Compare the2026 Jeep Grand CherokeeVS 2025 Audi new Q5

The Jeep Grand Cherokee has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The new Q5 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the Grand Cherokee Limited Reserve/Summit helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The new Q5 doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the Grand Cherokee and the new Q5 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, 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, around view monitors and driver alert monitors.

Jeep’s powertrain warranty covers the Grand Cherokee 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 almost 8 times as many Jeep dealers as there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Grand Cherokee’s warranty.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Grand Cherokee has a standard 160-amp alternator (240-amp - Grand Cherokee optional). 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 Jeep vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Jeep above average in initial quality. With 83 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is rated below average.

The Grand Cherokee Laredo’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 25 more horsepower (293 vs. 268) than the new Q5’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The Grand Cherokee’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 56 more horsepower (324 vs. 268) and 37 lbs.-ft. more torque (332 vs. 295) than the new Q5’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Jeep Grand Cherokee uses regular unleaded gasoline. The new Q5 requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Grand Cherokee has 5.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the new Q5 (23 vs. 17.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Grand Cherokee 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 Jeep Grand Cherokee, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the new Q5.

For better stopping power the Grand Cherokee’s brake rotors are larger than those on the new Q5:

For better traction, the Grand Cherokee has larger standard tires than the new Q5 (265/60R18 vs. 235/55R19). The Grand Cherokee Summit’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the new Q5 (275/45R21 vs. 255/45R20).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Grand Cherokee Summit has standard 21-inch wheels. The new Q5’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The Grand Cherokee 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 Grand Cherokee offers an optional full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare 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 Grand Cherokee’s wheelbase is 5.8 inches longer than on the new Q5 (116.7 inches vs. 110.9 inches).

For better maneuverability, the Grand Cherokee’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the new Q5’s (38 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

The front grille of the Grand Cherokee 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 Grand Cherokee Altitude/Limited/Summit 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 Grand Cherokee has 1.7 inches more front headroom, .4 inches more front legroom, 1.5 inches more front shoulder room, 1.6 inches more rear headroom, .2 inches more rear legroom and 2.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the new Q5.

The Grand Cherokee has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the new Q5 with its rear seat up (37.7 vs. 27.6 cubic feet). The Grand Cherokee has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the new Q5 with its rear seat folded (70.8 vs. 57.1 cubic feet).

Maximum trailer towing in the Audi new Q5 is limited to 4400 pounds. The Grand Cherokee offers up to a 6200 lbs. towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Grand Cherokee uses the Electronic Stability Control 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.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the new Q5, the Grand Cherokee Summit has a passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position (with optional power wheel adjuster), outside mirror angle and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The Grand Cherokee’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 Grand Cherokee 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 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Grand Cherokee’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the new Q5’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

The Grand Cherokee Limited Reserve/Trailhawk/Summit has standard front air conditioned seats and the Grand Cherokee Summit also has them in the rear. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The new Q5 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

The Grand Cherokee Summit 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 Jeep Grand Cherokee stands out above the Audi new Q5 by offering not one, but two Qi-compatible phone chargers. This convenience helps travelers with multiple devices to keep powered up on-the-go. Wireless charging eliminates lost or cluttered charging cables and one of them provide more flexibility.

The Grand Cherokee Laredo X/Altitude/Limited/Summit 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 Grand Cherokee is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The new Q5 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Grand Cherokee third among midsize SUVs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The new Q5 isn’t in the top three.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee outsold the Audi Q5/SQ5 by almost five to one during 2025.