Three Perspectives on Premium: 2025 Audi Q5 vs. BMW X3 vs. Volvo XC60

Audi’s all-new 2025 Q5 ditches safe evolution for a clean-sheet redesign—sleeker, smarter, and sharper in every way. We lined it up against the refreshed BMW X3 and Volvo’s ever-chill XC60 to see how these three luxury crossovers stack up when the rubber meets the road.

The Q5 & Other Luxury Crossover Options. Let’s Review. 

Luxury crossovers have come to define modern driving, equal parts utility, design, and everyday refinement. For 2025, three of the segment’s most established names return with fresh updates and, in one case, a complete redesign. The Audi Q5 has been reimagined from the ground up. The BMW X3 and Volvo XC60, meanwhile, each build on their existing strengths. Here’s how they compare.

Design: Evolving Styles, Fresh Statements

The 2025 Audi Q5 debuts with a new silhouette, wider, lower, and more sculptural than its predecessor. Clean shoulder lines, flush door handles, and available second-gen OLED taillights with selectable light signatures offer a cohesive, future-focused aesthetic. It’s a notable shift in visual identity that feels modern without sacrificing subtlety.

BMW’s X3 continues its angular, muscular look with a more upright presence. The updates for 2025 are visible in the grille and lighting, but the overall design remains familiar. The XC60 retains its signature Scandinavian restraint, marked by smooth contours and minimalist elegance, unchanged, but still quietly confident.

Interior & Technology: Reimagining the Interface

Inside the new Q5, Audi has dramatically rethought the cockpit experience. A sweeping 14.5-inch MMI touchscreen floats atop a simplified dash, paired with a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster that presents clean, driver-centric information. Haptic feedback, voice control, and ambient lighting elevate the cabin without overwhelming it.

BMW’s latest iDrive 8.5 system brings a curved display with a dual-screen layout and layered menus. It offers rich customization for tech-savvy drivers. The XC60’s Google-based infotainment remains among the easiest to use, though screen real estate and dashboard layout feel more traditional.

In terms of materials and layout, all three deliver well-crafted cabins, though Audi’s overhaul feels the most forward-leaning.

On the Road: Power Meets Poise

The 2025 Q5 arrives with a 2.0L mild-hybrid engine producing 265 hp, paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. The result is responsive without being overly aggressive, perfectly tuned for daily driving, highway merging, and light sportiness. quattro® all-wheel drive is standard, adding stability in wet conditions or twisty terrain.

The X3 offers a similarly powered four-cylinder with a traditional 8-speed transmission. It leans into a rear-wheel bias for slightly sharper handling. The XC60 is tuned for smoothness, with a 247hp engine that prioritizes quiet ride quality over engagement.

Each vehicle brings a unique feel behind the wheel, but the Q5’s balance of power, precision, and refinement makes it especially easy to live with.

Driver Assistance & Everyday Ease

Audi equips the new Q5 with a suite of standard and available features including Adaptive Cruise Assist, a new AI-powered parking system, and Traffic Jam Assist, many of which are found on higher-trim vehicles elsewhere. The integration of driver aids is seamless, with an emphasis on reducing fatigue rather than replacing the driver.

BMW and Volvo offer robust safety tech as well, though availability varies more by trim and package. Volvo’s Pilot Assist remains a strong option for steady highway cruising, while BMW’s Driving Assistance Professional package brings advanced lane-centering and adaptive features, though some may find the learning curve steeper.

Conclusion: Three Strong Contenders, Three Different Directions

Each of these crossovers represents a particular interpretation of luxury driving. The BMW X3 continues to prioritize dynamics and tradition. The XC60 doubles down on quiet comfort and Scandinavian clarity. The 2025 Audi Q5, with its comprehensive redesign, points to where the segment is heading, with cleaner interfaces, sleeker lines, and a driving experience that feels quietly confident and unmistakably current.

For those shopping in the compact luxury space, the new Q5 doesn’t just update, it resets expectations.