2021 Audi Q5 vs 2022 Ford Explorer

The 2021 Audi Q5 was a sharp-looking crossover SUV that carried the Audi design language well while maintaining its individual character within the lineup. It had an expressive face with LED headlights beside the big Audi Singleframe grille, emphasizing width. The body featured crisp character lines, and the rear showcased bold, large taillights. The plug-in Q5 wore S-Line trim pieces and enhancements, including standard 19-inch wheels or optional 20-inch wheels, giving it a classy, modern appearance with exceptional fit and finish.

Inside, the Q5 was equally classy and modern. It was packed with technology but maintained an uncluttered appearance. Buttons, switches, and knobs were smartly grouped, and the material selection was high-quality, with real wood, metal, and honed surfaces. The 10.1-inch touchscreen floated at the top of the center stack, and the second row was nicely appointed with standard leather seating surfaces throughout.

The 2022 Ford Explorer offered a variety of models, including the rugged Timberline and luxurious King Ranch trims. Our test vehicle, the King Ranch, featured four-wheel drive, Rapid Red paint, a Premium Technology package, and a twin-panel sunroof, bringing the MSRP to $59,880. The King Ranch had exclusive Del Rio leather seating with lasso-perforated inserts and King Ranch branding on the seats and center armrest pad.

The Explorer’s design was based on a rear-drive platform, allowing for a long and tall hood, short front overhang, and rakish roofline. The blacked-out roof pillars gave it a “floating roof” visual effect. Inside, the King Ranch had a mix of quality and questionable materials, but mostly looked and felt worthy of its price point. The cabin featured triple-zone automatic climate control, a power-adjustable heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, and heated second-row captain’s chairs.

The 2021 Audi Q5 PHEV took the already fun-to-drive Q5 and made it better by adding an additional 114 horsepower and 96 pound-feet of torque with a 14.1-kWh battery. The total combined output for the PHEV was 362 hp and 373 lb-ft of torque, matching well with the crossover’s 4,665-lb curb weight. The Q5 PHEV could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 5.0 seconds and achieved impressive fuel-economy figures of 65 MPGe combined. In gasoline-only mode, it was rated at 27 mpg combined. The battery pack could be recharged overnight with household current or in 2.4 hours with Level 2 service.

The Q5 PHEV used a seven-speed S Tronic automatic transmission with full-time Quattro all-wheel drive. It could be switched into modes to drive on battery power only, reserve battery power for later, or automatically drive in hybrid mode. The Q5 had speed-sensitive electromechanical power steering and a wider-than-expected turning radius of 38.4 feet. Handling was good, with a slightly stiff, sporty setting that balanced comfort with road feel. Body roll was minimal, and braking was powerful and predictable.

The 2022 Ford Explorer offered three powertrains. The base, XLT, ST-Line, Limited, and Timberline trims came with a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine generating 300 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic and rear-wheel drive, with four-wheel drive available. The maximum towing capacity was 5,300 pounds, and this engine provided up to 24 mpg in combined driving.

An efficient hybrid drivetrain was an option for the Explorer Limited and could reduce the price of the Platinum by $1,400. It was based on a 3.3-liter V6 engine, making a combined 318 hp and 322 lb-ft of torque, towing up to 5,000 lbs, and returning up to 27 mpg in combined driving. The twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine was available for the ST, Platinum, and King Ranch trims, generating 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque, with a towing capacity of 5,600 lbs and a maximum gas mileage of 21 mpg in combined driving.

Our King Ranch 4WD test vehicle had an official rating of 20 mpg, and we averaged 20.6 mpg on the testing loop. The twin-turbo V6 supplied plenty of power and satisfying acceleration. The Explorer felt robust and athletic, with a good ride quality and off-roading capability. The sport-tuned Explorer ST offered even more engaging driving dynamics.

The 2021 Audi Q5 PHEV managed to carry its battery pack under the luggage compartment floor, preserving cargo space. It offered 25.1 cubic feet of space behind the second row and up to 53.1 cubic feet with the second row folded down. The second row provided 37.8 inches of legroom, 37.7 inches of headroom, and 56.5 inches of shoulder room. The front seats were comfortable and supportive, with a wide range of adjustments, heating, and ventilation on the Prestige trim. The interior featured smartly laid-out storage spaces and an uncluttered design.

The 2022 Ford Explorer offered plenty of comfort for families of four, with the option to carry five people with a second-row bench seat. The King Ranch trim featured triple-zone automatic climate control, a power-adjustable heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, and heated second-row captain’s chairs. The front seats were exceptionally comfortable, and the second-row seats were nearly as accommodating. However, the third-row seat was difficult for adults to access and lacked legroom.

Practical storage space within the Explorer’s cabin could be better. The front door armrests lacked a tray, and the dashboard could use a shelf. The wireless charging pad and smartphone holder were helpful, but the interior lacked practical pockets, shelves, cubbies, and hooks. The King Ranch had a hands-free power liftgate, revealing 18.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seat, 47.9 cubic feet with the third row folded down, and 87.8 cubic feet with both rear rows folded.

The 2021 Audi Q5 PHEV featured Audi’s latest MMI 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which was impressive and easy to use. The Audi Virtual Cockpit Plus 12.3-inch HD instrument cluster offered three views and elevated the cabin’s tech level. The Q5 had color/mood-adjustable LED ambient interior cabin lights and an Integrated Toll Module (ITM) compatible with most toll road services in the U.S. The Bang & Olufsen 3D audio system with 19 speakers was available on Premium Plus models and standard on the Prestige trim. Wireless Apple CarPlay was included and worked seamlessly.

The 2022 Ford Explorer offered two versions of its Sync 3 infotainment system. The first had an 8-inch touchscreen, while the second had a 10.1-inch touchscreen. Our test vehicle had the full menu of Sync 3 technology, including FordPass Connect services, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, Ford+Alexa functionality, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, and a navigation system. The King Ranch trim included wireless smartphone charging, a surround-view camera system, and a 14-speaker Bang and Olufsen premium sound system.

Ford’s Sync 3 system showed its age compared to the newer Sync 4 technology available in other models. The voice recognition system struggled with certain commands, and the larger touchscreen looked like an afterthought. Additional tech for the King Ranch included a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and Active Park Assist 2.0, which could autonomously park the Explorer. An available rear-seat entertainment system came with dual rear touchscreen displays.

The 2021 Audi Q5 PHEV hadn’t been rated by the IIHS, but the 2020 Q5 gasoline model received top “good” ratings in every category except headlights, which received a “marginal” rating. The NHTSA awarded the 2021 Audi Q5 gasoline model five stars but hadn’t rated the PHEV. Safety features included six airbags, an anti-lock braking system with brake assist, Audi Pre Sense basic preventative occupant protection, low-speed collision assist, power child safety locks, electronic stability control, and more. Available driver-assistance features included Audi Advanced Key, Audi Pre Sense rear, Audi Side Assist with rear cross-traffic alert, Parking System Plus, adaptive cruise control, park steering assist, traffic-sign recognition, and a top-view camera system.

The 2022 Ford Explorer earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS for every version. The NHTSA hadn’t published complete crash-test ratings for the 2022 Explorer, but the previous year’s model earned five-star ratings except for rollover resistance, which received four stars. Ford equipped every 2022 Explorer with Ford Co-Pilot360, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Co-Pilot360 Assist+ added adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assist, and evasive steering assist. The Explorer also had a post-collision braking system and MyKey programmable vehicle functions.