I'm not saying the 190 interior is bad. What I am saying is the GLK interior looks like some updated version of it. No thanks. How about moving forward.

You can argue this doesn't have enough wood etc but we have NEVER seen an interior like this before.

 

The Q5 has a 2.5" longer wheel base than the 2010 RX350.

 

Yes, nice long wheelbase, shorter overhangs, it looks best in class IMO.

 

I think Mercedes is moving forward lately.

 

And the result is that the RX has a smaller turning radius AND better combined legrooms (front + rear = 79.9") than the Q5 (front + rear = 78.4", or 1.5" shorter). Not to mention that the RX has 23 cu. ft. more cargo space than the Q5.

They clearly belong to two different size segments.

 

The segments are not clearly defined IMHO, because of blurring of dimensions and price overlap. No doubt the RX consistently outsells the rest. GLK soundly outsells it's German competition (X3, G5).

 

I would not consider 1.5" more leg room between the front and back row to be much larger. Thats an average of 0.75" more leg room per row. I sat in both cars front and back and they were very similar in size in the passenger compartment.

 

Obviously (based on sales results) buyers of premium SUVs base the buying decision on more than just exterior dimensions and interior dimensions/capacities.

 

And the difference of 23 cu. ft. of cargo space is insignificant too right? Audi clearly sacrificed cargo space for rear passenger space in the Q5, which is understandable but doesn't make the Q5 mid-sized.

 

The big difference between the dimension of the RX and the Q5 is the hood. The Q5 have a longer hood. There is no doubt that the RX had better use of the space it has, Toyota have always done that, utilized space to max.
The biggest difference I see between the two SUV is design intentions. Both SUVs are considered luxury SUVs. While the Q5 emphasize more on sportiness and AWD traction, the RX350 emphasize more on utility and cargo space. Both are great SUVs, you cannot go wrong with either one of them. It all depends on what is your need or wants are.

 

Is the Q5 engine mounted longitudely or transversely like the RX?

 

The Q5's engine is mounted longitudely, that would explain the longer hood.

 

That's what I thought. Thanks. Hoods of GLK and X3 are quite long too for same reason.

 

Not sure why the Germans choose to mount their engine longitudely, even for their FWD cars.

 

I think it's mainly a Audi thing, they've always been a bit insecure about their past front wheel drive cars, weight distibution, engine placement in chassis and handling when compared to the better balanced rear wheel drive cars from MB and BMW.