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Audi Q5


Kia EV6

Summary

Audi Q5

So EV evangelist Audi is still making a range of Q5s with engines in them? New ones?

Yes, it is confusing, isn’t it? When Audi said they’d like us to fly to Spain to drive its new Q5, I was still digesting the fact that its sexier sister brand - Porsche’s Macan - had gone all-in on electricity. And wasn’t Audi one of the early adopter, all-EV trailblazer brands? Surely the new Q6 EV was the car they were talking about?

But no, all of these new Q5s would have engines - a 2.0-litre petrol, a 2.0-litre TDI diesel and, praise be, a howling, growling 3.0-litre V6 petrol one in the SQ5 - and none of them are even PHEVs (the initial launch phase are all mild hybrid electric vehicles or MHEVs, the PHEV variants will launch in the second half of 2025).

Furthermore, this new and yet old-school Q5 was built on an all-new PPC platform (Premium Platform Combustion), which will be shared by the whole Volkswagen group and which, very strong rumour has it, Porsche is now desperately trying to get its hands on to reverse engineer a Macan variant that more people might like to buy.

So does that make this new offering the SUV the new Macan should have been, or just the Q5 you didn’t expect Audi to be making at all? Either way, it’s quite likely to be the last of its kind, so there was quite a lot to be curious about as we jetted off to Malaga to check it out.

Safety rating
Engine Type2.0L turbo
Fuel TypeDiesel
Fuel Efficiency4.8L/100km
Seating5 seats

Kia EV6

Sometimes I think the present is nowhere near as futuristic as I thought it would be when pondering things 20 years ago.

And then there are times when the two cars you’re comparing are an electric Mustang SUV and a 580 horsepower Kia that accelerates faster than a Ferrari Enzo. 

Yep, this comparison of the Ford Mustang Mach-E GT and Kia EV6 GT is one of those times when we’re reminded how much things have changed and how quickly we need to accept the changes electric cars introduce as the new normal.

Supercar-like acceleration, the dilemma of charging and the premium price they command are key EV attributes. But they are still cars. Still the way we get around.

If they’re SUVs like the Mach-E GT and EV6 GT we need to compare more than just their EV credentials. Practicality, driveability, value-for-money, safety and ownership costs are also hugely important.

And this is what we’ve done here, comparing them not just as electric cars but in all the ways you’ll use them, too. 

Safety rating
Engine Type
Fuel TypeElectric
Fuel Efficiency—L/100km
Seating5 seats

Verdict

Audi Q57.7/10

Ever since returning from the launch of the new Audi Q5 I've been looking at old ones and thinking how lumpy and dumpy they look by comparison. The new Q5 will be an adornment to our roads in styling terms, it's a tour de force of interior design and its engines might well be the last barking gasp of its kind. So it's definitely worth a look if you're in the mid-size SUV space. And you don't want an EV yet.

Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with travel, accommodation and meals provided.


Kia EV6/10

The Ford Mustang Mach-E GT wins this comparison with the Kia EV6 GT by a small margin, mainly due to its better practicality, its styling and its lower ownership costs. The Kia EV6 GT is also brilliant in its sporty handling, value-for-money and great battery tech. But if there was one that’s the best all-rounder to live with daily, it’s the Mustang Mach-E GT.

 

Ford Mustang Mach-E GT

Kia EV6 GT

Price and Features

7

8

Design

9

8

Practicality

8

7

Under the bonnet

9

9

Efficiency

8

8

Driving

8

8

Safety 

9

9

Ownership

8

7

TOTAL

8.3

8

Design

Audi Q5

Other than the closely related Porsche Macan, and maybe an Alfa Romeo Stelvio, it's hard to think of a better, smoother looking SUV than this new Audi Q5, with its revised Singleframe grille flanked by vertical air curtains, that look a bit like gills.

Audi claims the Q5 has "perfect proportions", which is bold, but it certainly looks sleek rather than bulky, with a nice silhouette and dynamic rather than Mumsy appeal.

The rear is particularly attractive with a three-dimensional light strip that ties it all neatly together. It's a more refined, sharper look than the Q5 it replaces.

