The Honda Passport has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The new Q5 Sportback doesn't offer knee airbags.

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Passport deploy with different levels of force or don't deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Passport's side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The new Q5 Sportback's side airbags don't have smart features and will always deploy full force.

The Honda Passport TrailSport Elite's Multi-View Camera System is available with washers for its front and rear cameras, ensuring crystal-clear visibility in any weather condition. Conversely, the Audi new Q5 Sportback only offers a rear camera washer, which may not provide the same level of all-weather performance.

Both the Passport and the new Q5 Sportback have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

Honda's powertrain warranty covers the Passport 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Audi covers the new Q5 Sportback. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the new Q5 Sportback ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 3 times as many Honda dealers as there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Passport's warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Passport second among midsize suvs in their 2025 Initial Quality Study. The new Q5 Sportback isn't in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates' 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Honda vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Honda above average in initial quality. With 90 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates' 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Honda above average in long-term dependability. With 1 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Audi is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports' March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda fourth in overall reliability. Audi is ranked 7th.

The Passport's 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 17 more horsepower (285 vs. 268) than the new Q5 Sportback's 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine's cylinders helps improve the Passport's fuel efficiency. The new Q5 Sportback doesn't offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Honda Passport uses regular unleaded gasoline. The new Q5 Sportback requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Passport has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the new Q5 Sportback (18.5 vs. 17.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Passport has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it's removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The new Q5 Sportback doesn't offer a cap-less fueling system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Honda Passport higher (7 out of 10) than the Audi new Q5 Sportback (6). This means the Passport produces up to 1.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the new Q5 Sportback every 15,000 miles.

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Honda Passport, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the new Q5 Sportback.

For better stopping power the Passport's brake rotors are larger than those on the new Q5 Sportback:

For better traction, the Passport has larger standard tires than the new Q5 Sportback (265/60R18 vs. 235/55R19). The Passport TrailSport's tires are larger than the largest tires available on the new Q5 Sportback (275/60R18 vs. 255/45R20).

The Passport has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle's integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The new Q5 Sportback doesn't offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Passport offers an optional full size spare tire so a flat doesn't interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn't available on the new Q5 Sportback; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Passport's wheelbase is 2.7 inches longer than on the new Q5 Sportback (113.6 inches vs. 110.9 inches).

The front grille of the Passport uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The new Q5 Sportback doesn't offer active grille shutters.

The Passport has 2.5 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more front legroom, 4.2 inches more front shoulder room, 2.8 inches more rear headroom, 2.9 inches more rear legroom and 5.8 inches more rear shoulder room than the new Q5 Sportback.

The Passport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the new Q5 Sportback with its rear seat up (44 vs. 25.4 cubic feet). The Passport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the new Q5 Sportback with its rear seat folded (83.8 vs. 53.1 cubic feet).

The Passport's standard towing capacity is much higher than the new Q5 Sportback's (5000 vs. 4400 pounds).

Standard Trailer Stability Assist on the Passport uses the Vehicle Stability Assist sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The new Q5 Sportback doesn't offer electronic trailer sway control.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Honda service is better than Audi. J.D. Power ranks Honda 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 11% lower rating, Audi is ranked 18th.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Passport has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the new Q5 Sportback only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn't as good.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don't exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Passport's headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the new Q5 Sportback's headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

The Passport TrailSport has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The new Q5 Sportback doesn't offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Honda Passport, based on reliability, safety and performance.