2025 Audi Q5 vs 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe

$45,400 · Crossover

$34,300 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

Choosing between luxury refinement and sheer value is a common struggle when looking at premium compact crossovers, and the 2025 Audi Q5 versus the newly redesigned 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe highlights this perfectly. The Santa Fe immediately grabs attention with its lower MSRP of $34,300 compared to the Audi’s $45,400—a massive $11,100 saving. However, that premium gets you sophisticated engineering; the Q5 offers better fuel economy at 26 combined MPG, running on recommended premium fuel, while the Santa Fe achieves 24 combined MPG on regular. Power dynamics are inverted: the Santa Fe boasts a superior 277 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque, easily outpacing the Q5's 201 hp. Interestingly, the larger Santa Fe, at 190.2 inches long, offers less practical storage with only 25.9 cu ft of space available in the Audi versus its 14.6 cu ft max cargo capacity.

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2025 Audi Q5

The 2025 Audi Q5 wins for commuters due to its superior fuel efficiency of 26 combined MPG.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2025 Hyundai Santa Fe

The significantly lower starting MSRP of $34,300 makes the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe the better financial choice for budget-conscious families.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2025 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe offers enthusiast appeal with substantially more power, delivering 277 horsepower versus the Q5's 201 hp.

💰 Best Value

2025 Hyundai Santa Fe

The $11,100 MSRP difference, paired with the capability to use regular unleaded fuel, positions the Santa Fe as the clear value leader.

Choose the Audi Q5 if...

You prioritize maximum fuel economy, achieving 29 MPG on the highway.
You prefer the prestige and all-wheel-drive standard setup found in the Audi Q5.
You want a slightly more compact exterior size at 184.3 inches in length for easier city parking.

Choose the Hyundai Santa Fe if...

You need immediate power, benefiting from 311 lb-ft of torque and 277 hp.
You want to save over eleven thousand dollars upfront, starting at an MSRP of $34,300.
You prefer to use less expensive regular unleaded gasoline instead of premium fuel.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Audi Q5	Hyundai Santa Fe
Length	184.3"	190.2"
Width	74.5"	74.8"
Height	65.5"	67.7"
Wheelbase	111.0"	110.8"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Audi	Hyundai
Blind Spot Monitor	✓	✓
Lane Departure Warning	✓	✓
Lane Keeping Assist System	✓	✓
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	✓	✓
Pre-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Post-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	✓
Front Head Airbags	✓	✓
Rear Head Airbags	✓	✓
Passenger Airbag Occupant Sensing Deactivation	✓	✓
Electronic Stability Control	✓	✓
Traction Control System	✓	✓
LATCH System	✓	✓
Rear Door Child Safety Locks	✓	✓
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)	4-Wheel	4-Wheel
Front Ventilated Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Rear Ventilated Disc Brakes	✓	—
Brake Assist	✓	✓
Tire Pressure Monitoring System	✓	✓
Automatic Headlights	✓	✓
Headlight Delay-Off	✓	✓
LED Headlights	✓	✓
Daytime Running Lights	✓	✓
Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors	✓	—
Front Headrests	2	2
Front Multi-Adjustable Headrests	✓	—
Rear Headrests	3	3
Rear Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Center 3-Point Seatbelt	✓	✓
Anti-Theft Alarm System (Remote)	✓	✓
Engine Immobilizer	✓	✓
Driver Attention Alert	—	✓
Dual Rear Side-Mounted Airbags	—	✓
Rear Solid Disc Brakes	—	✓
Front Height Adjustable Headrests	—	✓

Engine

Feature	Audi	Hyundai
Base Engine Displacement	2.0 L	2.5 L
Number of Cylinders	inline 4	inline 4
Base Engine Type	gas	gas
Horsepower	201 hp	277 hp @ 5800 rpm
Torque	236 lb-ft	311 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm
Number of Valves	16	16
Camshaft Type	Double overhead cam (DOHC)	Double overhead cam (DOHC)
Variable Valve Timing	Variable	Variable
Fuel Injection Type	✓	✓

Drive Train

Feature	Audi	Hyundai
Transmission Type	7-speed automated manual	8-speed automated manual
Drivetrain Type	all wheel drive	front wheel drive
Center Differential Type	Limited Slip	—
Hill Descent Control	✓	✓

Fuel

Feature	Audi	Hyundai
Fuel Type	premium unleaded (recommended)	regular unleaded
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	23/29 MPG	20/29 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	26 MPG	24 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	425.5/536.5 mi.	354.0/513.3 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	18.5 gal.	17.7 gal.

