2024 Hyundai Palisade vs 2025 Audi Q5

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade stood out with its distinctive styling, setting it apart from the typical family-friendly SUVs. While its design might not have appealed to everyone, those who appreciated its aesthetics likely found other aspects of the vehicle to their liking. The Palisade was available in several trims, including the SE, SEL, XRT, Limited, Calligraphy, and the new Calligraphy Night Edition, with prices ranging from $36,650 to $53,850, excluding destination charges. The Calligraphy Night Edition, which we tested, featured a blacked-out appearance with dark chrome and gloss black exterior trim, badges, and wheels, available only in Abyss Black or Hyper White paint colors. Inside, it boasted a luxurious feel with an artificial suede headliner, quality upholstery, and sophisticated interior design elements, making it resemble a luxury SUV.

The 2025 Audi Q5 embraced a robust SUV aesthetic with its third-generation model. Its large, textured grille, prominent side air intakes, and high-mounted headlights gave it an imposing front-end look, while well-defined lines along the body added a muscular touch. Despite these updates, the new styling elements appeared more evolutionary than revolutionary, giving the Q5 a facelifted rather than a completely redesigned appearance. The Q5 was offered in Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige trims, with features like LED Headlights Plus and programmable OLED taillights available on higher trims. The model was available in both standard SUV and coupe-like Sportback body styles, with the SQ5 performance variant offering increased power and sportier design elements. Inside, the Q5's interior design was detailed, with top-notch materials and a mix of silver and black trim pieces, although some design choices, like the piano-black plastic around the cupholders, were less practical.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade was powered by a 3.8-liter V6 engine producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. While front-wheel drive was standard, all-wheel drive was available, offering a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds and eight inches of ground clearance. The Palisade featured multiple driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Sport, Smart, and Snow, with the ability to lock the AWD system for off-road conditions. However, it was best suited for less challenging terrains. The V6 engine provided ample power and satisfying acceleration, with the transmission consistently in the right gear. The AWD system effectively distributed power on dirt and gravel roads, and the Palisade achieved an EPA-estimated 21 mpg in combined driving, though our testing showed 18.8 mpg in Comfort mode. The Palisade's suspension offered a firm yet comfortable ride, with excellent visibility and a top-down surround-view camera aiding city driving. On mountain roads, it displayed surprising agility, with predictable handling and reliable brakes.

The 2025 Audi Q5 featured a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and Quattro all-wheel drive. The base model's 2.0-liter turbo-four engine delivered 268 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, while the SQ5's 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 produced 362 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The Q5's power output was competitive within its class, with the SQ5 offering brisk acceleration, achieving a manufacturer-estimated 0-60 mph time of 4.6 seconds. However, both models experienced turbo lag and rough shifts from the dual-clutch transmission, affecting their responsiveness. The Q5's suspension, with passive frequency selective damping, provided capable handling, while the available air suspension on the Prestige trim and standard on the SQ5 offered sportier tuning. Despite competent tuning, the Q5 didn't encourage aggressive driving, with precise but lifeless steering. Off-road modes were available, but the Q5 was more suited for dirt roads than technical trails.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade offered a range of seating options, from cloth seats in the base SE trim to premium Nappa leather with microfiber inserts in the Calligraphy Night Edition. Heated, power-adjustable front seats were standard on higher trims, with additional features like a heated steering wheel, ventilated front seats, and an Ergo Motion massage function for the driver. The Calligraphy Night Edition provided a comfortable interior with configurable storage options, including a large storage bin and wireless smartphone charger. Second-row passengers enjoyed captain's chairs with optional heating and ventilation, while the third row offered decent comfort and roominess. The Palisade's smart tailgate feature was convenient but could be turned off if needed. Cargo space was generous, with 18 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 86.4 cubic feet with the second-row seats folded.

The 2025 Audi Q5 maintained similar dimensions to the previous model, offering adequate headroom and legroom. A sliding and reclining 40/20/40 split-folding second-row bench seat was standard, with cargo-area buttons for easy adjustment. The Q5 provided 27.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and 56.9 cubic feet behind the first row, surpassing some rivals but falling short of others. A power tailgate and heated front seats were standard, with additional features like a heated steering wheel and panoramic sunroof available on higher trims. The Q5's towing capacity of 4,400 pounds exceeded some competitors, making it a practical choice for towing needs.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation. It supported Bluetooth connectivity for two devices, Bluelink+ connected services, Wi-Fi access, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a rear-seat Quiet Mode. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto required a USB-A cable, but wireless charging was standard on higher trims. The Harman Kardon premium sound system provided excellent audio quality, and additional technologies included a digital key function, digital rearview mirror, and semi-autonomous remote parking system. The head-up display offered useful information but was incompatible with polarized sunglasses.

The 2025 Audi Q5 came with an 11.9-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.5-inch central touchscreen, with a 10.9-inch touchscreen for the front passenger on the Prestige trim. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with a cooled wireless charging pad. Premium Plus models added 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 vehicle functions. The head-up display provided clear information, and the Dynamic Interaction Light offered additional cues. Digital key connectivity and a built-in toll transponder were also available.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade was equipped with the SmartSense collection of driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and more. Highway Driving Assist (HDA) provided a hands-on driving system for highway travel, with lane-change assist available on higher trims. The Palisade earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, with incomplete NHTSA crash test results.

The 2025 Audi Q5 offered standard driver-assist features like adaptive cruise control, active front assist, lane departure warning, and more. Premium Plus models added a 360-degree camera system and adaptive cruise assist. Safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of writing, but Audi aimed to match the previous generation's five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.