2019 Buick Envision vs 2020 Audi Q7

The 2019 Buick Envision was considered one of the most attractive vehicles in Buick's SUV lineup. It had a more athletic and taut vibe compared to the subcompact Buick Encore and the full-size Buick Enclave. The strong body lines along the sides and the upright rear section of the side windows gave it proportions similar to a BMW X1. Inside, the cabin initially appeared attractive with a clean and straightforward layout, but closer inspection revealed that it fell short of the luxury billing Buick aimed for. The matte-finish materials used for some controls and the bezel around the radio and navigation system looked cheap, especially when combined with chrome and light-colored leather. The multifunction steering wheel also felt coarse to the touch due to the same matte finish.

In contrast, the 2020 Audi Q7 featured multiple variations, including the 45 TFSI with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and the 55 TFSI with a mild-hybrid turbocharged 3.0-liter V6. The Q7's design changes for 2020 included modifications to the front and rear styling, new wheels, and lighting elements, aligning it with the flagship Q8 model. The test vehicle, a Q7 55 TFSI with Prestige trim, showcased an upscale and high-tech interior with Okapi Brown leather, Gray/Brown Fine Grain Ash natural wood inlays, and a black cloth headliner. The cabin's ambiance was enhanced by multi-color ambient lighting, and the high-tech dashboard and instrumentation from the Q8 replaced most physical controls with three digital displays.

The 2019 Buick Envision offered two engine options. The FWD, Preferred, and Essence trims came with a 2.5-liter inline 4-cylinder engine producing 197 horsepower, paired with an outdated 6-speed automatic transmission. This setup felt underpowered and sluggish in many driving situations. The Premium and Premium II trims featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, generating 252 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, paired with a new 9-speed automatic transmission. This engine provided solid acceleration and came standard with AWD. The Envision's steering was responsive and tight, though the vehicle felt top-heavy in corners. Fuel economy for the 2.5-liter FWD was 22 mpg city, 29 highway, and 25 combined, while the turbo AWD model achieved 20/25/22 mpg.

The 2020 Audi Q7 55 TFSI introduced a new 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 engine, producing 335 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. It featured a 48-volt mild-hybrid electrical system to conserve fuel, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and Quattro all-wheel-drive system. Audi Drive Select offered several driving modes, including Comfort, Auto, Dynamic, Individual, and Allroad. The Q7 55 TFSI accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds and had a maximum tow rating of 7,700 pounds. The EPA rated its fuel economy at 18 mpg combined, and during testing, it averaged 21 mpg. The Prestige trim included an adaptive air suspension, enhancing ride quality and off-road capability. The Q7's cabin remained quiet even at high speeds, thanks to dual-pane acoustic side window glass.

The 2019 Buick Envision provided ample room for the driver, with a high seating position offering good visibility. The second row had plenty of head- and legroom, with reclining seat-back positions. With the rear seats up, the Envision offered 27 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 57 cubic feet when the seats were folded. The vehicle featured helpful cargo tie-downs, deep pockets in all four doors, and a cargo tray above the glove box, making good use of its space.

The 2020 Audi Q7, with its three rows of seats and seven-passenger capacity, was best used as a five-passenger vehicle. The third-row seat was suitable only for young children, with a flat, featureless cushion. When the third-row seat was in use, cargo space was limited to 14.2 cubic feet, expanding to 35.7 cubic feet with the third row folded and 69.6 cubic feet with both rows folded. The Q7's cabin was comfortable for a family of four, with eight-way power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated front seats, and plenty of legroom and thigh support in the second row. The vehicle's four-zone climate control, heated rear cushions, and panoramic sunroof added to the comfort. However, practical interior storage was limited, with the center console and dashboard screen taking up most of the space.

The 2019 Buick Envision came standard with GM's Intellilink infotainment system, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen with a straightforward layout. The system included hard buttons and dials below the screen, with customizable drag-and-drop icons. It also offered Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wireless charging for compatible smartphones. However, the touch-capacitive controls for the climate and heated/cooled front seats were not very sensitive and seemed to respond only half the time.

The 2020 Audi Q7 introduced MMI Touch Response technology, combining a 10.1-inch upper touchscreen with an 8.6-inch lower touchscreen. The system included natural voice recognition, handwriting recognition, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, navigation with Google Earth imagery, and Audi Connect subscription services with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. While the user interface was generally intuitive, dry fingertips often made the virtual buttons unresponsive. The Prestige trim included a full-color head-up display and a Bose premium sound system, though the head-up display was invisible with polarized sunglasses.

The 2019 Buick Envision came standard with ten airbags, including side-curtain and knee airbags, and a reversing camera with Rear Park Assist. The Premium and Premium II trims featured GM’s Safety Alert Seat, which vibrated to alert the driver to potential hazards. Essence and Premium trims included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, while the Premium trim added lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, and forward-collision alert. The Driver Confidence Package, available on the Premium II trim, included adaptive cruise control, automatic front braking, and a 360-degree camera. However, many of these features required additional payment.

The 2020 Audi Q7 featured HD Matrix LED headlights, which provided excellent illumination but were rated "poor" by the IIHS due to excessive glare. The Q7 included numerous advanced driving-assistance systems, with upgrades available through the Executive Package or Prestige trim. Highlights included Emergency Assist, Turn Assist, and Adaptive Cruise Assist with adaptive cruise control, traffic-jam assistance, and lane-centering assistance. However, the traffic-sign-recognition technology and Active Lane Assist proved problematic during testing. The IIHS gave the Q7 the highest ratings for collision protection, except for the "poor" headlight assessment.