2020 Honda Pilot vs 2020 Audi Q7

The 2020 Honda Pilot exhibited a dynamic styling consistent with the Honda lineup, featuring thin LED headlights and a multi-tiered grille. Its design cleverly masked its size, giving it a more streamlined appearance. Inside, the Pilot offered a modern cabin with a semi-digital instrument panel, combining analog and digital elements. While the cabin was comfortable and spacious, it did incorporate hard plastics, which detracted from its overall refinement compared to rivals like the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade. The Pilot was available in several trims, each adding more features, with the Black Edition offering unique black-painted wheels and accents.

In contrast, the 2020 Audi Q7 underwent design changes that enhanced its front and rear styling, aligning it with the flagship Q8 model. The Q7's interior adopted high-tech elements from the Q8, featuring three digital displays that replaced most physical controls. The cabin, decked out in Okapi Brown leather and natural wood inlays, exuded an upscale and high-tech vibe. The Technik trim added multi-colour ambient lighting, enhancing the cabin's ambiance. Despite its luxurious appearance, the Q7's third-row seating was best suited for children, and its cargo space was limited when the third row was in use.

The 2020 Honda Pilot was powered by a 3.5-litre V6 engine, producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It came standard with all-wheel drive in Canada, with a 6-speed automatic transmission for the lower trims and a 9-speed automatic for the Touring and Black Edition. The 9-speed transmission offered more refined acceleration and improved fuel efficiency. The Pilot's ride was tuned for comfort, making it ideal for commutes and road trips, though it lacked athleticism. The Intelligent Traction Management System provided various drive modes, enhancing traction in different conditions.

The 2020 Audi Q7 55 TFSI featured a new 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 engine, delivering 335 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. It included a 48-volt mild-hybrid system to conserve fuel. Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and Quattro all-wheel drive, the Q7 offered several driving modes through Audi Drive Select. The Q7 accelerated from zero to 100 km/h in 5.9 seconds and had a substantial towing capacity of nearly 3,500 kilograms. The Technik trim included an adaptive air suspension, enhancing ride comfort and off-road capability. The Q7's mild-hybrid technology operated seamlessly, maintaining climate control even during extended engine stop/start periods.

The Honda Pilot provided a spacious 8-passenger cabin, with optional second-row captain’s chairs reducing seating to seven. Its third row was adult-friendly, offering ample head and legroom. The Pilot's cargo capacity was competitive, with 1,583 litres available when the second and third rows were folded. Higher trims included a power liftgate and hands-free power tailgate. The Pilot excelled in family-friendly features, with plenty of storage spaces and a conversation mirror to keep an eye on rear passengers.

The Audi Q7, while offering three rows of seats, was best used as a five-passenger vehicle due to its cramped third row. With the third row folded, cargo capacity expanded to 1,010 litres, and with both rows down, it reached 1,970 litres. The Technik trim provided comfortable seating with heated and ventilated front chairs, four-zone climate control, and a panoramic sunroof. However, the Q7 lacked practical interior storage, with limited space for personal items. The second row offered netted storage and cupholders, but overall, storage solutions were minimal.

The 2020 Honda Pilot featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto across all trims. The system included a 215-watt stereo with a subwoofer, but its interface was criticized for being confusing. Higher trims added navigation, a rear entertainment system, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The Touring and Black Edition received an upgraded 590-watt audio system and wireless charging pad.

The 2020 Audi Q7 introduced MMI Touch Response technology, combining two touchscreens for system access. It included voice and handwriting recognition, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Audi Connect services. While the interface was generally intuitive, dry fingertips sometimes caused unresponsive virtual buttons. The Technik trim featured a head-up display and a Bose premium sound system, though polarized sunglasses rendered the display invisible. Audi planned to upgrade the sound system to a Bang & Olufsen setup for 2021.

The Honda Pilot came standard with the HondaSensing suite, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. It earned a five-star overall crash test rating from the NHTSA and a "Good" rating from the IIHS, with a "Superior" score in crash prevention technology.

The Audi Q7 featured HD Matrix LED headlights, though rated "poor" by the IIHS for glare. It included advanced driving-assistance systems, such as Emergency Assist and Turn Assist, but the adaptive cruise control and lane assist technologies were criticized for their performance. The Q7 received high ratings from the IIHS, except for the headlight assessment.