Audi A5 vs Audi Q5

The redesigned 2025 Audi A5 compact luxury car takes on a more important role in the luxury brand’s lineup. The coupe and convertible body styles are gone, leaving only a five-door hatchback akin to the previous-generation A5 Sportback (Europe gets an A5 Avant wagon as well). That model also happened to be Audi’s bestselling non-SUV in 2024, so the new A5 also replaces the slower-selling A4 sedan as Audi’s answer to the Alfa Romeo Giulia, BMW 3 Series, Cadillac CT4, Genesis G70, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, and Lexus IS.

Verdict: The new Audi A5 impresses with tech, handling poise, and practicality, but represents a significant effective price increase for returning Audi customers.

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 model year 2018. That redesign brings Audi’s current design language and tech suite, helping the Q5 keep pace with more recently-updated rivals like the BMW X3, Lexus NX, and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class.

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