Audi Q5 vs Land Rover Defender 130

The Audi Q5 starts from $80,900 before on-road costs, while the Land Rover Defender 130 opens at $114,500. That makes the Audi Q5 the more affordable entry point by $33,600.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $88,990 and $125,950 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the Audi Q5 by roughly $3,420 in fuel alone.

Both the Audi Q5 and Land Rover Defender 130 hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 85% for the Audi Q5 and 85% for the Land Rover Defender 130.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The Audi Q5 packs more ADAS features with 9 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 7 in the Land Rover Defender 130.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 7 in the Audi Q5 and 6 in the Land Rover Defender 130.

The Audi Q5 features a 14.5-inch touchscreen paired with a 11.9-inch digital dash, while the Land Rover Defender 130 gets a 13.1-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Audi Q5 stands out with power tailgate and Bang & Olufsen audio that you will not find on the Land Rover Defender 130. The Land Rover Defender 130 counters with wireless charging, heated front seats and Meridian audio. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the Audi Q5 gets leather upholstery while the Land Rover Defender 130 offers synthetic leather.

The Audi Q5 uses a 4-cylinder inline petrol with turbocharging and MHEV plus technology producing 150kW and 340Nm of torque, sent through a 7-speed s tronic to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 8.6 seconds.

The Land Rover Defender 130 responds with a 3.0 i6 D350 Diesel Mild Hybrid making 257kW and 700Nm, paired to a 8-speed automatic driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 6.8 seconds.

The Land Rover Defender 130 has the clear power advantage at 257kW vs 150kW. In the real-world sprint, the Land Rover Defender 130 is 1.8s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Audi Q5 measures 4,717mm long on a 2,820mm wheelbase, 382mm shorter than the Land Rover Defender 130 at 5,099mm (3,587mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Land Rover Defender 130 generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 520L in the Audi Q5 and 389L in the Land Rover Defender 130, giving the Audi Q5 a 131L advantage. The Land Rover Defender 130 seats 7 vs 5.

For towing, the Land Rover Defender 130 leads with a 3,000kg braked capacity vs 2,000kg. That 1,000kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $1,625/year for the Audi Q5 and $2,309/year for the Land Rover Defender 130. That is a $684 annual difference in favour of the Audi Q5.

Estimated annual total: $1,625 (Audi Q5) vs $2,309 (Land Rover Defender 130). The Audi Q5 saves you roughly $684 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (Audi Q5) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Land Rover Defender 130). Both match on warranty length. Capped-price servicing: 5yr (Audi Q5)—.