Inside, of course, Audi has either taken its interior to another level of futuristic fabulousness, or put too many bloody screens in, all of which are too big, depending on who you ask. And how old they are. Kids will love it, however.

Interestingly, while every car company ever claims that its cabin has a cockpit feel, focusing on the driver, the Q5 really does. So much so that there's a raised edge in the centre console that quite noticeably cuts the driver off from the passenger. In the other front seat you do feel a bit removed, as if you're meant to leave the driver to it, which might be why you get your own screen to play with.


Kia EV6

Two more different looking SUVs you could not find. Actually, the EV6 GT barely even looks like an SUV although that’s what Kia calls it and the industry classifies it as such.

Have a look at the images, or better still watch the video we made above, to take in the stark comparison between the styling of these vehicles.

The Mustang Mach-E GT looks reassuringly like a Mustang SUV with its vertical bar tail-lights, the muscular rear haunches, blade headlights, shark nose bonnet and big grille.

Well, it’s not a real grille but if you look closely you’ll see the faint outline of honeycomb mesh behind the semi-transparent plastic.

The Kia EV6 GT looks more like a bloated hatchback than an SUV, but you could argue that’s all an SUV is, anyway, I guess.

Still, it’s a stunning design with its pinched in nose, bulbous and smooth panels, looking low, wide and intimidating like a venomous insect complete with lime green brake calipers.

Despite the obvious exterior differences their dimensions aren’t wildly different as you can see in the table below, only the height sets them apart.

If all you had to go with were these figures I’m sure you’d never imagine they’d belong to two very different looking SUVs. The extra height gives the Mustang GT Mach-E a more upright and boxy design, and this affects practicality as you’ll read about further on. For now let's look at their insides on purely stylistic merits.

Of course they have completely different interiors. The Mustang Mach-E GT has a more macho, serious but sporty cabin with high quality feeling fabrics adorning the dashboard and synthetic leather seats. Only the gigantic portrait media display makes this feel like a modern Ford product.

The EV6 GT’s cabin feels dark, like a cave but one filled with expansive screens and tech. There are intriguing patterns etched into the dashboard and deep seats that wrap around their occupants.

Its innards are as alien as its exterior and I’m here for it. And so are many people. Probably not those who like the Mustang Mach-E GT’s cabin, though.

I think the Mustang Mach-E GT pulls off a better look, especially considering the pressure it’s designers would have been under to create an SUV version of one of the most iconic cars on Earth.  

Dimensions

Ford Mustang Mach-E GT

Kia EV6 GT

Length

4743mm

4695mm

Height

1623mm

1545mm

Width

1881mm

1890mm

Wheelbase

2984mm

2900mm

 

Ford Mustang Mach-E GT

Kia EV6 GT

9

8

Practicality

Audi Q5

Audi is talking up the little things with the new Q5, like the fact that there's a much larger storage space under the centre armrest now - and it's true, you can lose your car key in it - plus numerous other storage areas, and an inductive and cooled charging tray so your phone won't get cooking hot and shut off, with 15 watts of power.

In exciting news for screen addicts/children, Audi is also very excited about its uprated USB-C ports, which can charge at up to 60 watts through the two in the front, while the rear passengers also get two more, rated at 100 watts. Which sounds like a lot, Audi says it's enough to run your laptop.

The new Q5 also gets a very useful adjustable rear seat, which can be slid lengthways and tilted, providing either more passenger space and less boot room or vice versa. With the rear seat down you get 1473 litres, but thanks to the new sloping rear design you get slightly less room in the Q5 SUV, with 520 litres behind the second row. The SQ5 gets even less at just 470 litres.

Another handy feature is that the snappy luggage cover can be stowed in a special designed compartment under the boot floor. Clever.


Kia EV6

Electric vehicles have changed practicality for the better. Not being constrained by big engines, transmissions and driveshafts means the packaging can be designed for good storage and people room.

Flat floors open up space, front boots are handy and even the ability to use their colossal battery to power campsites or other appliances is a big plus.

