2025 Cadillac Escalade vs 2025 Audi Q5

The 2025 Audi Q5 embraced a robust SUV aesthetic with its third-generation design. It featured a large, textured grille, prominent side air intakes, and high-mounted headlights, creating an imposing front end. The body sides were adorned with well-defined lines, adding a muscular touch. While the exterior design was entirely new, it felt more like an evolution than a revolution, resembling a facelift rather than a complete redesign. In Canada, the Q5 was available in base, Progressiv, and Technik trims, with the latter two offering matrix-design LED headlights and animated taillights. These allowed drivers to choose from eight daytime running light patterns and program the OLED taillights for a three-dimensional look. The Q5 was offered in both standard crossover SUV and coupe-like Q5 Sportback body styles, with the latter sacrificing some cargo space and rear-seat headroom for a sleeker profile. The SQ5 performance grade remained available, featuring increased power, sport suspension, and distinctive design elements like matte chrome trim, larger air intakes, and quad exhaust tips. Inside, the Q5's interior design was a mix of top-notch materials and a somewhat discordant layout, with a focus on piling on details for a distinctive look. Leather seating surfaces were standard, and the SQ5 offered a sportier interior with Alcantara trim, though it lacked adequate bolstering for enthusiastic driving.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade, aside from the low-volume Celestiq EV, was the largest and most expensive Cadillac available. Since its debut in 1999, the Escalade had become the embodiment of old-school Cadillac luxury, replacing models like the Fleetwoods and DeVilles. The 2025 design further distinguished the Escalade from its Chevrolet and GMC counterparts with a new front end that brought it stylistically closer to Cadillac's EVs. The headlights were large vertical bars with smaller horizontal daytime running lights, while the rear retained tall, vertical taillights reminiscent of classic Cadillac tailfins. For the first time, 24-inch wheels were available, complementing the vehicle's massive design. Cadillac offered standard-wheelbase and long-wheelbase Escalade ESV body styles, with various trim levels, including the performance-oriented Escalade-V. Inside, Cadillac worked to hide the shared platform with other GM full-size SUVs, featuring a screen-centric interior design with a 55-inch display spanning the dashboard. The Escalade offered a range of interior motifs and luxurious materials, with the Premium Luxury Platinum trim showcasing Whisper Beige upholstery and wood trim. Despite its shared platform, the Escalade's interior was impressively finished for a mainstream automaker, making it hard to believe it shared anything with a Chevy.

The 2025 Audi Q5 featured a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and quattro all-wheel drive across all models. The base Q5 was powered by a 2.0-litre turbo-four engine producing 268 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, while the SQ5 boasted a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 with 362 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The base model's output was competitive for a compact crossover, with slightly less horsepower than an Acura RDX but more torque. The SQ5's performance was comparable to a Mercedes-AMG GLC 43, with a manufacturer-estimated 0-100 km/h time of 4.8 seconds. However, both the Q5 and SQ5 felt less speedy than their specs suggested, with noticeable turbo lag and rough shifts from the dual-clutch transmission. The standard steel-spring suspension with passive frequency selective damping provided capable handling, while the available air suspension with adaptive damping offered a balance between damping and body control. Despite its competent tuning, the Q5 didn't encourage aggressive driving, and the steering lacked feedback. Off-Road and Off-Road Plus driving modes were available, but the Q5 was more suited to dirt roads than technical trails.

For the 2025 Cadillac Escalade, Cadillac dropped the Duramax turbodiesel inline-six engine option, leaving only the naturally aspirated 6.2-litre V8 engine. The V8 produced 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, while the Escalade-V featured a supercharged 6.2-litre V8 with 682 hp and 653 lb-ft of torque. All Escalade models came with a 10-speed automatic transmission, providing a balance of low ratios for acceleration and high ratios for efficient highway cruising. In Canada, four-wheel drive was standard on most models, with the Escalade-V featuring a performance-oriented all-wheel drive system. The Escalade's Magnetic Ride Control damping system, combined with optional air suspension, offered impressive ride quality for a body-on-frame vehicle, though it couldn't match the polish of a Range Rover or Mercedes-Benz GLS. The V8 engine provided quick acceleration and a satisfying sound, but the brakes lacked confidence. Cadillac offered a Performance Upgrade Package with Brembo six-piston front calipers, a performance air intake, and a cat-back exhaust system for improved braking performance.

The 2025 Audi Q5 maintained similar exterior dimensions and interior space to the 2024 model. Headroom and legroom in both rows were nearly identical, providing adequate space compared to rivals. The Q5 featured a sliding and reclining 40/20/40 split-folding second-row bench seat, with cargo-area buttons for easy adjustment. The 2025 model offered 757 litres of cargo space behind the second row and 1,710 litres behind the first row, providing more cargo space than a Lexus NX or Mercedes-Benz GLC but less than an Acura RDX or BMW X3. A power tailgate, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel were standard in Canada, with additional features like heated rear seats and a panoramic sunroof available on higher trims. The Q5 had a towing capacity of up to 2,000 kilograms, surpassing the Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 4Matic and Lexus NX.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade was available in short-wheelbase and long-wheelbase configurations, with the Escalade ESV offering increased cargo space and third-row legroom. The ESV was 33.5 centimetres longer between the wheels, contributing to a 383.5 cm increase in overall length. The Escalade provided ample space for up to eight passengers, with the option for second-row captain's chairs. It offered the most first-row headroom in its class, though second-row and third-row headroom were slightly less than competitors. The standard-length model provided 722 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats, 2,064 litres behind the second row, and 3,412 litres behind the front seats, with the ESV offering even more space. The Escalade's towing capacity was 3,675 kilograms for the standard-wheelbase model and 3,628 kilograms for the ESV, meeting segment expectations but lacking some towing features offered by competitors like the Lincoln Navigator.

The 2025 Audi Q5 featured an 11.9-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.5-inch central touchscreen as standard, with a 10.9-inch touchscreen for the front passenger available on the Technik trim. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with a cooled wireless charging pad. Progressiv models added four USB-C ports and a 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system. The infotainment system was based on the Android Automotive OS, offering a user-friendly interface. A built-in voice assistant handled some vehicle functions, while an available head-up display provided additional information. The Q5 also introduced Audi's Dynamic Interaction Light, a light bar at the base of the windshield for additional driver cues.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade featured a 55-inch door-to-door display, incorporating a digital instrument cluster, central infotainment touchscreen, and front-passenger touchscreen. Climate controls were managed by a separate touchscreen with a rotary dial. A 19-speaker AKG audio system was standard, with a 36-speaker version available, along with an augmented-reality head-up display and night vision. The Escalade retained standalone wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with easy-to-use icons for various functions. The smaller control screen offered haptic feedback, and the vehicle featured power-operated doors for added convenience. The optional Executive Second Row Package included additional screens and controls for second-row passengers, enhancing comfort and entertainment.

The 2025 Audi Q5 came with standard driver assist features, including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, parking sensors, automatic high beams, blind spot monitoring, and traffic sign recognition. An exit alert feature used interior ambient lighting to warn occupants of oncoming vehicles or cyclists. The Q5's safety ratings from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration were unavailable, but the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave it less favourable ratings, with too many Marginal or Acceptable scores for a Top Safety Pick designation.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade included standard driver assist features like adaptive cruise control, blind-zone steering assist, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a 360-degree camera system. GM-specific features included a vibrating Safety Alert Seat, teen driver monitoring, and Super Cruise, a hands-free driving system. Super Cruise allowed for hands-free driving on mapped roads, with improvements in performance since previous tests. Current crash test ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration were unavailable.