Audi SQ5 Sportback vs Volkswagen Touareg
A detailed look at how two of Australia's most popular SUVs compare on price, running costs, safety, and everyday livability.
Audi SQ5 Sportback scores higher, 73 vs 68
Prices are RRP before on-road costs unless stated otherwise. Always confirm with the manufacturer or dealer before purchasing.
Data checked: specs 28 Oct 2026, price 15 Jul 2026
Audi SQ5 Sportback
17 of 27 standard · no option data · 10 no dataFrom
$109,900
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Petrol
- Engine
- Petrol MHEV
- Power
- 270kW
- Economy
- 7.6 L/100km
- Safety
- ANCAP ★5 · 2025
- Boot (seats up)
- 515L
Top CarSorted Score, 73 vs 68, but the Volkswagen Touareg is $23,110 cheaper
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Volkswagen Touareg
21 of 27 standard · 3 optional · 1 not offered · 2 no dataFrom
$86,790
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Diesel
- Engine
- Diesel
- Power
- 170kW
- Economy
- 7.6 L/100km
- Safety
- Not rated by ANCAP
- Boot (seats up)
- 810L
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
$109,900RRP
- no option data for this car
$86,790RRP
- with the Audi SQ5 Sportback's standard kit: $86,790 (nothing to add; 1 with no data, not charged)
Printed option prices only. A pack is counted once and makes the figure a floor when it carries no printed price. Nothing is inferred from the other car.
Price and cost per week
Audi SQ5 Sportback edition one
$109,900
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 15 July 2026
No published drive-away price on our record.
About $485 a week in repayments ($109,900 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
Volkswagen Touareg 170TDI
$86,790
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 24 June 2026
No published drive-away price on our record.
About $378 a week in repayments ($86,790 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
The Volkswagen Touareg starts $23,110 lower on RRP.
On-road costs (stamp duty, registration, CTP and dealer delivery) depend on your state and the dealer; ask for a written drive-away price before you sign.
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Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$378/wk(≈$1,639/mo)
Estimate on the Volkswagen Touareg at $86,790 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Paid from pre-tax salary with the running costs inside the lease. What it comes to depends on your salary and the term.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the Audi SQ5 SportbackDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Safety Rundown
ANCAP's published record does not give the Volkswagen Touareg a rating. With no pair of ratings to compare, the active-safety features in the spec table above are the fairer comparison.
Driver assistance, as the manufacturer lists it
Driver assistance, system by system. We can confirm 6 of 10 key systems on the Audi SQ5 Sportback and 8 on the Volkswagen Touareg.
Swipe across. Tap a feature to see what it does and each car's source.
StandardOptional: printed price, +pack or NCO (no-cost)No, not offeredNo dataCounts beside each car use the same colours; ? is no option data.
From each manufacturer's Australian equipment list. No data means that car's document does not say. The drawings are our own illustrations of how each kind of system works.
Recalls on our record
Audi SQ5 Sportback
None open on our record
Volkswagen Touareg
- REC-006525 · published 8 Jan 2026Due to a manufacturing issue, the cell modules installed in the high voltage battery may be defective and overheat during charging.Year range on the notice: 2020 - 2024
- REC-004990 · published 4 Nov 2021If the tailgate is opened and manually pushed up too far the pre-compressed coil springs may become detached from the boot strut and detach with great force from the mounting.Year range on the notice: 2019
- REC-001677 · published 23 Jul 2021Some nuts fitted to the rear axle assembly did not meet manufacturing specifications and may break.Year range on the notice: 2021
- 3 more on the model page.
A recall covers the builds its notice lists, not every car of a model. Check your VIN at vehiclerecalls.gov.au.
Feature Showdown
The Audi SQ5 Sportback features a 14.5-inch touchscreen paired with a 11.9-inch digital dash, while the Volkswagen Touareg gets a 15-inch display and 12.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.
The Audi SQ5 Sportback stands out with Apple CarPlay and Bang & Olufsen audio — features our data doesn't list for the Volkswagen Touareg. The Volkswagen Touareg counters with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and wireless charging. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.
