2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 vs 2025 Audi Q5

The 2025 Audi Q5 presented a robust SUV demeanor 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 these updates, the styling felt more like an evolution rather than a revolution, resembling a facelift rather than a complete redesign. The Q5 offered various trim levels, including Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige, with LED Headlights Plus available on all but the base model. The Q5 was available 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 sporty elements like matte chrome trim, larger air intakes, and quad exhaust tips, along with standard 20-inch wheels.

Inside, the Q5's interior aimed for distinction with a plethora of details. The dashboard and door panels featured opposing curves, accommodating a main touchscreen and bulging doors with speakers and chunky armrests. While the design was somewhat discordant, the materials were top-notch, with sturdy plastics and contrasting silver and black trim pieces. Leather seating surfaces were standard, and the SQ5 offered a red interior with Alcantara trim and sportier front seats. However, the piano-black plastic surrounding the cupholders and shifter was prone to dirt, and the SQ5 seats lacked adequate bolstering for enthusiastic driving.

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 maintained its distinctive appearance, drawing retro comparisons to the Lancia Delta. The mid-cycle refresh retained the "Parametric Pixel" headlights and taillights, round wheel arches, and a high rear spoiler. The XRT trim stood out with red tow hooks and black plastic bumper cladding featuring a "digital camouflage" pattern. The XRT also introduced exclusive colors, Ultimate Red and Cosmic Blue Pearl, while the color palette expanded with Atlas White Matte and Ecotronic Gray Matte. New wheel designs were introduced, with 19-inch wheels standard on SE and SEL trims, 20-inchers on the Limited, and 18-inch wheels exclusive to the XRT, referencing rally style.

The Ioniq 5's interior saw minor changes, maintaining its open and uncluttered space with a minimalistic and modern feel. The center console was revised for functionality, and the XRT trim leaned towards a rough-and-ready aesthetic with a dark interior, all-weather floor mats, and the XRT logo debossed in the seats. The cabin remained a comfortable and functional space, with the new rear windshield wiper addressing a common complaint. The movable center console featured fore-and-aft cupholders, and the wireless charging pad was conveniently located alongside them. Heated front seats were standard, with the heated steering wheel available at the SEL trim level. The Limited trim offered front seat ventilation and driver's seat memory, but heated rear seats were not available.

The 2025 Audi Q5 featured a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and Quattro all-wheel drive across all models. The base Q5 was powered by a 2.0-liter turbo-four engine producing 268 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, while the SQ5 boasted a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 with 362 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The standard output was competitive for a compact crossover, with slightly less horsepower than an Acura RDX but more torque. The SQ5's performance was comparable to a Mercedes-AMG GLC43, with a manufacturer-estimated zero to 60 mph time of 4.6 seconds. However, both the Q5 and SQ5 experienced turbo lag and rough shifts, affecting their acceleration.

The Q5's suspension featured steel-spring suspension with passive frequency selective damping, while air suspension with adaptive damping was available on the Q5 Prestige trim and standard on the SQ5. The air suspension provided capable handling characteristics, balancing damping and body control. However, the handling didn't encourage aggressive driving, and the steering lacked feedback. The Q5 offered Off-Road and Off-Road Plus driving modes, but it was more suited for dirt roads than technical trails.

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT featured etched badging, extra cladding, and a solid front fascia for added protection. The XRT introduced a Terrain Mode button on the steering wheel, offering Snow, Mud, and Sand modes that adjusted throttle mapping, wheel slip, power distribution, and regenerative braking. The XRT handled loose sand admirably, allowing controlled slippage for confidence and enjoyment. The Ioniq 5's AWD models featured dual motors producing 320hp and 446 lb-ft of torque, while RWD models offered 168hp with the standard-range battery or 225hp with the long-range alternative. The Ioniq 5's battery capacity increased for 2025, providing longer ranges, with most trims achieving 318 miles in RWD configuration.

The 2025 Audi Q5 retained similar exterior dimensions and interior space to the 2024 model. Headroom and legroom were nearly identical, offering adequate space compared to rivals. The Q5 featured a sliding and reclining 40/20/40 split-folding second-row bench seat, with cargo-area buttons for easy adjustment. The 2025 model gained additional cargo space, with 27.6 cubic feet behind the second row and 56.9 cubic feet with the seats folded. The Q5 offered more cargo space than a Lexus NX or Mercedes-Benz GLC but less than an Acura RDX or BMW X3. A power tailgate and heated front seats were standard, with heated steering wheel and panoramic sunroof available on the Premium Plus trim. The Q5 also offered up to 4,400 pounds of towing capacity.

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 addressed a common complaint by adding a rear windshield wiper. The interior featured a movable center console with fore-and-aft cupholders and a wireless charging pad. Heated front seats were standard, with the heated steering wheel available at the SEL trim level. The Limited trim offered front seat ventilation and driver's seat memory, but heated rear seats were not available. Interior dimensions remained unchanged, with headroom measuring 39.1-39.8 inches front and 37.5-38.7 rear, and legroom at 41.7 inches front and 39.4 inches rear. Cargo space measured 26.3 cubic feet with the rear seats up or 58.5 with them folded down, with an additional .85 cubic feet in the frunk. The Ioniq 5 transitioned to the North American Charging System (NACS), allowing access to the Tesla Supercharger network, and included a Combined Charging System (CCS) adapter for public and fast charging.

The 2025 Audi Q5 featured 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 four USB-C ports and a 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system. The MMI infotainment system, based on Android Automotive OS, offered easy access to features, with a built-in voice assistant for some vehicle functions. The digital instrument cluster had less functionality than previous versions, and an available head-up display provided additional information. The Q5 also featured Audi's Dynamic Interaction Light and digital key connectivity.

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 retained its pair of 12.3-inch screens for the infotainment system and digital instrument cluster, with improved functionality and faster processing speeds. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were new and standard. The Ioniq 5 XRT and Limited trims featured a Bose Premium Audio system, while SE and SEL trims had a six-speaker sound system. All trims included standard navigation, dynamic voice recognition, and five USB-C ports. The Ioniq 5 offered a head-up display on the Limited trim and a wireless charging pad starting at the SEL trim level.

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. An 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 press time, but Audi aimed to match the previous generation's five-star NHTSA rating.

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 maintained its high safety standards, earning a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA. New standard safety features included an enhanced driver attention system, reverse and forward parking-distance warning, and blind-spot view monitor on the XRT and Limited trims. Highway Driving Assist 1 and 2 were available, with HDA 2 offering lane-changing capability and machine learning.