2025 Audi Q5 vs 2024 Subaru Outback

The 2024 Subaru Outback maintained its rugged charm with subtle updates to the Wilderness trim, featuring a new front fascia and LED fog lights. The dark gray cladding contrasted beautifully with the Autumn Green Metallic color of the Touring XT model, which was described as a “green-tinged dark khaki.” The Outback's exterior varied across trims, with tasteful chrome accents on the Touring trim and different wheel designs, including black 17-inch alloy wheels and matte black versions for the Wilderness trim. Inside, the top-trim Touring XT impressed with Java Brown Nappa leather upholstery, offering a luxurious feel unexpected from Subaru. Other trims featured a mix of leather and synthetic materials, with cloth seats on the base and Premium trims.

The 2025 Audi Q5 embraced a robust SUV aesthetic with a large, textured grille, prominent air intakes, and high-mounted headlights. Despite the new styling elements, the design felt more like an evolution than a revolution. The Q5 offered Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige trims, with LED Headlights Plus and programmable OLED taillights on higher trims. Available in standard SUV and coupe-like Sportback styles, the Q5 balanced sleekness with practicality. The SQ5 performance variant added sporty elements like matte chrome trim, larger air intakes, and quad exhaust tips. Inside, the Q5's design was detailed but somewhat discordant, with high-quality materials and standard leather seating. The SQ5 offered a sportier interior with Alcantara trim, though some design choices, like the piano-black plastic, were less practical.

The 2024 Subaru Outback was powered by a “Boxer” horizontally opposed engine, with a 2.5-liter flat-four producing 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque as standard. The XT trims, including the Wilderness, featured a 2.4-liter turbocharged engine with 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque, increasing towing capacity to 3,500 lbs. Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and a Lineartronic CVT were standard, with the CVT mimicking eight gears. The turbo engine provided a better fit for the Outback's weight, offering a comfortable ride with adequate steering feel and a well-engineered suspension. The Wilderness trim offered 9.2 inches of ground clearance and all-terrain tires, enhancing off-road capability with advanced X-Mode settings.

The 2025 Audi Q5 featured a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and Quattro AWD. The base model's 2.0-liter turbo-four delivered 268 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, while the SQ5's 3.0-liter V6 offered 362 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. Despite competitive specs, both models experienced turbo lag and rough shifts, lacking the expected sporty feel. The Q5's steel-spring suspension with passive damping provided competent handling, while the SQ5's air suspension offered sportier tuning. Audi included Off-Road modes, but the Q5 was more suited to dirt roads than technical trails. The precise steering and balanced damping ensured a comfortable ride, though not particularly engaging for spirited driving.

The 2024 Subaru Outback offered generous interior space despite its sleek design. It provided more front-row headroom than the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, with competitive rear-seat legroom. Cargo space measured 32.6 cubic feet with seats up and 75.6 cubic feet with seats folded. Feature-wise, dual-zone climate control and heated front seats were standard on most trims, with higher trims offering heated rear seats and a heated steering wheel. The hands-free power liftgate and power moonroof were available on higher trims, and the Outback's roof rails with retractable cross bars added practicality.

The 2025 Audi Q5 maintained similar dimensions to its predecessor, offering adequate space compared to rivals. The sliding and reclining second-row seat and cargo-area buttons enhanced versatility. The Q5 provided 27.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and 56.9 cubic feet with seats folded, surpassing some competitors. Standard features included a power tailgate and heated front seats, with higher trims adding a heated steering wheel, panoramic sunroof, and ventilated front seats. The Q5's towing capacity of 4,400 pounds exceeded some rivals, enhancing its utility.

The 2024 Subaru Outback Touring featured a CD player and a mix of USB-C and USB-A ports. The top-trim model boasted an 11.6-inch infotainment screen, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto starting from the Premium trim. The Subaru Starlink system, though dated, offered standard connectivity features. The climate controls were integrated into the touchscreen, with hard buttons for essential functions. Wi-Fi capability and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system were available on most trims, enhancing the tech experience.

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 passenger screen on the Prestige trim. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a cooled wireless charging pad, and a 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system were standard on higher trims. The MMI infotainment system, based on Android Automotive OS, offered a user-friendly interface. A built-in voice assistant and available head-up display added convenience, while the Dynamic Interaction Light provided visual cues. Digital key connectivity and a built-in toll transponder were also included.

The 2024 Subaru Outback earned a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included the EyeSight suite with adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and automatic emergency braking. Reverse automatic braking and blind-spot monitoring were standard on higher trims, with the Touring trim adding a wide-angle camera, digital rearview mirror, and driver-attention monitor.

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