2024 Toyota Grand Highlander vs 2023 Audi Q5

The 2023 Audi Q5 presented a sophisticated blend of elegance and sportiness with its exterior design, characterized by subtle curves and angular accents. It was available in two body styles: the standard SUV and the Q5 Sportback, which featured a sloping rear roofline for a sleeker look. Despite the typical reservations about coupelike styling, the Q5 Sportback stood out with a spoiler-like element above the taillights, providing a more defined transition from hatch to tail section. Inside, the Q5 offered a refined yet simple layout, though its age was beginning to show. Standard features included leather seating and heated front seats, with options for a heated steering wheel and rear seats. The 10-inch touchscreen was a nod to traditional design amidst a trend of larger screens, and while materials were of good quality, the Q5 no longer felt as exclusive as it once did.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was a true crossover built on the TNGA-K platform, sharing its underpinnings with several other Toyota models. It was notably larger than its competitors, with a length of 5,115 millimetres and a wheelbase of 2,950 mm, offering a spacious interior. The design was more conservative and blockier, drawing inspiration from rugged vehicles like the 4Runner. Inside, the Grand Highlander offered three trims with varying levels of luxury, from synthetic leather in the XLE to real leather in the Limited and Platinum trims. The interior was designed for comfort and practicality, with features like a 10-way power-adjustable driver seat, heated front seats, and a large centre console. The Grand Highlander excelled as a road-trip vehicle, with a reputation for mechanical reliability and a well-built interior.

The 2023 Audi Q5 offered three engine options, starting with the base 40 TFSI quattro, a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 201 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. The midrange 45 TFSI quattro increased output to 261 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque, and was the sole engine for the Q5 Sportback. The 55 TFSI e plug-in hybrid delivered 362 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, with an electric-only range of 37 kilometres. All Q5s featured a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and standard Quattro all-wheel drive. The Q5 Sportback with the 45 TFSI engine experienced a delay in power delivery, affecting initial acceleration. However, once underway, the power was adequate, and the handling was sporty, with precise steering and a balance between compliance and cornering.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander offered three engine options, starting with a 2.4-litre turbo four-cylinder engine producing 265 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. A 2.5-litre four-cylinder hybrid option provided 245 combined net horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. The top-tier Hybrid Max powertrain delivered 362 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. All powertrains came with all-wheel drive in Canada. The Hybrid Max offered impressive acceleration with a zero-to-60 time of 6.3 seconds. The Grand Highlander was larger and less maneuverable than its smaller counterpart, with some body roll and a numb steering feel. However, the brakes were solid, and acceleration was adequate. Three drive modes were available, with additional modes for gas-only and Hybrid Max models.

The 2023 Audi Q5's interior design had remained largely unchanged since 2018, with a focus on practicality and visibility. The infotainment touchscreen was positioned for minimal distraction, and traditional dials and buttons were used for climate controls. The Q5 offered good outward visibility, with ample space for taller passengers in both the front and rear seats. Storage options were available, though some were oddly sized. The Q5 provided up to 730 litres of cargo space, with the Sportback offering slightly less at 700 litres.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was larger than its rivals, with a length of over 5 metres and a wheelbase of 2,950 mm. This translated to a spacious interior with a total cargo capacity of 2,761 litres. Even with all three rows up, there were 583 litres available. The Grand Highlander offered good visibility and comfort, with ample headroom, legroom, and shoulder room in every row. It was a comfortable and spacious option for families and road trips.

The 2023 Audi Q5 came standard with a 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen, offering sharp graphics and quick responses. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with Bluetooth and available SiriusXM satellite radio. Higher trims featured a Bang & Olufsen audio system. The Q5 could be monitored remotely via a smartphone app, with features like unlocking and temperature pre-conditioning. Mid-range trims included a customizable digital instrument panel called the virtual cockpit.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a significant improvement over previous interfaces. An intelligent assistant was available via a connected-services subscription, along with cloud-based navigation and live agent assistance. Standard features included dual-device Bluetooth connectivity and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Limited and Platinum trims came with an 11-speaker JBL stereo. Streaming audio integration and Sirius XM satellite radio were also available.

The 2023 Audi Q5 received five stars from the NHTSA for overall, frontal, and side protection, and four stars in rollover tests. The IIHS awarded it a Top Safety Pick+ with "Good" ratings in all crashworthiness tests. Standard safety features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and parking sensors. Higher trims added features like lane-keep assist, a surround-view camera system, and matrix-design LED headlights.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander had not yet been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS. However, it came with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 as standard, including automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert, lane-tracing assist, automatic high beams, road-sign recognition, and blind-spot monitoring. Traffic jam assist and a head-up display were exclusive to the Platinum grade. Adaptive cruise control was standard, with four following-distance settings.