats are Touareg sized, as is the shape of the trunk (just half the height of course). It's quiet and with a few small upgrades handles really well (swaybars, eibach springs, tranny/rear diff inserts). If you want more power, a tune or turbo swap are simple upgrades. With a HTD2872 turbo, in town/traffic I average 7.5-8.5 l/100 km, and highway 5.1-6.2 depending on terrain. Haven't dyno'd yet but a guy in Europe with the exact same mods I have that I follow on IG dyno'd his at 433hp and over 700nm torque on a Superflow. It honestly rips. Ordered the OEM trailer hitch and it tows my 2 bikes like they're not even there. No regrets, but an A7 hatch would make loading the trunk much easier from the top, instead of sliding things in

The wife's A3 is awesome in town as it's roughly the same length as the Q5. Parking is easy and it feels like a go-kart. Highway fuel economy is 4 l/100km on average. That being said, it's the size of your B5 inside. Non-starter for what you need.

My vote would go to the A6 or Touareg for your purposes. Q7 is too big and feels old inside. Oh, and definitely get a TDI. Your wallet will thank you.

[Carl0s]

I got 2 kids, 2y & 4y and I've been quite happy with the A6 avant. There's enough space in the boot for a dog and weekend trip supplies, and for those longer trips / ski holidays I throw Packline box to the roof. Also, with those pivoting child seats (which are a back saver!) they require quite much width from the vehicle inorder for you to twist both of the seats towards the doors simultaneously (ie me picking other kid from the drivers side, wife picking other on her side). For example on the A4 the backrests collide and both seats only turn ~halfway towards the door.

Don't know bout the Q5 - but at least the A6 Avant is nearly perfect family mover.

[Burkeomatic]

I have an A7, and find the room more than adequate. I think the Q5s actually feel cramped in comparison. I have a 7 year old and 2 year old. I will say loading a baby in a SUV is easier, but that only lasts a few years, so depending on how long you plan to keep it, the SUV may be more convenient for a few years. I find bending over to put my kid in the car a small price to pay for something that doesn't have the aerodynamics of a barn door and handle like a truck.

[GilliamOS]

Man, I remember you from the AudiWorld B5 forum! I have three kids now, one a full front-facing car seat and one in a booster with back. He's getting tall enough he can sit in the middle seat without a booster and my oldest can sit by the door. We all fit just fine in the A6.

[Spitfire007]

We haven't had any issues putting stuff in an e90. Yeah, rear facing seat made the front passenger seat borderline useless, but as soon as that got turned around we had no issues.
A6 is positively cavernous. Those that don't think so should reconsider what they're bringing along...stroller? City-mini GT. Folds flat, wheels come off.


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[paul-g]

there are a ton of options i have am A^ with family of 4 and even though i can sit behind my seat (i'm 6') feel bit tight if had baby seats and all that. someone mention an A* or A*L i think that would be better suited if you wanted to stay with sedan thats just my 2cents which is worth only 1....lol

[prestige.phantom]

I do not have any kids, but what I will say is that I have 3 younger brothers (all over 6 feet). My A6 carried me and my 3 brothers to and from high school every day (with all of our various bags, racquets, and instruments) for 2 years, and since has had countless miles of ski trips, road trips, and exploration with friends and family. I think the A6 definitely has more leg room and comfort for larger passengers (not to mention the option of rear heated seats and rear climate control).

If you are comparing C7 A6/7 to B8 Q5:
- C7 is definitely a better car to drive (lower center of gravity and better handling)
- Q5 is definitely easier to load with cargo
- Q5 pano roof is nice
- C7 interior is worlds nicer and more modern than the B8 Q5
- C7 has more available tech and features (ACC, Night Vision, Cooled Seats, etc.)

If comparing C7.5 A6/7 to B9 Q5
- C7.5 is very reliable, B9 is a little more up in the air
- B9 Q5 has some nice newer tech (virtual cockpit, etc.)
- C7.5 has the available 3.0T

Obviously both cars are safe, have decent cargo room, and have child anchors.

IMO I would take the A6/7 in either case. The handling is better, the interior feels much more premium, and subjectively I think it looks better. Best of luck with your search and decision!

[JWebb_C7_Comp]

I do not have any kids, but what I will say is that I have 3 younger brothers (all over 6 feet). My A6 carried me and my 3 brothers to and from high school every day (with all of our various bags, racquets, and instruments) for 2 years, and since has had countless miles of ski trips, road trips, and exploration with friends and family. I think the A6 definitely has more leg room and comfort for larger passengers (not to mention the option of rear heated seats and rear climate control).

