2021 Ford Explorer vs 2021 Audi Q5

The 2021 Ford Explorer had a design that echoed Ford's family resemblance across its SUV lineup, from the Escape to the Expedition. Its exterior was sporty with raked belt lines and distinctive visages, though it could be hard to distinguish from the Edge at a quick glance. The Explorer offered six trim levels, each with varying grille designs and price points ranging from $32,925 to $52,730. Inside, it featured three rows of seats as standard, with cloth upholstery on the base model and leather available on higher trims. The dash was clean, with an 8-inch LCD touchscreen and a rotary gearshift that freed up storage space.

The 2021 Audi Q5, on the other hand, carried the Audi design language well while maintaining its unique character. It had an expressive face with LED headlights and a big Singleframe grille. The body featured crisp character lines, and the rear had bold taillights. The Q5 PHEV stood out with S-Line trim pieces and standard 19-inch wheels. Inside, the Q5 was classy and modern, with smartly grouped buttons and high-quality materials like real wood and metal. The 10.1-inch touchscreen was well-placed, and the second row offered standard leather seating surfaces.

The 2021 Ford Explorer, at its lightest, weighed 4,345 pounds. Its base 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine produced 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, outperforming the Kia Telluride's V6. The Explorer Limited Hybrid offered a V6 hybrid drivetrain with 310 hp and 331 lb-ft of torque. Higher trims featured a 3.0-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6, delivering 365 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque, while the sport-oriented ST trim offered 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque. The Explorer's towing capacity ranged from 5,000 to 5,600 pounds, depending on the trim and engine.

The 2021 Audi Q5 PHEV combined a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine with an electric motor, producing a total of 362 hp and 373 lb-ft of torque. It had a curb weight of 4,665 pounds and could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 5.0 seconds. The Q5 PHEV offered impressive fuel economy figures of 65 MPGe combined and 27 mpg in gasoline-only mode. It used a seven-speed S Tronic automatic transmission with full-time Quattro all-wheel drive and had a range of driving modes to optimize battery usage. The Q5's handling was good, with minimal body roll and powerful braking.

The 2021 Ford Explorer had seating for seven in the base trim, with captain’s chairs in the second row for other trims, reducing capacity to six. It offered 39 inches of legroom for second-row passengers and 21 cubic feet of cargo space with the third row deployed. With the rear seats folded, the Explorer provided 81 cubic feet of cargo room.

The 2021 Audi Q5 PHEV managed to carry its battery pack under the luggage compartment floor, offering 25.1 cubic feet of space behind the second row and 53.1 cubic feet with the second row folded. The second row had 37.8 inches of legroom, 37.7 inches of headroom, and 56.5 inches of shoulder room. The front row featured comfortable and supportive seats with a wide range of adjustments, heating, and ventilation on the Prestige trim. The interior had several storage options, including cupholders and cubbies.

The 2021 Ford Explorer's base trim came with an 8-inch touchscreen, AM/FM radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 4G WiFi hotspot, Ford’s Sync 3 infotainment system, and a six-speaker audio system. Higher trims offered a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system, a 10.1-inch touchscreen, and up to 14 speakers. Charging options included two USB ports and five 12-volt power points, with a 110-volt AC power outlet available on higher trims.

The 2021 Audi Q5 PHEV featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Audi Virtual Cockpit Plus 12.3-inch HD instrument cluster, and customizable LED ambient interior lights. The Prestige Package included the Navigation Package, which optimized fuel consumption and battery usage. The Integrated Toll Module was standard on all Q5 models. 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 also included.

The 2021 Ford Explorer was rated as a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS, with top scores in all crash tests and an "Acceptable" rating for adaptive headlights. The Explorer came with the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite, including auto high-beam headlights, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane keeping assist, forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and dynamic brake support. Higher trims offered additional features like adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, and speed sign recognition.

The 2021 Audi Q5 PHEV had not been rated by the IIHS, but the 2020 Q5 received top ratings in all categories except headlights. The NHTSA awarded the 2021 Q5 gasoline model five stars. Safety features included six airbags, anti-lock braking, Audi Pre Sense basic, low-speed collision assist, power child safety locks, electronic stability control, and a rearview camera. Available driver-assistance features included Audi Advanced Key, Audi Pre Sense rear, Audi Side Assist, adaptive cruise control, park steering assist, traffic-sign recognition, and a top-view camera system.