Skip to main content

Audi Q5, Q7 Ace Government Crash Tests

img 469180368 1475254804819 jpg 2018 Audi Q5 | Manufacturer image

CARS.COM — Audi’s Q7 and Q5 earned the top overall crash-test ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for the 2018 model year. Both SUVs garnered an overall five-star rating (the maximum possible) in NHTSA’s frontal, side-impact and rollover tests.

Related: 2019 Audi A8 Video

The Q7 earned five stars in NHTSA’s side-impact tests and four stars in the agency’s front-impact and rollover evaluations. It’s the first time NHTSA has rated the current-generation Q7, which arrived in early 2016 as a 2017 model-year redesign. The Q5, which Audi redesigned for 2018, received five stars in NHTSA’s frontal and side-impact tests; it got four stars in the rollover evaluation.

Shop the 2018 Audi Q5 near you

Used
2018 Audi Q5 2.0T Premium Plus
88,459 mi.
$16,966 $254 price drop
Used
2018 Audi Q5 2.0T Premium Plus
85,315 mi.
$17,999

Both SUVs garnered top scores from NHTSA’s crash-test counterpart, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, in all but two categories. The 2018 Q5 and 2017 Q7 earned the institute’s 2017 Top Safety Pick designation (though not the best-possible Plus award). Given IIHS’ tougher award criteria for 2018 — which require, at minimum, better headlight performance than either SUV earned — those designations won’t carry into the new year, barring changes from Audi.

Versus competitors, the Q5 is in safe company. The 2017 versions of the 2017 Acura RDX and Lexus NX 200t both earned five stars from NHTSA, while the 2017 Lincoln MKC received only four stars. The Q7, meanwhile, measures up to stiff model-year 2017 competition as the Acura MDX, BMW X5, Buick Enclave and Infiniti QX60 all received five stars, while the Volvo XC90 earned the top score for both the 2017 and 2018 model years.

Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.

Assistant Managing Editor-News
Kelsey Mays

Former Assistant Managing Editor-News Kelsey Mays likes quality, reliability, safety and practicality. But he also likes a fair price.

Featured stories

best used cars under 20K jpg
should you buy your lease jpg
ford bronco sport 2025 05 exterior front angle jpg