If you are comparing C7 A6/7 to B8 Q5:
- C7 is definitely a better car to drive (lower center of gravity and better handling)
- Q5 is definitely easier to load with cargo
- Q5 pano roof is nice
- C7 interior is worlds nicer and more modern than the B8 Q5
- C7 has more available tech and features (ACC, Night Vision, Cooled Seats, etc.)

If comparing C7.5 A6/7 to B9 Q5
- C7.5 is very reliable, B9 is a little more up in the air
- B9 Q5 has some nice newer tech (virtual cockpit, etc.)
- C7.5 has the available 3.0T

Obviously both cars are safe, have decent cargo room, and have child anchors.

IMO I would take the A6/7 in either case. The handling is better, the interior feels much more premium, and subjectively I think it looks better. Best of luck with your search and decision!

Super tonight call. When my kids were young we had an X5, which fit two car seats and a decent load. It also sat 3 across the back once the car seats turned into boosters, etc. But, as the kids got older we bought a Honda Odyssey. It fit people, dogs, cats and a ton of crap, while easily seating 5 or 6.

As the kids are older, and one drives we are in A6 and my wife’s Q7. While I think the A6 is the more comfortable drivers car, when we all go in the same car, it’s the Q7 almost every time. The combination of a third row of need and large cargo space you - or backseat passengers - can easily reach is great.

Between an A6 and a Q7, I’d take the Q. But, it has always seemed to me that the Q5 is tight. Two car seats, a stroller or two and you’re done! I’d take an A6 over Q5 with two kids and get a cargo carrier for big crap on longer trips…

My wife, however, didn’t like reaching down to help kids in and out of car seats and I’d bet she would do a Q5 for that reason alone.

For 10 years or so, one family car has to do it all and space is king!!


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[Phenotis]

Also curious on this topic. We’re expecting our first but are planning to have a second. I figure the A7 will be enough for 1 kid so subscribed to this thread.

[prestige.phantom]

Super tonight call. When my kids were young we had an X5, which fit two car seats and a decent load. It also sat 3 across the back once the car seats turned into boosters, etc. But, as the kids got older we bought a Honda Odyssey. It fit people, dogs, cats and a ton of crap, while easily seating 5 or 6.

As the kids are older, and one drives we are in A6 and my wife’s Q7. While I think the A6 is the more comfortable drivers car, when we all go in the same car, it’s the Q7 almost every time. The combination of a third row of need and large cargo space you - or backseat passengers - can easily reach is great.

Between an A6 and a Q7, I’d take the Q. But, it has always seemed to me that the Q5 is tight. Two car seats, a stroller or two and you’re done! I’d take an A6 over Q5 with two kids and get a cargo carrier for big crap on longer trips…

My wife, however, didn’t like reaching down to help kids in and out of car seats and I’d bet she would do a Q5 for that reason alone.

For 10 years or so, one family car has to do it all and space is king!!


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If OP is willing too spend enough for a decent 2017 > Q7 I'd agree! The newest generation Q7 has a significantly improved interior. My grandmother has a 2019 with the carbon optic and air suspension and that Q7 is an excellent hauler for all occasions.

[kyleblix]

I went from a Q5 to an S6, so spatial wise very similar to an A6. While I very much so enjoy driving the S6 more than the Q5, the Q5 was a much better "family car". Way more space for car seats and kid stuff in the back.

[A4orce84]

- - - Updated - - -

Man, I remember you from the AudiWorld B5 forum! I have three kids now, one a full front-facing car seat and one in a booster with back. He's getting tall enough he can sit in the middle seat without a booster and my oldest can sit by the door. We all fit just fine in the A6.

Hey dude, same here! How you doing? 3 kids, you must be a busy dad!

Looks like you went thru a few more cars since the B5 days! =)

[GilliamOS]

- - - Updated - - -



Hey dude, same here! How you doing? 3 kids, you must be a busy dad!

Looks like you went thru a few more cars since the B5 days! =)

I def stay busy lol! I went from my B5 to a B8 Avant, to my now current C7. I am about to tear into it for a PCV valve, water pump and t-stat, and S/C and accessory belt job in a couple weeks. It's the first major work I've had to do on the car since I got it. I've been absolutely spoiled with how reliable this car is compared to the B5!

[arjun90]

Frankly, originally, I went from an A6 C5 wagon to a Q5, quickly went back to an A6 C5 as a daily, whereas still holding onto the Q5 for longer hauls, then recently went with an A6 C6 wagon, having both the Q5 and A6 is like having the best of both worlds, and both vehicles are very season-specific