Below is a table comparing boot sizes and power outlets. On the face of it the EV6 GT appears to have the bigger rear boot but the stacking height is lower than the Mustang Mach-E GT’s taller space.

The EV6 GT also has next to no front boot, while the Mustang Mach-E GT has a large storage space under the bonnet.

As for rear legroom, the EV6 GT and Mustang Mach E GT have plenty of space for me at 189cm to sit behind my driving position and headroom is excellent in both.

Entering and exiting the Mustang Mach-E GT is easier due it’s more traditional SUV shape with tall doors and elevated ride height. The EV6 GT is almost 10cm lower overall and I hit my head swinging into the back seat while doing my legroom test.

Both cars have directional air vents in the second row, cupholders, door pockets and USB ports.

Talking of power outlets, only the EV6 GT has a vehicle-to-load (V2L) power outlet which will take a regular household appliance plug.

It’s a tough call as to which is more practical, and while the Kia has the versatile V2L and plenty of space, the Mustang's front boot and ease of entry and exit makes it the winner here.   

 

Ford Mustang Mach-E GT

Kia EV6 GT

Seats

5

5

Boot capacity (five seats up)

402L

480L

Frunk capacity

134L

20L

Wireless phone charging

Yes

Yes

USB Ports

4

5

V2L socket

0

1

 

Ford Mustang Mach-E GT

Kia EV6 GT

8

7

Price and features

Audi Q5

The fact that you could get a classy SUV like the Audi Q5 for as little as $73,400 was certainly showroom bait, but that’s about to change when the new line-up arrives in the third quarter of 2025, because the entry-level Q5 35TDI will disappear from the range. 

That means the Q5 will start at the 40TDI Quattro Sport level, currently priced at $87,000 before on-road costs for the outgoing version, with its 2.0-litre diesel MHEV setup. As entry prices go, that’s quite the jump upstream, but on the plus side, while Audi hasn’t announced official pricing for new Q5 yet, the word is that there shouldn’t be much of a rise anywhere in the range (I'd read that as, there will be a price rise, but it will be small). You’ll no doubt hear the phrase “new car, more equipment, (almost the) same price” from Audi.

If you don’t want a diesel, you’ll likely be paying around $88,315 for the entry-level 2.0-litre petrol model, the 45TFSI Sport MHEV with front-wheel drive only, or $96,515 for the 45TFSI Quattro S Line.

The step up to the 55TFSI will take you north of six figures, probably by about $5k, while the range-topping Audi SQ5 will make a welcome and somewhat surprising addition to the line-up, powered by a properly noisy and exciting 3.0-litre V6 and most likely priced somewhere around $125,000, depending on spec level.

As I say, there are no confirmed prices yet so these numbers might creep higher by the time the car actually goes on sale locally, but the word is that any increases will be almost too small to notice.

The uncertainty makes it a little hard to be definitive on the value equation, but we can say that the new Q5 feels a level up inside and a lot posher, particularly with is giant multi-screen dash layout, so if the prices to stay stable you really will feel like you’re getting more car for the same money. 

In terms of spec and trim levels, we will have to wait and see until the local variants are launched.

What we know will be standard inclusions are things like the standard acoustic glazing on the windscreen, for a quieter cabin, the Dynamic Interaction Light, which runs from the doors through the dashboards and creates a very cool look at night, as do the new three-dimensional rear lights. The individually configurable, and beautifully clean and clear head-up display, with augmented reality features, should also be standard, but we shall see.


Kia EV6

Electric cars are more expensive than their petrol counterparts and generally will be until the cost of EV batteries comes down. This is what drives the manufacturing price up with the extra cost passed onto the consumer. But the good news is the price is coming down. 

That news doesn’t really help you much here because the Kia EV6 GT has come down in price and lists for $99,590, before on-road costs. Still, that’s less than the Ford Mustang Mach-E GT which lists for $104,990.

The EV6 GT and Mustang Mach-E GT sit at the top of their respective ranges and have large batteries. That’s the reason for the $100K MSRP. They both come with a lot of equipment and you can see a side-by-side comparison of their standard features in the table below.

