2025 Audi Q5 vs 2025 Chevrolet Suburban

The 2025 Audi Q5 presented a robust SUV aesthetic with its third-generation model, featuring a large, textured grille, prominent side air intakes, and high-mounted headlights that contributed to an imposing front end. The body sides were accentuated with well-defined lines, adding a muscular touch. Despite these updates, the styling changes appeared more evolutionary than revolutionary, giving the impression of a facelift rather than a complete redesign. The Q5 was available in Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige trims, with LED Headlights Plus and programmable OLED taillights offered on higher trims. The model also came in 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 featured increased power, sport suspension, and distinctive design elements like matte chrome trim and quad exhaust tips. Inside, the Q5's interior design was detailed and somewhat discordant, but it boasted top-notch materials, standard leather seating surfaces, and a mix of silver and black trim pieces.

The 2025 Chevrolet Suburban maintained its iconic status in the full-size SUV market, with Chevrolet carefully balancing updates to preserve its brand equity. The restyled Suburban featured a modernized front fascia and rear end, along with new lighting signatures, while the profile view remained largely unchanged. The trim lineup included LS, LT, RST, Z71, Premier, and High Country, with the latter two offering luxury features. The interior saw significant upgrades, with a more sophisticated lower dash, improved air vents, and a new column shifter replacing the previous electronic buttons. A standout feature was the new 17.7-inch touchscreen display, a major improvement over the previous model's smaller screens. The Suburban's interior was spacious, offering ample passenger space and cargo capacity, making it ideal for families and those with towing needs. The vehicle's towing capacity and fuel efficiency, especially with the diesel engine, further enhanced its appeal.

The 2025 Audi Q5 came equipped with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and Quattro all-wheel drive, offering a choice between a 2.0-liter turbo-four engine producing 268 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, and a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 in the SQ5, delivering 362 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. While the base model's output was competitive within its segment, the SQ5's performance was slightly less powerful than some rivals. The dual-clutch transmission exhibited some turbo lag and rough shifts, impacting the overall driving experience. The Q5 featured a standard steel-spring suspension with passive frequency selective damping, while the SQ5 offered air suspension with adaptive damping for sportier handling. Despite capable handling, the Q5 and SQ5 were not particularly sporty, with precise but lifeless steering. Off-Road and Off-Road Plus driving modes were available, but the Q5 was more suited for dirt roads than technical trails.

The 2025 Chevrolet Suburban offered a choice of three engines: a 5.3-liter V8 with 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque, a 6.2-liter V8 with 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque, and a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six Duramax diesel engine, which saw a power increase to 305 hp and 495 lb-ft of torque. The diesel engine was particularly impressive, offering smooth and quiet performance with excellent fuel efficiency. All engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, and the Suburban featured a column-mounted shifter for improved dashboard space. The vehicle's steering was surprisingly light, but the brake pedal feel was challenging to master. The 2025 Suburban introduced a recalibrated Magnetic Ride Control suspension, standard on higher trims, which improved ride quality and handling. An adjustable air suspension was also available, enhancing the vehicle's comfort and capability. The Suburban offered 24-inch wheels, but they were deemed too harsh on rough pavement and came with a high cost.

The 2025 Audi Q5 retained similar exterior dimensions and interior space to the 2024 model, offering adequate headroom and legroom in both rows. The vehicle featured 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, surpassing some rivals but falling short of others. Standard features included a power tailgate and heated front seats, with additional amenities like a heated steering wheel and panoramic sunroof available on higher trims. The Q5 offered a towing capacity of up to 4,400 pounds, making it a practical choice for towing needs.

The 2025 Chevrolet Suburban excelled in interior space, offering enormous passenger room in all three rows and a massive cargo capacity. The vehicle provided 41.5 cubic feet of luggage space behind the third row, expanding to 93.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 144.7 cubic feet with all seats down. The Suburban's towing capacity was impressive, with the ability to tow up to 8,300 pounds with the 5.3-liter V8 and RWD configuration. The diesel engine offered excellent fuel efficiency, with an EPA-rated estimate of 21 mpg city, 27 highway, and 23 combined, allowing for extended highway driving on a single tank of fuel.

The 2025 Audi Q5 featured an 11.9-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.5-inch central touchscreen as standard, with a 10.9-inch touchscreen for the front passenger available on the top 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 infotainment system was based on the Android Automotive OS, offering a user-friendly interface. A built-in voice assistant handled some vehicle functions, while an available head-up display provided additional information. The Q5 also included digital key connectivity and a built-in toll transponder.

The 2025 Chevrolet Suburban addressed previous shortcomings with a new 17.7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, complemented by an 11-inch driver information display and an available 15-inch head-up display. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with Google Built-in, which integrated Google Maps, Google Assistant, and the Play Store. The user interface was visually appealing, but some aspects of the user experience were less intuitive. Physical buttons for essential functions remained, providing a familiar touch. The top-range Bose stereo was adequate but not exceptional compared to competitors.

The 2025 Audi Q5 came equipped with standard driver-assist features, including 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 the time of review, but Audi aimed to match the previous generation's five-star NHTSA rating.

The 2025 Chevrolet Suburban had not been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS at the time of review. The 2024 model received four out of five stars in overall crash safety from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, pedestrian and bicycle braking, automatic parking assist, a surround-view camera, and a teen driver monitoring system. GM's Super Cruise hands-free driving technology was available on higher trims but would not be available at launch.