Audi Q5 vs Hyundai Palisade Hybrid

Summary: Arriving midway through the model year, the 2025 Audi Q5 compact SUV marks the first redesign of the German luxury brand’s bestselling model since the 2018 model year. That redesign brings Audi’s current design language and tech suite, helping the Q5 keep pace with more recently updated rivals such as the BMW X3, Lexus NX, and Mercedes-Benz GLC.

Verdict: There’s plenty to like about the new Q5, but it’s far from being the definitive small luxury SUV.

Redesigned for 2026, the new Hyundai Palisade brings more than just fresh looks. For the first time, Hyundai is now offering a hybrid powertrain with its big three-row, family SUV. Capable of traveling more than 950 kilometres on a single tank of fuel, the Palisade Hybrid solves one of the only downsides of the market’s best three-row SUV: fuel efficiency. The Palisade Hybrid delivers more than just great fuel economy, though. It’s more powerful than the gas model, and in higher trim levels the Palisade Hybrid feels more luxurious than its competition.

Verdict: Simply put, Hyundai currently sells the best mass-market three-row crossover SUV in North America. The 2026 Hyundai Palisade looks good, drives well, and feels special — and it will keep you away from the gas station, too.