New Lexus NX vs Audi Q5: practicality

We know Lexus’s new NX is a big improvement on its predecessor, but can it beat one of the best plug-in hybrid SUVs around: the Audi Q5 50 TFSIe?...

New Lexus NX rear space

Space and practicality

Front space, rear space, seating flexibility, boot

These are sizeable SUVs, so you wouldn’t expect to have any issues with carrying yourself and a few passengers around. And you won’t – unless you’re hoping for a third row of seats. If you want a plug-in hybrid that can move more than five people in one go, try the seven-seat Hyundai Santa Fe PHEV or Volvo XC90 Recharge T8.

That said, taller rear passengers will prefer to travel in the Lexus NX. This is mainly due to its extra knee room, but also because of its more comfortable seats. You can recline the rear seatbacks in both cars, but the Audi Q5’s rear seats can also be slid forwards on their runners, reducing leg room further but freeing up extra space in the boot.

Audi Q5 rear space

That’s a useful feature, but with the seatbacks set to their default position, there isn’t a lot in it for boot space. Seven carry-on suitcases can fit below the load covers of both cars, with the NX edging it for boot length, width and height. It also has underfloor storage for charging cables and the load cover, something you won’t find in the Q5.

You can fold the rear seats down in both cars if you need to carry more clutter, with the seatbacks in the Q5 splitting in a slightly more flexible 40/20/40 arrangement than the NX’s 60/40 split.


Boot space

Lexus NX

New Lexus NX boot

Boot 545-1436 litres Suitcases 7


Audi Q5

Audi Q5 boot

Boot 465-1405 litres Suitcases 7


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