2020 Ford Explorer vs 2020 Audi Q7

The 2020 Ford Explorer showcased a refined, upscale, and athletic design. It was more visually appealing than many of its rivals, including the Land Rover Discovery, which seemed to borrow its style. The 2020 model streamlined the body panels, especially at the rear, and offered a more athletic stance. Features like widened headlights, an extra-large grille, and prominent "Explorer" lettering on the hood gave it a distinct, recognizable face. The ST version, with black 21-inch rims, red brake calipers, rich Rapid Red paint, and quad exhaust pipes, stood out as particularly striking.

However, the interior of the Explorer left much to be desired. Considering its price range—upwards of $60,000 for a fully loaded model—the quality of materials fell short. The leather felt more like low-grade vinyl, and the extensive use of flimsy, rough-grained plastic detracted from the overall experience. Elements like fake carbon-fiber trim and coarse plastics further marred the interior's allure. While the padded dashboard top and aluminum speaker covers did add some finesse, the overall execution felt lacking, especially when compared to luxury rivals or even more affordable options like the Kia Telluride.

Conversely, the 2020 Audi Q7 exhibited a sophisticated and updated design, inside and out. The revised front and rear styling, along with new wheels and lighting elements, brought it closer in appearance to the flagship Q8. The interior borrowed much from the high-tech Q8, featuring three digital displays that banished most physical controls. This setup included Audi’s Virtual Cockpit panel, which offered multiple configurations and visual themes. The test model's Okapi Brown leather with Gray/Brown Fine Grain Ash natural wood inlays exuded an upscale and modern vibe, further enhanced by the ambient lighting in the Prestige trim. Despite some fingerprints on the touchscreens, the overall presentation was both luxurious and high-tech, quite befitting a vehicle in its class.

The 2020 Ford Explorer offered an impressive range of powertrains and a rear-wheel-drive chassis that improved weight distribution and handling. The ST trim, tuned by Ford Performance, featured a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 engine delivering 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The ST's ride quality was commendable, striking a balance between firmness and comfort, despite lacking adaptive dampers. This machine felt nimble, with crisp steering, flat cornering, and excellent brake feel, making it a standout in its segment. The Standard 2.3-liter turbo inline-four engine produced a robust 300 hp and 310 lb-ft, while a hybrid variant combined a 3.3-liter V6 with an electric motor for a net 318 hp. However, the hybrid didn't offer significant fuel economy gains, rated at 23 mpg city, 26 highway, and 25 combined with AWD. Towing capacity varied, with the hybrid at 5,000 pounds, the 4-cylinder at 5,300, and the V6 at 5,600 pounds.

The 2020 Audi Q7 introduced a new 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 engine in the 55 TFSI model, producing 335 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, enhanced by a 48-volt mild-hybrid electrical system for better fuel efficiency. Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and Audi’s Quattro all-wheel-drive system, the 55 TFSI drivetrain accelerated the 5,082-pound SUV from zero to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds. The towing capacity stood at an impressive 7,700 pounds, and the EPA estimated a combined fuel economy of 18 mpg, though a road trip yielded 21 mpg. The Q7 offered several driving modes through Audi Drive Select, including Comfort, Auto, Dynamic, Individual, and Allroad, adjusting the drivetrain, steering, and adaptive suspension settings. The Prestige trim’s adaptive air suspension provided a comfortable ride and off-road capability, while the cabin remained remarkably quiet, thanks to dual-pane acoustic side window glass.

The 2020 Ford Explorer provided ample interior space, making it suitable for long trips. On a family road trip to Maine, all passengers had plenty of space, with generous cargo room behind the second row for gear. The second row was equipped with air vents, USB ports, and a panoramic moonroof, enhancing comfort. The third row could accommodate six-foot-tall adults for short journeys, but its flat bench wasn’t ideal for long-distance comfort. Cargo space measured 18 cubic feet behind the third row, 48 cubic feet behind the second row, and 88 cubic feet with all seats folded, marking a notable increase from the previous model.

The 2020 Audi Q7, while boasting 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 cushion and limited legroom. Using the third row significantly reduced cargo space to a meager 14.2 cubic feet. With the third row folded, the Q7 offered 35.7 cubic feet, expanding to 69.6 cubic feet with both rows down. For a family of four, the Q7 provided a comfortable environment, enhanced by features like eight-way power-adjustable front seats, four-zone climate control, rear heated seats, and a panoramic sunroof. However, practical interior storage was limited, with constrained space in the center console and minimal room for personal items.

The 2020 Ford Explorer came equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen with Sync 3 infotainment, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, 4G WiFi, factory navigation, and FordPass Connect, among other features. Higher trims included a 10-inch vertical touchscreen and a 12-inch digital instrument cluster. Although the system was user-friendly and offered high-resolution graphics, it lacked some advanced capabilities like over-the-air updates. The digital instrument panel displayed various themes and animations, but lacked customization options. The Co-Pilot360 Assist+ system was also less refined compared to competitors, with room for improvement in lane tracking and overall user experience.

The 2020 Audi Q7 introduced the MMI Touch Response technology, combining a 10.1-inch upper touchscreen with an 8.6-inch lower touchscreen. The system featured natural voice recognition, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Google Earth navigation, and Audi Connect with 4G LTE WiFi. Although the touchscreens sometimes struggled with dry fingertips, the interface was generally intuitive and easy to use. The Prestige trim included a full-color head-up display, though it was not compatible with polarized sunglasses. The Bose sound system in the 2020 model delivered excellent audio quality, though it would be replaced by a Bang & Olufsen system in 2021.

The 2020 Ford Explorer came standard with Ford Co-Pilot 360, offering forward emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, auto high beams, lane-keep assist, and a passenger front knee airbag. The optional Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control with steering assist and reverse braking, though the latter activated falsely at times. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rated the Explorer as "Acceptable" in the small overlap front test on the driver's side. At the time of review, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had not yet tested the 2020 model.

The 2020 Audi Q7 excelled in safety, featuring HD Matrix LED headlights praised for their illumination, although the IIHS rated them as "poor" due to excessive glare. The Q7 came with advanced driving-assistance systems (ADAS), including Emergency Assist, Turn Assist, and Adaptive Cruise Assist with lane-centering. Despite some issues with traffic-sign recognition and lane keeping technologies, the Q7 provided a high level of safety. The IIHS gave the Audi Q7 its highest ratings for crash tests, although the poor headlight rating kept it from achieving a "Top Safety Pick+" designation.