Audi Q5 vs Jaguar F-PACE

Everyone wants an SUV these days. So, unsurprisingly, manufacturers are churning them out by the bucketload.

The two most recently launched premium SUV models are the Audi Q5 and the Jaguar F-PACE, both having been recently facelifted. Between the two, which one should you get?

Looking to behold

The Q5 sports a very recognisable Audi SUV silhouette. Light enhancements like the shallower and wider grille helps sharpen up the exterior, but it still retains its rather boxy visual character.

Honestly, it's not the most visually exciting SUV in the world. It looks sharp enough for what it is, and the updates do help to freshen up the design slightly, but it'll still rather easily be lost within the sea of other SUVs on the road.

The Jaguar F-PACE certainly won't have that problem. With its bold, muscular exterior, slimmer head lights and that prominent grille on the car's very pronounced nose, the F-PACE is undeniably the more interesting car to look at. I think it's a much prettier car, too.

Inside, the F-PACE definitely has more flair. Red interior trimming aside, the F-PACE's big curved infotainment screen sports a futuristic interface, and there's a greater sense of occasion within the cabin.

The Jaguar also delivers more overall space. It's the bigger of the two cars, with a 55mm longer wheelbase. As a result, the interior feels more spacious, especially from the driver's seat. The Jaguar also has a MASSIVE boot - the 793-litre cargo capacity easily monsters the Q5's 520 litres.

The Q5's cabin definitely errs on the side of restraint. However, that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Indeed, the Q5 outdoes the F-PACE in terms of functionality. The controls are much more intuitive and immediately accessible, and there's a much better sense of function over form here. There's a sense of familiarity to the cabin that I will admit is incredibly comforting. 

That said, the form is hard to fault, too. Audi does top-notch interiors, and in the Q5 this is very much still the case. Materials are high quality, build quality is top-notch, and you have no doubt that this is a premium vehicle. I do also like how the wireless charging surface has been integrated into the sliding cover of the centre console cup holders, though it can be slightly cumbersome if you are actually using the cup holder to hold a bottle of water.

Refined pace

On the road, the Q5 is immediately impressive with its high levels of refinement, comfort and surprising agility. The car drives smaller than it actually is, and it's only when you are done parking and hop out of the car that you realise just how big it is, taking up quite a lot of the parking lot.

The Q5 also features a mild-hybrid system that allows for coasting with the engine off. It's not going to do wonders as far of fuel efficiency is concerned, but it does add to the overall sense of refinement of the drivetrain.

The F-PACE doesn't fall far behind in terms of overall refinement. There's a slight delay in throttle response, but here it's nowhere as apparent (or problematic) as I've experience in some other Jaguar models (like the XE). Beyond that, it's entirely comfortable and easy to drive on the road, with smooth acceleration combined with brisk pace.

Both cars are powered by turbocharged 2.0-litre engines, and the power figures are almost identical. The Audi has 245bhp and 370Nm of torque, while the Jag has 247bhp and 365Nm of torque. Even so, the Audi is 0.3 seconds quicker to 100km/h, and that's mainly to do with the fact that the Q5 is 82kg lighter.

On the road, the F-PACE has better steering feel and a slightly more dynamic drive, but beyond that I think most people will gravitate towards the Q5. The powertrain is a tad more refined, and there's just a sense of ease and effortlessness about the overall driving experience that buyers in this segment are probably looking for.

Choice interests

The Audi Q5 is the obvious, sensible choice. It's got the more desirable badge, it does all the typical SUV things well and, honestly, there's not much you can actually fault about the car. It's also marginally cheaper, and by marginally, I mean $772 cheaper.

However, at least for me, it's the slightly boring choice. It's exceeding functionality leaves you feeling a little cold.

The Jaguar F-PACE is the bolder and better-looking car, and also has a massive boot. The interior may not be quite as intuitive to use compared to the Q5, but I do like that it feels more spacious and a little flashier. And on the road, I think it stacks up close enough to the Q5, so you're not really compromising much there either. 

Between these to cars, the F-PACE is the more interesting choice, and it would be my choice.