2020 Audi Q7 vs 2021 Subaru Forester

The 2020 Audi Q7 offered 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. A performance-tuned Audi SQ7 with a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 was also new for 2020. The Q7 55 TFSI, starting at $60,800, was available in Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige trims. The test vehicle, a Prestige trim, featured Navarra Blue metallic paint, a Cold Weather Package, and a Towing Package, totaling $74,290. Design updates included new front and rear styling, wheels, and lighting elements, aligning the Q7 with the flagship Q8 model. The interior adopted the high-tech dashboard and instrumentation from the Q8, featuring three digital displays and Audi’s Virtual Cockpit panel. The cabin, decked out in Okapi Brown leather and Gray/Brown Fine Grain Ash natural wood inlays, exuded an upscale and high-tech vibe, enhanced by multi-color ambient lighting.

The 2021 Subaru Forester, redesigned for 2019, retained a familiar styling with a boxy, upright shape and distinctive cross-shaped taillights. The Forester Sport model, tested here, featured orange striping, a rear spoiler, and black 18-inch alloy wheels, which made a significant visual impact, especially with the Dark Blue Pearl paint. Riding on the Subaru Global Platform, shared with other Subaru models, the Forester maintained its rugged SUV image. The interior, a no-nonsense mix of durable materials, included orange trim and cross-stitching in the Sport trim. Base, Premium, and Sport models had cloth upholstery, while Limited and Touring trims offered leather. The All-Weather Package, standard on Premium and higher trims, added heated front seats, heated exterior mirrors, and a windshield de-icer.

The 2020 Audi Q7 55 TFSI debuted a new 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 engine, producing 335 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. This engine featured a 48-volt mild-hybrid electrical system, enhancing fuel efficiency. Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and Quattro all-wheel-drive, the Q7 offered various driving modes through Audi Drive Select. The 55 TFSI could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds and had a maximum tow rating of 7,700 pounds. The EPA estimated 18 mpg combined, but during testing, it averaged 21 mpg on a road trip and 18.1 mpg locally. The Prestige trim included an adaptive air suspension, adjustable through Audi Drive Select. The Q7 excelled in off-road conditions and provided speedy acceleration on pavement, with the mild-hybrid technology operating seamlessly. The cabin remained quiet, thanks to dual-pane acoustic side window glass, making it a comfortable and enjoyable drive.

The 2021 Subaru Forester featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, generating 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The engine’s boxer configuration provided a lower center of gravity. Subaru quoted a 1,500-pound maximum towing capacity, with Trailer Stability Assist as standard. The Forester lacked a turbocharged engine option, resulting in adequate but not thrilling power. The suspension tuning prioritized comfort, leading to significant body roll in corners and a bouncy ride on uneven pavement. Standard all-wheel drive and X-Mode, with Dual X-Mode on Sport models, enhanced off-road capability. The Forester offered 8.7 inches of ground clearance and standard hill-descent control on Premium and higher trims, making it suitable for light off-roading.

The 2020 Audi Q7, with three rows of seats, was best used as a five-passenger vehicle. The third-row seat, suitable only for young children, required sliding the second-row seats forward, reducing cargo space to 14.2 cubic feet. With the third row folded, cargo capacity increased to 35.7 cubic feet, and with both rows down, it reached 69.6 cubic feet. The Prestige trim’s eight-way power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated front seats were comfortable for long trips. The second-row seats offered ample legroom and thigh support, with four-zone climate control and heated rear cushions ensuring passenger comfort. However, interior storage was limited, with the center console and dashboard screen taking up most of the space.

The 2021 Subaru Forester provided above-average headroom and legroom in both rows, thanks to its tall, flat roofline. This design also enhanced outward visibility and created a roomy feeling. The Forester offered 35.4 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 76.1 cubic feet with them folded, surpassing some competitors. However, it lacked a sliding second-row bench. A power liftgate was optional on the Sport trim and standard on Limited and Touring trims. The center console was reasonably sized, but the phone-storage cubby was too small for an average-size phone, and wireless charging was not available. The Forester featured large knobs for audio and climate control, but the numerous buttons on the steering wheel could be confusing.

The 2020 Audi Q7 introduced the Multi-Media Interface (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 with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. While the interface was generally intuitive, dry fingertips sometimes made virtual buttons unresponsive. The Prestige trim featured a full-color head-up display, though it was invisible with polarized sunglasses. The test vehicle had a Bose premium sound system, replaced by a 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen system in 2021.

The 2021 Subaru Forester’s standard Starlink infotainment system included a 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, and front-row USB ports. Sport models added an 8-inch touchscreen and Harman Kardon audio system, while Limited and Touring trims included navigation and rear USB ports. The system was user-friendly, with well-designed graphics and backup analog controls. However, the screen was slow to boot up. Additional displays in the dashboard and instrument cluster provided secondary information, but the setup seemed overly complex.

The 2020 Audi Q7 featured HD Matrix LED headlights, which performed exceptionally well during night driving but received a "poor" rating from the IIHS due to excessive glare. The Q7 included numerous advanced driving-assistance systems (ADAS), with upgrades available in the Executive Package or Prestige trim. Highlights included Emergency Assist, Turn Assist, and Adaptive Cruise Assist with lane-centering assistance. However, the traffic-sign-recognition technology and Active Lane Assist proved problematic. The IIHS gave the Q7 the highest ratings in collision protection, except for the "poor" headlight assessment.

The 2021 Subaru Forester excelled in safety, earning the highest “Top Safety Pick+” award from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. Standard EyeSight technology included adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lead-vehicle start alert. The Forester also featured a driver-monitoring system, unique among mainstream brands. Optional safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and reverse automatic braking. The adaptive cruise control and lane-centering functions performed adequately, though the latter’s steering inputs were jerky.