2025 Audi Q5 vs 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2025 Audi Q5 presented 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. Despite the new styling elements, the changes appeared more evolutionary than revolutionary, 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. The Q5 came in both standard crossover SUV and coupe-like Sportback body styles, with the latter offering a sleeker profile at the expense of cargo space and rear-seat headroom. The SQ5 performance grade added features like matte chrome trim, larger air intakes, and quad exhaust tips, along with sport suspension and increased power. Inside, the Q5's design was detailed, with top-notch materials and a mix of silver and black trim contrasting with lighter upholstery colours. Leather seating was standard, and the SQ5 offered a sportier interior with Alcantara trim.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe, in its fifth generation, maintained its chunky, boxy design with a long wheelbase, flat hood, and snub nose. The H-shaped LED headlamps were pixelated, fitting well with Hyundai's overall design aesthetic. The Santa Fe was available in three trims: XRT, Luxury, and Ultimate Calligraphy, with brighter colour options like Terracotta Orange and Atlantis Blue. The rear design, however, suffered from mismatched proportions, with pixelated H-shaped LED taillights positioned lower than ideal. Each trim had specific wheel sizes, ranging from 18 inches on the XRT to 21 inches on the Ultimate Calligraphy. Inside, the Santa Fe offered room for seven, except for the Ultimate Calligraphy trim, which featured captain's chairs in the second row. Upholstery options varied from leatherette to Nappa leather, depending on the trim. The interior fit and finish were generally good, though some squeaks and rattles were noted. The inclusion of physical dials for HVAC temperature was appreciated, though the fan speed buttons were less user-friendly.

The 2025 Audi Q5 was equipped with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and quattro all-wheel drive (AWD). The base model featured 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 Q5's power output was competitive, offering slightly less horsepower than the Acura RDX but more torque. The SQ5 nearly matched the Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 in output, with a manufacturer-estimated 0-100 km/h time of 4.8 seconds. However, both models experienced turbo lag and rough shifts, detracting from the sporty feel. The Q5 featured steel-spring suspension with passive frequency selective damping, while the SQ5 had air suspension with adaptive damping. The handling was capable but not sporty, with a balance between damping and body control. Off-Road and Off-Road Plus driving modes were available, but the Q5 was more suited to dirt roads than technical trails.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe came with a standard 2.5-litre turbocharged engine delivering 277 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. AWD was standard across the lineup. The Santa Fe Hybrid, a separate model, combined a 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine with an electric motor for a total of 231 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque. The Santa Fe offered stable cornering, firm brake feel, and responsive steering, though turbo lag and delayed downshifts were noted. The gear selector, located on a stalk on the steering column, required some getting used to. The XRT trim featured 30-inch all-terrain tires and 21.2 centimetres of ground clearance, enhancing off-road capability. The Santa Fe's off-road geometry was adequate for the class, but it wasn't designed for rugged rock crawling.

The 2025 Audi Q5 retained similar exterior dimensions and interior space to the 2024 model, offering adequate headroom and legroom. The sliding and reclining 40/20/40 split-folding second-row bench seat was standard, with cargo-area buttons for easy adjustment. The Q5 provided 757 litres of cargo space behind the second row and 1,710 litres behind the first row, surpassing the Lexus NX and Mercedes-Benz GLC but falling short of the Acura RDX and BMW X3. A power tailgate, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel were standard, with additional features like heated rear seats and a panoramic sunroof available on higher trims. The Q5 offered up to 2,000 kilograms of towing capacity, exceeding the Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 4Matic and Lexus NX.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in interior space, offering the most third-row legroom in its class. The second-row seats had an adjustable cushion angle, and both the second and third rows could be folded with rear cargo area buttons. Folding the third row provided 1,148 litres of space, while folding the second row expanded it to 2,267 litres. With all rows occupied, 413 litres of space remained. The Santa Fe's rear opening was widened to 127.5 cm, with a height of 81 cm, facilitating easy loading of large items. Most trims could tow 1,587 kilograms, with the XRT trim offering a higher capacity of 2,040 kilograms.

The 2025 Audi Q5 featured an 11.9-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.5-inch central touchscreen, with the Technik trim adding a 10.9-inch passenger touchscreen. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with a cooled wireless charging pad. Progressiv models included four USB-C ports and a 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system. The MMI infotainment system, based on Android Automotive OS, was user-friendly, with a built-in voice assistant for some vehicle functions. The digital instrument cluster had limited functionality, and an available head-up display provided essential information. Audi's Dynamic Interaction Light offered additional visual cues.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe came with a 12.3-inch touchscreen for infotainment and a digital gauge cluster, except for the base Preferred trim. The system was user-friendly, with standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Multiple USB-C ports and a wireless charging pad were included, with the Ultimate Calligraphy trim accommodating two phones. A digital key feature allowed unlocking and starting the car via phone or Apple watch. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim offered a digital rearview mirror and head-up display. Bluelink app connectivity was standard, providing remote access to vehicle functions and over-the-air updates.

The 2025 Audi Q5 included standard driver assist features such as adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, parking sensors, and blind spot monitoring. An exit alert feature used interior ambient lighting to warn occupants of oncoming vehicles or cyclists. The Q5's safety ratings from the NHTSA were unavailable, but the IIHS ratings were not favourable, with too many Marginal or Acceptable ratings for a Top Safety Pick designation.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and forward collision avoidance assist. Additional features like rear parking collision avoidance assist and Highway Drive Assist were available on higher trims. The Highway Drive Assist feature combined adaptive cruise control and lane following assist, though its performance varied in traffic. The top trim included a blind spot avoidance feature and Blind View Monitor. The NHTSA gave the Santa Fe a four-star overall safety rating, while the IIHS rated it "Good" in most categories, with "Acceptable" ratings for headlights and LATCH.