Compare the2026 Lincoln NautilusVS 2025 Audi new Q5 Sportback

The Lincoln Nautilus 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.

Both the Nautilus 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, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

The Lincoln Nautilus has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The new Q5 Sportback has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2025.

Lincoln’s powertrain warranty covers the Nautilus 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Audi covers the new Q5 Sportback. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the new Q5 Sportback ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 55 percent more Lincoln dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Nautilus’ warranty.

The Nautilus has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The new Q5 Sportback doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lincoln vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 63 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Lincoln higher than Audi.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Lincoln vehicles are more reliable than Audi With 52 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Lincoln higher than Audi.

The Nautilus’ optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 17 more horsepower (285 vs. 268) than the new Q5 Sportback’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the Nautilus 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder Hybrid CVT gets better fuel mileage than the new Q5 Sportback (29 city/31 hwy vs. 22 city/30 hwy).

The Nautilus has 2.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the new Q5 Sportback (19.8 vs. 17.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Nautilus 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.

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Lincoln Nautilus, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the new Q5 Sportback.

The Nautilus has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The new Q5 Sportback doesn’t offer a CVT.

For better stopping power the Nautilus’ front brake rotors are larger than those on the new Q5 Sportback:

For better traction, the Nautilus has larger tires than the new Q5 Sportback (255/60R19 vs. 235/55R19).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Nautilus offers optional 22-inch wheels. The new Q5 Sportback’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The Nautilus offers an optional space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire 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.

The Nautilus’ drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The new Q5 Sportback doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Nautilus’ wheelbase is 3.3 inches longer than on the new Q5 Sportback (114.2 inches vs. 110.9 inches).

For better maneuverability, the Nautilus’ turning circle is 1.2 feet tighter than the new Q5 Sportback’s (37.5 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

The Nautilus uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The new Q5 Sportback doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Nautilus has 1.6 inches more front headroom, 2.6 inches more front legroom, 1.2 inches more front shoulder room, 1.9 inches more rear headroom, 5.1 inches more rear legroom and 2.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the new Q5 Sportback.

The Nautilus has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the new Q5 Sportback with its rear seat up (36.4 vs. 25.4 cubic feet). The Nautilus has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the new Q5 Sportback with its rear seat folded (71.3 vs. 53.1 cubic feet).

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Nautilus uses the AdvanceTrac® 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.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Nautilus’ exterior PIN entry system. The new Q5 Sportback doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Nautilus 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 Nautilus has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the new Q5 Sportback.

The Nautilus (except Premiere) offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the new Q5 Sportback.

The Nautilus’ standard oscillating air vents move back and forth and distribute air evenly inside the vehicle, making everyone more comfortable. The new Q5 Sportback doesn’t offer oscillating vents.

The Nautilus offers an optional 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.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Nautilus first among midsize premium suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The new Q5 Sportback isn’t in the top three.

Motor Trend selected the Nautilus as their 2025 Sport Utility of the Year. The new Q5 Sportback has never been chosen.