Mazda CX-3 vs Audi Q5
What's the difference?

Mazda CX-3

$30,670 - $39,190

2026 price

View pricing & specs

Audi Q5

$82,500 - $100,400

2026 price

View pricing & specs

Chery Tiggo 8 PRO MAX

Land Rover Discovery Sport

Mercedes-Benz G-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class

Mini Countryman

Mitsubishi ASX

Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross

Mitsubishi Outlander

Mitsubishi Pajero

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport

Summary

2026 Mazda CX-3

2026 Audi Q5

By Chris Thompson

By Emily Agar

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Inline 4, 2.0L

Turbo 4, 2.0L

Fuel Type

—

Premium Unleaded Petrol

Fuel Efficiency

6.3L/100km (combined)

5.7L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Build quality
Strong driving dynamics
Design aging well

Interior glow-up is gorgeous
Comfortable ride with well-tuned suspension
Strong standard tech and safety features

Dislikes

Lack of efficiency
Interior tech outdated
Could be cheaper?

Still manages to remind you its a base-grade
Rear seat & boot space on smaller side
Steering assist tends to overcorrect

2026 Mazda CX-3 Summary

Mazda has updated one of its most popular, but rather old models.

Yes, the Mazda CX-3 is still around after more than a decade since its reveal, and it remains almost at the tippy-top of Mazda’s local sales charts.

With the brand having shifted 8221 CX-3s in the first half of 2025, it seems the light updates and modest price rise haven’t scared away any potential customers.

We’ve grabbed a CX-3 Evolve, the second-up of four available variants, to see if the popular light SUV still stacks up, or if you’re better off taking your money elsewhere.

View full pricing & specs

2026 Audi Q5 Summary

Audi’s latest Q5 Sportback brings mild-hybrid power, updated underpinnings, more technology and a genuinely impressive interior glow-up.

It’s clearly aimed at buyers drawn to a more athletic take on the mid-size SUV, where style plays a bigger role than outright practicality. We're testing the base petrol spec to see how it sits alongside the BMW X4 xDrive20i, Genesis GV70 2.5T and Mercedes-Benz GLC300 Coupe.

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Deep dive comparison

2026 Mazda CX-3 2026 Audi Q5

Verdict

‘You get what you pay for’ comes to mind with the CX-3, which is interesting given it’s neither the newest nor most feature-packed SUV in its class.

The ageing light SUV does however offer one of the best-put-together experiences in a car of this size and its engine is powerful for the class. Build quality feels well above par and there aren’t any annoying inclusions that are becoming more common in new cars.

There aren’t many downsides unless you were hoping for a big screen and the ability to play around with software functions, but at this end of the new car spectrum, a car that drives this well and remains stylish a decade on should be applauded.

Put aside its relative (but forgivable) lack of efficiency and somewhat smaller boot than rivals, and the CX-3 nails everything it needs to.

Verdict

The updated Audi Q5 Sportback TFSI is a strong example of a luxury base-grade SUV, ticking most of the boxes in styling, comfort and features. It may not always outperform its rivals on paper, but it delivers where it counts, offering a refined, practical and engaging package that will satisfy.

Mazda CX-3 vs Audi Q5 What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Mazda CX-3 vs Audi Q5
What's the difference?