Hyundai Palisade vs Audi Q5 Sportback
A detailed look at how two of Australia's most popular SUVs compare on price, running costs, safety, and everyday livability.
Specifications and pricing correct at time of publishing. Prices are RRP before on-road costs unless stated otherwise. Always confirm with the manufacturer or dealer before purchasing.
Price Breakdown
The Hyundai Palisade starts from $66,800 before on-road costs, while the Audi Q5 Sportback opens at $83,592. That makes the Hyundai Palisade the more affordable entry point by $16,792.
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 $73,480 and $91,951 respectively.
Over 5 years, the running costs favour the Audi Q5 Sportback by roughly $6,840 in fuel alone.
Safety Rundown
ANCAP safety ratings have not been published for both models yet. We will update this section when crash test results are available.
Feature Showdown
Both come with modern infotainment systems.
The Audi Q5 Sportback counters with Apple CarPlay, heated front seats and power tailgate that the Hyundai Palisade does not offer. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.
Drivetrain
The Hyundai Palisade uses a Petrol producing 217kW and 355Nm of torque, sent through a 8-speed auto to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 8.9 seconds.
The Audi Q5 Sportback responds with a Petrol MHEV making 150kW and 340Nm, paired to a 7-speed s tronic driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 8.6 seconds.
The Hyundai Palisade has the clear power advantage at 217kW vs 150kW. In the real-world sprint, the Audi Q5 Sportback is 0.3s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Space & Comfort
The Hyundai Palisade measures 4,995mm long on a 2,900mm wheelbase, 278mm longer than the Audi Q5 Sportback at 4,717mm.
For towing, the Hyundai Palisade leads with a 2,200kg braked capacity vs 2,000kg. That 200kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.
True Cost to Own
Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $2,993/year for the Hyundai Palisade and $1,625/year for the Audi Q5 Sportback. That is a $1,368 annual difference in favour of the Audi Q5 Sportback.
Estimated annual total: $2,993 (Hyundai Palisade) vs $1,625 (Audi Q5 Sportback). The Audi Q5 Sportback saves you roughly $1,368 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.
Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (Hyundai Palisade) vs 5 years (Audi Q5 Sportback). Both match on warranty length.
Who Should Buy Which?
Buy the Hyundai Palisade if: You want the lower entry price, prioritise performance, need stronger towing, or prefer Hyundai's approach to design and ownership experience.
Buy the Audi Q5 Sportback if: You want lower running costs, or prefer Audi's approach to design and ownership experience.
The Verdict
The Hyundai Palisade takes 3 of 5 key spec categories and comes in at a lower price. The Audi Q5 Sportback will save you roughly $1,368 a year in fuel. The best pick depends on what you value most. Explore the full specs for each model below.
Common questions
Which is cheapest, Hyundai Palisade and Audi Q5 Sportback?
The Hyundai Palisade is the cheapest at $66,800 before on-road costs. That undercuts the Audi Q5 Sportback by $16,792.
Which is the most fuel-efficient?
The Audi Q5 Sportback uses the least fuel at 5.7L/100km on the combined cycle.
Which is safest?
They are evenly matched — Hyundai Palisade all hold a 5-star ANCAP rating. Compare the active-safety features above to separate them.
Which can tow the most?
The Hyundai Palisade has the highest braked towing capacity at 2,200kg.
Which is the most powerful?
The Hyundai Palisade makes the most power at 217kW. The Audi Q5 Sportback is quickest to 100km/h in 8.6s.
Disclaimer: All information in this comparison was believed to be correct at the time of publishing (20 April 2026). Prices are manufacturer recommended retail prices (RRP) and may vary by state, dealer, and options. Driveaway costs include estimated on-road costs for Victoria. Fuel economy figures are WLTP/ADR combined cycle. Specifications can change without notice. Always verify with the manufacturer before making a purchase decision. CarSorted does not accept payment for recommendations.
Auto-generated from CarSorted's specification data · 20 April 2026
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