What stands out is the lack of powered front seats in the EV6 GT, and also the absence of leather upholstery in both cars.

Both still come with heated seats, excellent sound systems and sunroofs - although the Mustang Mach-E’s is a large panoramic glass version, while the Kia’s is smaller and opens.

The EV6 GT’s head-up display is brilliant, while the Mustang Mach-E doesn’t have one.

The Mustang comes with 20-inch alloys which offer a better ride than the EV6 GT’s 21-inch alloys - but more on that in the driving section further down.    

 

Ford Mustang Mach-E GT

Kia EV6 GT

MSRP

$104,990

$99,590

Media Display

15.2-inch

12.3-inch 

Instrument cluster

10.2-inch

12.3-inch

Head-up display

No

Yes

Climate control

Dual-zone

dual-zone

Auto parking

Yes - in-car

Yes - remote

Keyless entry/push start

Yes

Yes

Sound system

B&O 10 speakers

Meridian - 14 speakers

Sat nav

Yes

Yes

Sunroof

Panoramic

Slide opening

Privacy glass

Rear side

Rear side

Upholstery

Artificial leather

Artificial leather

Seats

Front: Powered/heated

Front: heated; Rear: heated

Wheel size

20-inch alloys

21-inch

LED Headlights

Yes

Yes

 

Ford Mustang Mach-E GT

Kia EV6 GT

7

8

Under the bonnet

Audi Q5

Does it seem strange to anyone else that a company so focused on reducing emissions through promoting EVs is still offering diesel engines? The reason, of course, is that so many Europeans still want them, because fuel is so damn expensive there, and yet Audi Australia says it will also offer them here.

That's where the range now starts, with the TDI diesel version coming standard with all-wheel drive, or Quattro, with outputs of 150kW/400Nm. Like every car in the new Q5 range, it uses a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, which is excellent.

Every Q5 also uses MHEV technology to reduce emissions and increase performance, which means it gets a 48-volt electrical system to support its combustion engines. This system means you start up, in most conditions, in silent electric mode, and you can even manoeuvre and park the car using only electricity, most of the time.

The electrical system is connected to a Powertrain Generator which provides additional torque of up to 230Nm, and a mere 18kW of extra power. Every little bit helps I guess.

Basically, it's a mild hybrid, meaning you get a mild amount of help, and the full plug-in hybrid Q5s are coming soon. Later this year.

Stepping up from the diesel you can have a 2.0-litre TFSI four-cylinder petrol engine, with either front or Quattro all-wheel drive and making 150kW/340Nm.

The range-topping all-wheel-drive SQ5 gets a very enjoyable 3.0-litre six-cylinder TFSI petrol engine with 270kW and 550Nm. It feels like more kilowatts, honestly.


Kia EV6

Electric motors make massive amounts of power and torque but the outputs of the Mustang Mach E GT and EV6 GT are beyond 'normal' EVs.

The EV6 GT has a motor driving the rear wheels and another driving the front ones. Together they have a combined output of 430kW and 740Nm with 0-100km/h coming in a brutal 3.5 seconds. That is seriously quick and unnecessary and I love it.

The Mustang Mach E GT also has all-wheel drive thanks to a motor at the front and at the rear but together they make a whopping 358kW and 860Nm, although at 100kg heavier it’s a tad slower to 100km/h with a time of 3.7 seconds. Still these times are quicker than almost any production car from the early 1990s.

Who wins here? I’m calling it evenly matched.

 

Ford Mustang Mach-E GT

Kia EV6 GT

Combined motor output

358kW/860Nm

430kW/740Nm

Drive wheels

AWD

AWD

0-100km/h 

3.7 seconds

3.5 seconds

 

Ford Mustang Mach-E GT

Kia EV6 GT

9

9

Efficiency

Audi Q5

The MHEV technology is supposed to provide some boost to fuel economy but the figures aren't super exciting. You'll be getting a claimed 5.9 litres per 100km from the 2.0 TDI diesel, or 6.5L/100km from the 2.0 TFSI petrol.

The V6 is going to cost you more at the pump with a claimed figure of 8.1 litres per 100km. You might want to wait for the PHEVs.


