2020 Ford Expedition vs 2020 Audi Q7

The 2020 Ford Expedition, last redesigned in 2018, was a full-size SUV with a clean, albeit somewhat boring, design. This simplicity in styling was expected to age well, making it a practical choice for long-term ownership. The King Ranch variant stood out with its 22-inch aluminum wheels, mesh grille insert, LED headlights, and exclusive gray-painted lower exterior trim. Special front fender emblems highlighted its unique status. Despite its Star White metallic paint giving it a terrific look, some design elements like the taillights and the roof C-pillar could have been improved.

Inside, the King Ranch featured special Del Rio leather in Mesa over Ebony, adorned with King Ranch cattle-brand logos. While the cabin was generally nice, the presence of hard plastic, especially in the lower-level XLT trim, was disappointing given the SUV's high price. Spending upwards of $75,000 on a King Ranch or Platinum trim made this hard plastic feel borderline offensive. The Lincoln Navigator, based on the Expedition, offered a more luxurious alternative.

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 SQ7 with a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 was also available. The Q7 55 TFSI, starting at $60,800, was evaluated in the Prestige trim, featuring Navarra Blue metallic paint, a Cold Weather Package, and a Towing Package, bringing the total price to $74,290.

Design updates for 2020 included changes to the front and rear styling, new wheels, and lighting elements, aligning the Q7 with the flagship Q8 model. The test vehicle's 20-inch turbine-style wheels with 285/45 Pirelli Scorpion Verde run-flat all-season tires provided a stylish and functional look. Inside, the Q7 adopted the high-tech dashboard and instrumentation from the Q8, replacing most physical controls with three digital displays. The cabin, decked out in Okapi Brown leather with Gray/Brown Fine Grain Ash natural wood inlays, was both upscale and high-tech, with multi-color ambient lighting adding a soothing vibe at night.

The 2020 Ford Expedition was powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine, producing 375 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 470 pound-feet of torque at 2,250 rpm. Despite lacking the traditional V8 rumble, the engine's low chuffing exhaust note was pleasant. A 10-speed automatic transmission delivered power to the rear wheels, with an optional four-wheel-drive system available. The Expedition offered 9.8 inches of ground clearance, except for the MAX 4WD, which had 9.7 inches. Towing capacity was impressive, with the standard Expedition capable of towing 9,300 pounds with rear-drive and 9,200 pounds with 4WD.

Driving the Expedition was mostly pleasing, with the twin-turbocharged engine providing ample power and the 10-speed automatic transmission almost always finding the right gear. The SUV's tight turning radius and easily modulated brakes made it agreeable to drive in urban environments, though the steering was slow and required plenty of wheel work in tight quarters. The adaptive damping suspension on the King Ranch did a fantastic job of quelling excessive ride motions, though the oversized 22-inch wheels and 285/45 tires sometimes made the ride busy on imperfect pavement. The independent rear suspension design improved ride and handling while conserving interior space. Fuel economy averaged 17.7 mpg, slightly below the EPA rating of 19 mpg.

The 2020 Audi Q7 55 TFSI featured a new 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 engine, generating 335 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. The engine was paired with a 48-volt mild-hybrid electrical system, which helped conserve fuel by reducing the load on the turbocharged V6. An eight-speed automatic transmission and Quattro all-wheel-drive system were standard, with Audi Drive Select offering several driving modes, including Comfort, Auto, Dynamic, Individual, and Allroad.

The 55 TFSI drivetrain accelerated the 5,082-pound SUV from zero to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds, with a maximum tow rating of 7,700 pounds. The EPA estimated fuel economy at 18 mpg combined, with the test vehicle averaging 21 mpg on a road trip and 18.1 mpg on a local fuel-economy loop. The Prestige trim included an adaptive air suspension, with Audi Drive Select adjusting firmness settings and allowing the driver to alter suspension height. The Q7 handled well on both pavement and trails, with the turbocharged engine performing admirably at high altitudes. The mild-hybrid technology operated transparently, and the cabin remained quiet thanks to dual-pane acoustic side window glass.

The 2020 Ford Expedition excelled at towing, carrying cargo, and hauling people. The King Ranch's power running boards made it easy to step into the SUV, and every seat was comfortable, especially the heated and ventilated front seats. The steering wheel was also heated, and the interior offered plenty of storage, including a dual glove compartment and a huge bin under the center armrest. The heated second-row captain's chairs provided first-class accommodations, with easy access to the third-row bench.

The third-row seat in the Expedition was genuinely comfortable for adults, with impressive legroom thanks to the independent rear suspension. The standard-length Expedition offered 19.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seat, while the long-wheelbase Expedition MAX provided 34.3 cubic feet. With the third-row seat folded down, cargo space increased to 57.5 cubic feet (73.3 with the MAX), and folding the second row created 104.6 cubic feet (121.5 with the MAX).

The 2020 Audi Q7, though equipped with 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, featureless cushion. When the third-row seat was in use, cargo space was limited to 14.2 cubic feet. Folding the third row expanded cargo capacity to 35.7 cubic feet, and folding both rows provided a maximum of 69.6 cubic feet.

With a family of four, the Q7 was comfortable for long trips. The Prestige trim's eight-way power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated front seats were agreeable for hours, and the second-row seats offered plenty of legroom and thigh support. The four-zone climate control, heated rear cushions, and rear side window shades ensured comfort in varying temperatures. The panoramic sunroof was perfect for sightseeing and stargazing. However, the Q7 lacked practical interior storage, with limited space under the center armrest and narrow cupholders. The glove compartment and door-panel bins were the primary storage options.

The 2020 Ford Expedition featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Sync 3, which was easy to use but sometimes slow to respond. The system included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, FordPass Connect with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, a navigation system, an available Bang & Olufsen premium sound system, and a rear-seat entertainment system with dual screens. Pro Trailer Backup Assist was a helpful feature for frequent towing, allowing the driver to control the trailer's direction with a knob on the dashboard.

The 2020 Audi Q7 introduced 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. While the system was generally intuitive, dry fingertips sometimes made the virtual buttons unresponsive. The Prestige trim also included a full-color head-up display and a Bose premium sound system, though Audi replaced the Bose components with a 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen system for 2021.

The 2020 Ford Expedition's weight contributed to its crash safety, with almost everything else on the road being smaller. The Expedition came standard with Ford Co-Pilot360, a suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance. The ADAS worked well, though the lane departure warning vibration was sometimes hard to distinguish from road surface vibrations. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the Expedition 5-star ratings in every test and a 4-star rollover resistance rating. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) had not tested the Expedition.

The 2020 Audi Q7 featured HD Matrix LED headlights, which performed exceptionally well during night driving, though the IIHS rated them as "poor" due to excessive glare. The Q7 came with numerous ADAS, with upgrades available through the Executive Package or Prestige trim. Highlights included Emergency Assist, Turn Assist, and Adaptive Cruise Assist with adaptive cruise control, traffic-jam assistance, and lane-centering assistance. The adaptive cruise control worked well, but the traffic-sign recognition system caused issues by misreading signs. Active Lane Assist was also problematic, especially on roads with passing lanes. The IIHS gave the Q7 the highest ratings, except for the "poor" headlight assessment, preventing it from earning a "Top Safety Pick+" nod.