Comfort & Convenience

Feature	Audi	Hyundai
Push Button Start	✓	✓
Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Transmission Controls on Steering Wheel	✓	—
Audio Controls on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Electric Power Steering	✓	✓
Rear View Camera	✓	✓
Front Parking Sensors	✓	✓
Rear Parking Sensors	✓	✓
Adaptive Cruise Control	✓	✓
Universal Remote Transmitter	✓	—
Front Cupholders	✓	✓
Rear Cupholders	✓	✓
Front Door Pockets	✓	✓
Rear Door Pockets	✓	✓
Front Seatback Storage	✓	✓
Leather Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Heated Steering Wheel	✓	—
Three Zone Climate Control	✓	—
Rear Ventilation Ducts with Fan Control	✓	—
Interior Air Filtration	✓	✓
Dual Vanity Mirrors	✓	✓
Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror	✓	—
Turn Signal Indicators in Mirrors	✓	—
Cruise Control on Steering Wheel	—	✓
3rd Row Cupholders	—	✓
Overhead Console with Storage	—	✓
Single Zone Climate Control	—	✓
Rear Ventilation Ducts	—	✓
Extended Cabin Heating/Cooling	—	✓

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Audi	Hyundai
Infotainment Display	10.1 in	12.3 in
AM/FM Stereo	✓	✓
Stereo Power	180W	—
Speaker System	10	—
Apple CarPlay (Wireless)	✓	✓
Android Auto (Wired)	✓	—
USB Port	✓	✓
USB Port with External Media Control	✓	✓
Android Auto (Wireless)	—	✓
Satellite Radio	—	✓
Satellite Radio Trial Period	—	3 months

Power Feature

Feature	Audi	Hyundai
One-Touch Power Windows	4	1
Keyless Entry	✓	✓
Heated Mirrors	✓	✓

Frontseats

Feature	Audi	Hyundai
Front Head Room	39.6 in.	41.1 in.
Front Leg Room	40.9 in.	44.4 in.
Front Shoulder Room	57.7 in.	59.5 in.
Seat Material: Leather	✓	—
Front Seat Type: Bucket	✓	✓
Driver Seat Power Adjustments	8-way	—
Driver Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Driver Seat Lumbar Support	Power	Power
Passenger Seat Power Adjustments	8-way	—
Passenger Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Driver Seat Heating	Multi-level	—
Passenger Seat Heating	Multi-level	—
Front Hip Room	—	56.5 in.
Seat Material: Cloth	—	✓
Driver Seat Manual Adjustments	—	6-way
Passenger Seat Manual Adjustments	—	6-way

Rearseats

Feature	Audi	Hyundai
Rear Head Room	39.3 in.	40.6 in.
Rear Leg Room	38.0 in.	42.3 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	56.5 in.	58.1 in.
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	✓	✓
Reclining Rear Seats	✓	✓
Folding Rear Seat Feature	✓	—
Pass-Thru Center Armrest	✓	—
Rear Hip Room	—	54.9 in.
Folding Center Armrest	—	✓
Manual Folding Third Row Seat	—	✓

Tires and Wheels

Feature	Audi	Hyundai
Wheel Material	Alloy	—
Wheel Size	18 x 8.0 in	18 x 7.5 in
Tire Type	All Season	All Season
Tire Size	235/60R18	235/60R18
Spare Tire Type	Temporary	Temporary
Spare Tire Location	Inside Mounted	Inside Mounted
Wheel Finish	—	Painted Alloy

Suspension

Feature	Audi	Hyundai
Four-Wheel Independent Suspension	✓	✓
Front Stabilizer Bar	✓	✓
Rear Stabilizer Bar	✓	✓

Warranty

Feature	Audi	Hyundai
Basic Warranty	4 yr./ 50000 mi.	5 yr./ 60000 mi.
Drivetrain Warranty	4 yr./ 50000 mi.	10 yr./ 100000 mi.
Corrosion/Rust Warranty	12 yr./ unlimited mi.	7 yr./ unlimited mi.
Roadside Assistance	4 yr./ unlimited mi.	5 yr./ unlimited mi.
Complimentary Scheduled Maintenance	—	3 yr./ 36000 mi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing the 2025 Audi Q5 and 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe.

What is the main trade-off between the Audi Q5 and the Hyundai Santa Fe's performance?

The main trade-off is efficiency versus raw power. The Q5 delivers better fuel economy at 26 combined MPG but only produces 201 horsepower. Conversely, the Santa Fe offers a much stronger 277 horsepower output, though its combined MPG drops slightly to 24.

Is the significant price difference between the two vehicles justified by features?

While both are crossovers, the Q5 demands $45,400 versus the Santa Fe's $34,300. This $11,100 difference largely covers the Audi's standard AWD system and premium brand cachet, as the Santa Fe is substantially more powerful.

Which vehicle is physically larger and how does that affect utility?

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe is physically larger overall, measuring 190.2 inches long compared to the Q5's 184.3 inches. However, surprisingly, the Audi Q5 offers more maximum cargo space at 25.9 cu ft versus the Santa Fe's 14.6 cu ft.

Do these vehicles require the same type of fuel?

No, they do not; the 2025 Audi Q5 recommends premium unleaded fuel for optimal performance. The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe runs just fine on regular unleaded, which can lead to ongoing savings over the vehicle's life.

How do the drivetrains compare in the base models?

The base 2025 Audi Q5 comes standard with all-wheel drive connected to a 7-speed automated manual transmission. The base 2025 Santa Fe utilizes a front-wheel-drive setup paired with an 8-speed automated manual.

For daily driving, is the Audi or Hyundai easier on fuel expenses?

The Audi Q5 is generally easier on fuel expenses because it achieves 29 highway MPG versus the Santa Fe's 29 highway MPG but also has a better combined rating of 26 MPG versus 24 MPG.