Kia EV6

There’s so much to tell you here and the table below will help with understanding the capacities, ranges and consumption of the EV6 GT and Mustang Mach-E GT.

The Mustang Mach-E GT has the larger battery and the longer range, but the EV6 GT’s battery has a much faster DC charging rate.

The Kia can make full use of a 350kW fast charger while the Mach-E can’t accept more than 150kW.  You can see the charging times in the table.

Energy efficiency is crucial to an EV’s range and in our test we filled the batteries of the Mustang Mach-E GT and EV6 GT to 100 per cent and drove a 180km route made up of CBD traffic, motorways, suburban streets and country roads.  

At the end of the trip we found both used almost exactly the same amount of electricity at nearly the same rate. The difference being the Mustang had more projected range left because its battery is larger.  

Who wins? Well, this is really about energy efficiency and we found that both were a good match for electricity consumption. So, let’s call it a tie. You could argue the Mustang Mach-E GT has more range, but the rebuttal would be the EV6 GT’s super-fast charging time. 

 

Ford Mustang Mach-E GT

Kia EV6 GT

Battery capacity 

91kWh

77.4kWh

Estimated range

490km

424km

Max DC charging speed

150kW

350kW

DC 10-80 percent charge time

45 minutes

18 minutes

Max AC charging speed

10.5kW

10.5kW

Official combined consumption

21.2kWh/100km

20.6kWh/100km

Distance (energy test))

176.5km

178.0km

Electricity used

32.6kWh

32.18

As tested combined consumption

18.5kWh/100km

18.1kWh/100km

 

Ford Mustang Mach-E GT

Kia EV6 GT

8

8

Driving

Audi Q5

While the new Q5 might feel classier, techier and generally more expensive and Q7/Q8-like on the inside, it's pulled off an even more impressive feat in the chassis department, which no doubt owes a lot to the entirely new PPC platform, because it feels more like a powerful Q3 to drive than the Q5 of old.

That's not a comment on interior or load space, it's just that it feels smaller and more spritely on the road. It turns in better, holds its line better and resists gentle understeer right up to the point where you wonder whether your co-driver has lost his mind or is trying to kill you both.

Seriously, the SQ5 can properly get up and boogie in Sport mode (Audi says one of the things it's proudest of with the new car is how much more noticeable the range of difference is between the relaxed, or 'Balanced' and 'Comfort', modes and the more aggressive ones) and you really have to be going beyond sensible to find the edge of grip.

The SQ5's V6 also makes the kind of noises that now sound weirdly wonderful in an Audi, when so many of the new offerings are electric. Choose to shift the gears yourself and this can be a properly involving machine, and quite impressive for an SUV.

What separates it from the kid of fun you could have in its cousin, the previous Porsche Macan with petrol power, is the steering. It's not terrible, and it is sharp, but it just lacks a bit in the feel and muscle department. Being generous you'd say it's easy to drive but you just know that if this had an R badge the steering would be so much better, and closer to Porsche and BMW.

The diesel TDI model does not make glorious noises, and the whines and groans it does make - which seem loud by Audi standards, it's usually very good at quietening its diesels down - do not encourage you to shift gears yourself or drive it in a sporty fashion. It is a workhorse variant, with plenty of torque, and for a certain kind of customer who cares not for sportiness or excitement I'm sure it's a fine option.

One thing I did not expect to be doing on an Audi Q5 launch is clambering up and over a rock strewn mountain on properly rutted and rough gravel tracks, but that was an option here so I took the 2.0 TFSI on the optional off-road adventure and I must say I was both surprised and impressed.

The Q5 is not a mountain goat, or a Land Rover, but despite feeling like I was doing the gardening in a shiny suit, I managed to traverse a track that felt too serious and intense for a soft roader, and did so with ease and in comfort. The air suspension raises the Q5 a full 45mm in Off-road mode, so ground clearance was no problem - nor did I encounter any boulders - but the way the Quattro system dealt with the dirty stuff was impressive.