Equipment few rivals have, on either carShowHide
Drivetrain
The Audi SQ5 Sportback uses a Petrol MHEV producing 270kW and 550Nm of torque, sent through a 7-speed s tronic to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 4.5 seconds.
The Volkswagen Touareg responds with a Diesel making 170kW and 500Nm, paired to a auto driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 8 seconds.
The Audi SQ5 Sportback has the clear power advantage at 270kW vs 170kW. In the 0-100 sprint (manufacturer-claimed), the Audi SQ5 Sportback is 3.5s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Space & Comfort
The Audi SQ5 Sportback measures 4,717mm long on a 2,820mm wheelbase, 172mm shorter than the Volkswagen Touareg at 4,889mm (2,894mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Volkswagen Touareg generally means more rear legroom.
Boot space is 515L in the Audi SQ5 Sportback and 810L in the Volkswagen Touareg, giving the Volkswagen Touareg a 295L advantage.
For towing, the Volkswagen Touareg leads with a 3,500kg braked capacity vs 2,000kg. That 1,500kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.
Neither U-turns in one sweep on a 7 m local street (both need a three-point turn); the Audi SQ5 Sportback's turning circle is 0.2 m tighter, 11.8 m against 12.0 m kerb to kerb. The street estimate is indicative, worked from the published turning circles.
Cost to own
At 15,000 km a year, fuel for the Audi SQ5 Sportback costs about $2,166 a year (7.6 L/100km) and fuel for the Volkswagen Touareg about $2,166 a year (7.6 L/100km), at $1.90 a litre and 32c a kWh.
Warranty: 5 years / Unlimited (Audi SQ5 Sportback) and 5 years / Unlimited (Volkswagen Touareg).
Where each one leads
The Audi SQ5 Sportback: more power (270kW against 170kW).
The Volkswagen Touareg: the lower starting price ($86,790 against $109,900), the bigger boot with the seats up (810L against 515L) and the higher braked towing limit (3,500kg against 2,000kg).
The Verdict
Audi SQ5 Sportback scores higher, 73 vs 68
The Audi SQ5 Sportback scores 73 to the Volkswagen Touareg's 68 on the CarSorted Score, and leads 2 of the 5 spec rows that separate them. The biggest gaps: safety (Audi SQ5 Sportback ahead by 31 points), practicality (Volkswagen Touareg ahead by 25 points), performance (Audi SQ5 Sportback ahead by 24 points). Boot space with the seats up: 515L in the Audi SQ5 Sportback, 810L in the Volkswagen Touareg.
Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$378/wk(≈$1,639/mo)
Estimate on the Volkswagen Touareg at $86,790 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Paid from pre-tax salary with the running costs inside the lease. What it comes to depends on your salary and the term.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the Audi SQ5 SportbackDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Common questions
Which is cheapest, Audi SQ5 Sportback and Volkswagen Touareg?
The Volkswagen Touareg is the cheapest at $86,790 before on-road costs. That undercuts the Audi SQ5 Sportback by $23,110.
What are the ANCAP safety ratings?
Audi SQ5 Sportback holds a 5-star ANCAP rating (tested 2025). ANCAP's published record does not give a rating to Volkswagen Touareg, so there is nothing to compare on crash performance. Compare the active-safety features above instead.
Which has the most boot space?
The Volkswagen Touareg has the largest boot at 810L with the seats up.
Which can tow the most?
The Volkswagen Touareg has the highest braked towing capacity at 3,500kg.
Which is the most powerful?
The Audi SQ5 Sportback makes the most power at 270kW. The Audi SQ5 Sportback is quickest to 100km/h in 4.5s.
Track the Audi SQ5 Sportback & Volkswagen Touareg
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How to read this page. Prices, specifications, ANCAP ratings, warranty, the CarSorted Score and the verdict come from our records for the grades shown, sourced from the manufacturers' Australian documents, and change when those records change; the date each was last checked is printed under the headline. Prices are recommended retail prices before on-road costs unless marked drive-away. A plug-in hybrid's fuel figure is labelled with its basis: with a full battery (the certified combined figure) or as a hybrid (battery depleted). Charging and running costs are estimates on the stated assumptions. Always confirm price and specification with the manufacturer or dealer before you buy. CarSorted does not accept payment for recommendations.
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