2020 Audi Q7 vs 2020 Honda CR-V

The 2020 Honda CR-V, a fifth-generation compact crossover, retained a familiar yet captivating design that had been on the market since the 2017 model year. Honda's designers took a soft approach, with curvy and car-like lines that shared a family resemblance with Honda’s sedan lineup, creating a look more akin to a station wagon than an SUV. This design defined modern family transport aesthetics—at least from the exterior.

Inside, the CR-V's interior was a mix of textures and materials. While the wood-look trim and leather upholstery offered in pricier models were pleasing, they contrasted with some low-quality plastics, reminding drivers that an expensive CR-V was essentially a premium take on a commodity vehicle. The base FWD LX trim started at an MSRP of $26,270, with AWD available for an additional $1,500 across all trims. The CR-V featured a set of standard 17-inch alloy wheels, with larger 18s on the EX trim, and optional 19s on the Touring model. Fabric seating adorned the base models, with leather available in higher trims. A retractable moonroof, standard in all but the LX trim, fell short when compared to the panoramic sunroofs found in competitors like the Toyota RAV4 and Volkswagen Tiguan.

In contrast, the 2020 Audi Q7 presented a more upscale aesthetic with multiple variations available. The 45 TFSI model housed a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine, while the 55 TFSI had a mild-hybrid turbocharged 3.0-liter V6. The test model, a 55 TFSI Prestige trim, started at $60,800, and with additional options such as Navarra Blue metallic paint, a Cold Weather Package, and a Towing Package, the price reached $74,290. Design updates included changes to the front and rear styles, with new wheels and lighting elements aligning it closer to the flagship Q8 model.

Inside, the Q7 adopted a high-tech dashboard and instrumentation from the Q8. The interior featured three digital displays and a Virtual Cockpit panel offering different themes and configurations. The test model's cabin boasted Okapi Brown leather with natural wood inlays and a black cloth headliner. Multi-color ambient lighting added a soothing touch at night. The Q7's cabin was noted for its upscale and high-tech appearance.

The 2020 Honda CR-V came with a single engine option—a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque. This engine replaced the previous 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, simplifying the lineup. Paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), the turbo four-cylinder delivered adequate power and efficiency. Despite the typical sluggish response of CVTs, Honda’s implementation provided decent acceleration, particularly in Sport mode. The CR-V drove like a small sedan with nimble handling and a well-balanced chassis. Its light curb weight of 3,337 pounds for the FWD LX model contributed to its agility and fuel efficiency. The CR-V achieved EPA ratings of 30 mpg combined for FWD and 29 mpg for AWD, positioning it at the top of its class.

The Audi Q7, specifically the 55 TFSI model, debuted a new 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 engine with 335 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, featuring a 48-volt mild-hybrid electrical system to conserve fuel. 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, with a towing capacity of 7,700 pounds. The Q7 averaged 21 mpg during road tests, despite its larger engine and heavier curb weight of 5,082 pounds. The adaptive air suspension added to the Prestige trim allowed for varying firmness settings and adjustable suspension heights, making the Q7 versatile on different terrains.

Honda's reputation for efficient packaging was evident in the 2020 CR-V. Its cabin was spacious, offering ample head- and legroom for both front and rear passengers. The seating position took advantage of the low cowl and excellent front visibility. The cargo compartment was notably roomy, providing 75.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, comparable to the larger Volkswagen Tiguan. Clever storage solutions included a deep center console influenced by the Honda Odyssey and a two-position load floor in the rear. The spacious door pockets and other smart storage compartments made the CR-V convenient for everyday use.

The Audi Q7, while offering three rows of seats and a seven-passenger capacity, was more suited for five passengers. The third-row seats were only suitable for children, and using them diminished cargo space to 14.2 cubic feet. With the third row folded, the cargo space expanded to 35.7 cubic feet, and folding both rear rows provided 69.6 cubic feet. The Q7’s second-row seats offered ample legroom and comfort, enhanced by features like four-zone climate control, heated rear seats, and rear window shades. The panoramic sunroof added to the sense of spaciousness. However, the Q7 had limited practical interior storage, with minimal space in the center console and small door-panel bins.

The 2020 Honda CR-V’s infotainment system lagged behind the times. The base LX trim featured a 5-inch screen with limited functionality, while higher trims had a more substantial 7-inch touchscreen, which still felt inadequate compared to competitors’ offerings. The Honda system lacked physical buttons (outside of a single power/volume knob), making it challenging to operate. Integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto was available, but felt minimally integrated. Despite these drawbacks, Honda included numerous USB ports and added a wireless phone charger to the Touring trim.

On the other hand, the 2020 Audi Q7 introduced the innovative Multi-Media Interface (MMI) Touch Response technology, combining a 10.1-inch upper touchscreen with an 8.6-inch lower touchscreen. The MMI included features such as natural voice recognition, handwriting recognition, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, navigation with Google Earth imagery, and Audi Connect services with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. Despite occasional unresponsiveness due to dry fingertips, the system generally provided an intuitive user experience once set up. The Prestige trim offered a full-color head-up display (though invisible with polarized sunglasses) and a Bose premium sound system, enhancing the Q7’s tech appeal.

The 2020 Honda CR-V came standard with the Honda Sensing suite, which included forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, road-departure mitigation, and adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assist. EX trims also received blind-spot monitoring and cross-traffic alert. The CR-V earned top safety ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), attaining five stars overall from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick designation from IIHS for trims with LED headlights.

The Audi Q7 featured HD Matrix LED headlights, though rated "poor" by IIHS due to glare issues. The Q7 was equipped with numerous advanced driving-assistance systems (ADAS), including new features like Emergency Assist, Turn Assist, and Adaptive Cruise Assist. While Emergency Assist and Turn Assist were not personally tested, the Adaptive Cruise Assist technology was found to be problematic, often misreading traffic signs. Active Lane Assist also had issues on certain roads. Nevertheless, the Q7 earned top safety ratings from IIHS, with only the headlight rating preventing a "Top Safety Pick+" nod.