Chevrolet Blazer vs Audi Q7

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, enhancing the Q7's appearance to align with the flagship Q8 model. The interior adopted the high-tech dashboard and instrumentation from the Q8, replacing most physical controls with three digital displays. The cabin, adorned in Okapi Brown leather and Gray/Brown Fine Grain Ash natural wood inlays, exuded an upscale and high-tech vibe, complemented by multi-color ambient lighting.

The 2021 Chevrolet Blazer, particularly the RS trim, impressed with its striking exterior styling, evoking comparisons to the Lamborghini Urus. The Blazer's wedgy profile, slim-cut windows, 20-inch sawblade wheels, and aggressive front end with thin lights and a tall, black grille made a bold statement. Chevy's normal SUVs appeared dowdy in comparison, but the Blazer borrowed excitement from the Camaro, featuring a snarling face, chopped roof, and muscled body. The Blazer's design mission was to look good from every angle, and it succeeded. Customization options included various grille designs, polished black wheels, and unique color accents. However, the interior was a letdown, with an all-black cabin unless paired with specific exterior colors. The seats were featureless and unsupportive, and the materials felt cheap for the Blazer's price point. Competitors offered better interior quality and design for similar or lower prices.

The 2020 Audi Q7 55 TFSI featured a new 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 engine producing 335 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, an improvement of 44 lb-ft. It included a 48-volt mild-hybrid electrical system to conserve fuel, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and Quattro all-wheel-drive. Audi Drive Select offered multiple driving modes, including Comfort, Auto, Dynamic, Individual, and Allroad. The Q7 accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds, with a maximum tow rating of 7,700 pounds and an EPA rating of 18 mpg combined. During testing, it averaged 21 mpg on a road trip and 18.1 mpg locally. The Prestige trim included an adaptive air suspension with adjustable firmness and height settings. The Q7 excelled in both on-road and off-road conditions, providing speedy acceleration and agile handling. The cabin remained remarkably quiet, thanks to dual-pane acoustic side window glass.

The 2021 Chevrolet Blazer offered three engines: a 2.5-liter inline-four with 193 horsepower and 188 pound-feet of torque, a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder with 227 hp and 258 lb-ft, and a 3.6-liter V6 with 308 hp and 270 lb-ft. The V6, standard on the RS trim, provided strong performance and a sport-tuned suspension, brakes, and steering. The RS trim also featured a mechanical torque-vectoring rear axle for improved handling. However, the transmission calibration had issues, with slow responses and a convoluted manual mode. The Blazer's fuel economy was average, with the AWD V6 rated at 19 mpg city, 26 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined. The AWD turbo inline-four achieved 22/27/24 mpg. Despite its sporty chassis, the Blazer's transmission detracted from the overall driving experience.

The 2020 Audi Q7, with three rows of seats, was best used as a five-passenger vehicle. The third-row seat was suitable only for young children, with limited cargo space when in use. Folding the third row expanded cargo capacity from 14.2 cubic feet to 35.7 cubic feet, and folding both rows provided 69.6 cubic feet. The Q7's front seats were comfortable for long trips, and the second-row seats offered ample legroom and thigh support. The test vehicle's four-zone climate control, heated rear seats, and panoramic sunroof enhanced comfort. However, interior storage was limited, with the center console and dashboard screen taking up most of the space.

The 2021 Chevrolet Blazer, a two-row SUV, comfortably seated four passengers. The low roof height did not affect interior space, and the seats were mounted lower for easy entry and exit. Visibility was poor due to the design, but large side-view mirrors and optional rear-view mirror camera improved it. The Blazer offered 64 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seat folded and 30 cubic feet when raised. The trailering package, AWD, and V6 engine allowed the Blazer to tow up to 4,500 pounds. Controls were user-friendly, with features like movable rings around the air vents for temperature adjustment and a hands-free power tailgate. The infotainment system was fast and easy to use, with options for a power tilt/telescope steering wheel and rear heated seats.

The 2020 Audi Q7 introduced the Multi-Media Interface (MMI) Touch Response technology, combining a 10.1-inch touchscreen with an 8.6-inch touchscreen. The system included natural voice recognition, handwriting recognition, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, navigation with Google Earth imagery, and Audi Connect subscription services with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The user interface was intuitive, though dry fingertips sometimes made the virtual buttons unresponsive. The Prestige trim featured a full-color head-up display, a Bose premium sound system, and a 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen system for 2021.

The 2021 Chevrolet Blazer came with an 8-inch touchscreen running Chevrolet Infotainment 3, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. The RS trim with the Driver Confidence II package added wireless phone charging, a rear camera washer, LED headlights, 360 cameras, adaptive cruise control, and the Safety Alert Seat. The infotainment system included navigation with traffic, 4G WiFi, onboard apps, and better voice recognition. Unique GM features included cloud account settings transfer, an app store, contactless payments, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. Driver assists were standard on most trims, including forward automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and automatic high beams.

The 2020 Audi Q7 featured HD Matrix LED headlights, rated "poor" by the IIHS for excessive glare but praised for their illumination capabilities. The Q7 included numerous advanced driving-assistance systems, such as Emergency Assist, Turn Assist, and Adaptive Cruise Assist. However, the traffic-sign-recognition technology and Active Lane Assist had issues, leading to a preference for manual control. The Q7 received the highest IIHS ratings for collision protection, except for the "poor" headlight assessment.

The 2021 Chevrolet Blazer scored an overall five stars from the NHTSA and top "Good" ratings from the IIHS in all crash tests, except for "Marginal" and "Poor" ratings for headlights. Standard safety features included a driver's knee airbag and enhanced forward emergency braking. However, the Blazer lacked an inboard side airbag and rear emergency braking.