2025 Audi Q5 vs 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport showcased a refreshed design that mirrored the updates of its three-row sibling, the Atlas. It featured new lighting elements at both the front and rear, with the Volkswagen logos on the grille and tailgate now illuminated in white and red, respectively. This lighting innovation was first seen on the all-electric Volkswagen ID.4. The front of the Cross Sport was characterized by a light bar connecting the daytime running lights, part of the new standard LED headlights, which contributed to a more Americanized appearance. Built in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the Cross Sport was designed with the U.S. market in mind. The rear of the vehicle, with its lower roofline, offered a silhouette reminiscent of German luxury crossover coupes, setting it apart from other two-row midsize crossovers. The Cross Sport was 5.2 inches shorter than the standard Atlas and sat slightly lower, enhancing its sporty stance.

The 2025 Audi Q5 embraced a robust SUV aesthetic with its third-generation model. It featured a large, textured grille, prominent side air intakes, and high-mounted headlights, giving the front end a commanding presence. The body sides were adorned with well-defined lines, adding a muscular touch. Despite these updates, the styling changes appeared more evolutionary than revolutionary, making the new Q5 seem like a facelift rather than a complete redesign. The Q5 was available in both standard crossover SUV and coupe-like Q5 Sportback body styles, with the latter offering a sleeker profile at the expense of cargo space and rear-seat headroom. The SQ5 performance variant added matte chrome trim, larger air intakes, and quad exhaust tips, along with sport suspension and 20-inch wheels. The interior design was detailed, with a mix of high-quality materials, although the layout was somewhat discordant. The Q5 offered a balance of damping and body control, ensuring a comfortable ride without excessive body movement.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport was powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered standard front-wheel drive, with optional 4Motion all-wheel drive. This engine marked the end of the VR6 era for VW, delivering 269 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque on regular fuel. While it had slightly less horsepower than the previous VR6, it offered more torque, with peak torque arriving earlier at 1,550 rpm. The new engine was expected to provide quicker acceleration from zero to 60 mph compared to the 2023 model with the VR6. However, the engine's noise-to-power ratio was a concern, and the Cross Sport's driving experience was described as unexciting, with subpar ride quality, possibly due to the 21-inch wheels. The maximum towing capacity remained at 5,000 pounds, except for the base SE model, which was rated at 2,000 pounds.

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 produced 268 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, while the SQ5's 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 delivered 362 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The Q5's performance was competitive within its segment, with a manufacturer-estimated zero to 60 mph time of 5.8 seconds for the standard model and 4.6 seconds for the SQ5. However, both models experienced turbo lag and rough shifts from the dual-clutch transmission. The Q5's suspension offered capable handling, with air suspension available on the Prestige trim and standard on the SQ5. While the Q5 handled well, it didn't encourage aggressive driving, and the steering lacked feedback. The Q5 also included Off-Road and Off-Road Plus driving modes, but it was more suited for dirt roads than technical trails.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport received additional standard equipment for 2024, including heated side mirrors, two-zone automatic climate control, and a heated steering wheel. The front seats were ventilated and heated, while the SE with Technology trim added a power liftgate and tow hitch. The SEL trim featured heated second-row seats and leather upholstery. The Cross Sport's roofline impacted rear-seat headroom, but legroom was competitive. Cargo space was generous, with 40.3 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 77.6 cubic feet with the seats folded. The cabin was functional, with ample storage space in the center console and door pockets.

The 2025 Audi Q5 maintained similar exterior dimensions and interior space to the 2024 model. It offered a sliding and reclining 40/20/40 split-folding second-row bench seat, 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 with the seats folded, offering more space than some rivals. A power tailgate and heated front seats were standard, with a heated steering wheel and panoramic sunroof available on the Premium Plus trim. The Prestige trim added heated rear seats and ventilated front seats. The Q5's towing capacity was 4,400 pounds, surpassing some competitors.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport came standard with a 12-inch touchscreen, 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wireless phone charging. The infotainment system was user-friendly, but the haptic touchpads for controls were less intuitive than traditional buttons. The Cross Sport offered up to six USB-C ports, with a USB-C dash cam port on higher trims. The SEL trim included a head-up display, and the SEL Premium R-Line featured a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system.

The 2025 Audi Q5 featured an 11.9-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.5-inch central touchscreen, with a 10.9-inch passenger touchscreen on the Prestige trim. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with a cooled wireless charging pad. The Premium Plus trim added four USB-C ports and a 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system. The Q5's infotainment system was based on Android Automotive OS, with a built-in voice assistant for some functions. The digital instrument cluster had reduced functionality compared to previous versions. An available head-up display provided additional information, and the Q5 included Audi's Dynamic Interaction Light for visual cues.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport earned a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with five stars in side-impact crash testing and four stars in frontal and rollover tests. The IQ.Drive package, now standard on all models, included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and Travel Assist. Higher trims added predictive adaptive cruise control, park assist, and a surround-view camera system. All models featured post-collision braking, VW's crash response system, and emergency assist.

The 2025 Audi Q5 included standard driver-assist features such as adaptive cruise control, active front assist, lane departure warning, parking sensors, automatic high beams, blind spot monitoring, and traffic sign recognition. The exit alert feature used interior ambient lighting to warn occupants of oncoming vehicles or cyclists. 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 publication, but Audi aimed to match the previous generation's five-star NHTSA rating.