2020 Audi Q7 vs 2019 Jeep Cherokee

The 2019 Jeep Cherokee underwent a significant design overhaul to address the polarizing styling of its predecessor. The previous model, rumored to have Fiat origins, featured unconventional design elements that didn't resonate well with many buyers. Jeep designers took a clean-slate approach, resulting in a more conventional front-end design for the 2019 model. The new headlight and fog-light configuration, along with a re-positioned license plate frame, gave the Cherokee a more modern and appealing look. Inside, the Cherokee retained its functional and logical control layout, reminiscent of the Grand Cherokee, with plenty of storage compartments and a sensible design that catered well to everyday use.

In contrast, the 2020 Audi Q7 received updates that aligned its styling with the flagship Q8 model. The Q7 featured new front and rear designs, wheels, and lighting elements that enhanced its visual appeal. The interior adopted the high-tech dashboard and instrumentation from the Q8, replacing most physical controls with three digital displays. The cabin, adorned with Okapi Brown leather and Gray/Brown Fine Grain Ash wood inlays, exuded luxury and sophistication. The Prestige trim's multi-color ambient lighting added a soothing ambiance, making the Q7's interior both upscale and high-tech.

The 2019 Jeep Cherokee offered a range of engines, including a new turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. This engine, available across the lineup except for the base Latitude, provided solid acceleration but was noisy at higher speeds. The base 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine, with 180 horsepower and 171 pound-feet of torque, was standard on the Latitude, Latitude Plus, and FWD Limited. The 3.2-liter V6 engine, delivering 271 horsepower and 239 pound-feet of torque, was standard on the 4WD Limited, Overland, and Trailhawk trims. The Cherokee's 9-speed automatic transmission and various 4WD systems, including Active Drive I, Active Drive II, and Active Drive Lock, offered versatility for different driving conditions. The Cherokee's towing capacity reached up to 4,500 pounds with the V6 engine, and its fuel economy varied, with the turbo engine achieving up to 31 mpg on the highway.

The 2020 Audi Q7 introduced a new 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 engine with 335 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system to enhance fuel efficiency. The engine, combined with an eight-speed automatic transmission and Quattro all-wheel-drive system, provided a 0-60 mph time of 5.7 seconds. The Q7's towing capacity was an impressive 7,700 pounds, and its fuel economy averaged 21 mpg during testing. The Prestige trim included an adaptive air suspension with various settings for different driving conditions, ensuring a comfortable and capable ride. The Q7 excelled in both on-road and off-road performance, with agile handling and a quiet cabin, thanks to dual-pane acoustic side window glass.

The 2019 Jeep Cherokee featured a highly functional control layout with plenty of storage solutions, including deep pockets in the front doors, a tray by the shifter, and a deep center console. The hands-free power liftgate, available as an option, added convenience, although its sensor was occasionally unresponsive. However, the Cherokee's cargo space was limited, with just 25 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 54 cubic feet with the seats folded, falling short compared to competitors like the Honda CR-V.

The 2020 Audi Q7, with its three rows of seats, was best used as a five-passenger vehicle due to the cramped third-row seating. When the third row was folded, cargo capacity increased from 14.2 cubic feet to 35.7 cubic feet, and with both rows folded, it reached 69.6 cubic feet. The Q7's interior was comfortable for long trips, with heated and ventilated front seats, ample legroom in the second row, and features like four-zone climate control and a panoramic sunroof. However, practical interior storage was limited, with the center console and dashboard screen taking up valuable space, leaving the glove compartment and door-panel bins for personal items.

The 2019 Jeep Cherokee came standard with a 7-inch Uconnect touchscreen, featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims included an 8.3-inch Uconnect system with updated graphics, improved responsiveness, and pinch-to-zoom navigation. The Uconnect system's intuitive layout and customizable screens made it user-friendly, setting a high standard for infotainment systems.

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 services. While the interface was generally intuitive, dry fingertips sometimes made virtual buttons unresponsive. The Prestige trim featured a head-up display and a Bose premium sound system, although the head-up display was invisible with polarized sunglasses.

The 2019 Jeep Cherokee came standard with front and side-impact airbags, a reversing camera, electronic stability control, and more. Optional safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-path detection, forward-collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control, available through various packages.

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 advanced driving-assistance systems like Emergency Assist, Turn Assist, and Adaptive Cruise Assist. However, the traffic-sign recognition system occasionally misread signs, leading to abrupt braking. The Q7 received the highest IIHS ratings for collision protection, except for the headlight assessment.