Overall, I can see that this TFSI model is the sweet spot in the range in terms of value and performance, and it really is all the Q5 you could need. It never feels underpowered, unless you've just stepped out of the SQ5, and you get all the benefits of the chassis and handling upgrades.

Personally, though, I'd have the SQ5 just for the rorty V6 noises alone. It feels like something new, but also the end of something wonderful.


Kia EV6

The way these SUVs feel to drive is as different as their looks. The Mustang Mach-E GT feels more suited to daily driving while the EV6 GT is our pick for the race circuit or sporty blasts on nice country roads with plenty of twists and turns.

Both have drive modes ranging from the hardcore 'Untame' in the Mach-E and 'Sport+' in the EV6 GT to the calmer 'Whisper' and 'Normal' modes in Ford and Kia, respectively. 

Adjustable suspension in both firms up the ride for better handling and softens it for a more comfortable setting.

The Mustang Mach-E has the more comfortable ride overall compared to the EV6 GT which is very firm in its Sport+ drive mode but still overly hard in the Normal setting thanks to the big wheels and low-profile tyres. That said, the Mach-E GT is prone to jiggling too much over minor bumps.

The EV6 GT and Mustang Mach E GT can accelerate incredibly fast and while it's fun, the ability to move quickly is useful in overtaking and at intersections without traffic lights. 

Neither the EV6 GT not Mach-E GT offer exceptional ride comfort but the Mustang delivers a better all around driving experience with good visibility, a more elevated driving height and supportive seats.

Ford Mustang Mach-E GT

Kia EV6 GT

8

8

Safety

Audi Q5

Obviously the new Audi Q5 has not been crash tested yet but Audi is confident of yet another five-star ANCAP rating, like the one the current car holds .

The new vehicle features more than 30 active-safety measures, which is literally too many to mention and takes advantage of its many, many radars. One gets the feeling this car could just about drive itself if the law would allow. Some inclusions are a rear parking aid with distance display, cruise control with speed limiter, lane departure warning and an attention and drowsiness assistant, all as standard.

Things like Active Front Assist, Evasion Assist, Turn Assist and Rear Turn Assist are likely to be part of options packages, but that's all still TBA.

There will also be twin ISOFIX anchor points, and top-tether points for child seats.


Kia EV6

The Mustang Mach-E GT and the EV6 GT have been awarded the maximum five star ANCAP rating but the Kia was tested more recently under 2022 criteria.

Both cars have ISOFIX points for child seats in the outside rear seats, while there are three top tether anchor mounts in the second row, too. The table below compares their advanced safety tech. 

 

Ford Mustang Mach-E GT

Kia EV6 GT

ANCAP rating

5 (2021)

5 (2022)

AEB

Pedestrian, vehicle, cyclist

Pedestrian, vehicle, cyclist

Lane Keeping Assist

Yes

Yes

Blind Spot Warning

Yes

Yes

Rear Cross Traffic Alert

Yes with braking

Yes with braking

Airbags

7 (no centre airbag)

6 (no centre airbag)

 

Ford Mustang Mach-E GT

Kia EV6 GT

9

9

Ownership

Audi Q5

All Audis are now covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, up from its recent offering of three years, which is better, but could be better still.

There's no news on what servicing arrangements will be because the new Q5 doesn't lob until Q3, but in general the brand will let you prepay your services, required annually, for the first five years, with the regular Q5 currently billed at $3140 and the SQ5 billed at $3170.


Kia EV6

The final piece of this comparison puzzle is the ownership costs. The table below highlights the difference in what you’ll pay to service with the Mustang Mach-E GT proving to be the more affordable. 

The Kia comes with a longer warranty, although Ford’s battery coverage duration is better.

The Mustang Mach-E GT wins here for its more affordable capped price servicing.

 

Ford Mustang Mach-E GT

Kia EV6 GT

Warranty

Five-year/unlimited km

Seven-year/unlimited km

Servicing cost total over five years

$780

$1561

Service interval

12 months/15,000km

12 months/15,000km

High-voltage battery warranty

Eight-years/160,000km

Seven-years/150,000km

 

Ford Mustang Mach-E GT

Kia EV6 GT

8

7