2020 Audi Q7 vs 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee, despite its decade-old design, maintained a timeless appeal with its traditional Jeep styling cues, such as the 7-slot grille and trapezoidal fenders. Its balanced appearance made it suitable for both rugged trails and upscale settings, appealing to a diverse range of buyers. The Grand Cherokee's pricing started at an MSRP of $46,245 for the Laredo model and went up to $71,045 for the Summit, with high-performance versions like the SRT and Trackhawk reaching $78,195 and $116,845, respectively. The Limited X variant, priced at $62,140 Canadian, featured a Slate Blue Pearl paint, a sport-themed front bumper, and 20-inch aluminum wheels, giving it a mild-custom look. However, the interior materials, especially in models priced over $60,000, were a letdown, with an overuse of hard plastics detracting from the overall premium feel.

In contrast, the 2020 Audi Q7 offered multiple variations, with the 45 TFSI featuring a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine and the 55 TFSI equipped with a mild-hybrid turbocharged 3.0-litre V6. The Q7's design updates for 2020 included changes to the front and rear styling, new wheels, and lighting elements, aligning it with the flagship Q8 model. The test vehicle, a Q7 55 TFSI Technik, priced at $86,100, featured standard 21-inch wheels and a high-tech interior with three digital displays, including Audi's Virtual Cockpit. The cabin, decked out in Okapi Brown leather and Gray/Brown Fine Grain Ash wood inlays, exuded an upscale and high-tech vibe, enhanced by multi-colour ambient lighting. The Q7's interior was both luxurious and technologically advanced, offering a more refined experience compared to the Grand Cherokee.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee came standard with a 295-horsepower, 3.6-litre V6 engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, delivering satisfying acceleration and a fuel consumption rating of 11.3 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. For those seeking more power, three V8 engines were available, including a 5.7-litre "Hemi" V8 with 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque, a 6.4-litre "Hemi" V8 in the SRT with 475 hp and 470 lb-ft, and the supercharged 6.2-litre V8 in the Trackhawk, boasting 707 hp and 645 lb-ft of torque. The Trackhawk could accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 3.8 seconds. The Grand Cherokee offered four different 4WD systems, with the Limited X featuring the Quadra-Trac II 4WD system, providing off-road capability. However, its on-road dynamics were mixed, with impressive grip but excessive suspension movements and average steering and brakes.

The 2020 Audi Q7 55 TFSI introduced a new 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 engine with 335 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, enhanced by a 48-volt mild-hybrid system for improved fuel efficiency. Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and Quattro AWD, the Q7 offered multiple driving modes through Audi Drive Select, including Comfort, Auto, Dynamic, Individual, and Allroad. The Q7 could accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 5.9 seconds and had a maximum tow rating of 3,500 kilograms. The Technik trim included an adaptive air suspension, providing a comfortable ride on various terrains. The Q7's driving experience was characterized by speedy acceleration, agile handling, and a remarkably quiet cabin, making it a well-rounded luxury SUV.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered seating for five and cargo space of 1,028 litres behind the backseat, expanding to 1,934 litres with the backseat folded. The front seats were heated and 8-way power-adjustable, but lacked ventilation. The interior provided decent storage, with a handy tray in the centre console and sizable door-panel bins. Backseat passengers enjoyed adequate legroom and rear air conditioning vents, though the overall interior space was on the smaller side for a midsize SUV.

The 2020 Audi Q7, with its three rows of seats, was best used as a five-passenger vehicle, as the third-row seat was suitable only for young children. With the third row folded, cargo capacity increased from 402 litres to 1,010 litres, and further to 1,970 litres with both rows down. The Q7's interior was comfortable for long trips, with eight-way power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated front seats, and a four-zone climate control system. However, practical interior storage was limited, with the centre console occupied by the Audi Phone Box and minimal space for personal items.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee featured the Uconnect infotainment system with an 8.4-inch touchscreen, navigation, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The system was user-friendly, though the ride quality could make selecting virtual buttons challenging. The Limited X trim included a 9-speaker Alpine audio system, with an optional 19-speaker Harman Kardon system available. Unique to Jeep, the Uconnect system offered Off-Road Pages for off-roading information.

The 2020 Audi Q7 introduced MMI Touch Response technology, combining a 10.1-inch upper touchscreen with an 8.6-inch lower touchscreen. The system included natural voice recognition, handwriting recognition, wireless Apple CarPlay, and navigation. While the interface was generally intuitive, dry fingertips could make virtual buttons unresponsive. The Technik trim featured a full-colour head-up display and a Bose premium sound system, with a Bang & Olufsen system available for 2021 models.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered three collections of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). ProTech I was standard, including a reversing camera, parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. ProTech II added low-speed forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. Advanced ProTech II included full-speed forward collision warning and adaptive cruise control. However, the Grand Cherokee received a 4-star overall rating from the NHTSA and poor ratings from the IIHS for crash protection.

The 2020 Audi Q7 featured HD Matrix LED headlights, rated "poor" by the IIHS for excessive glare. The Q7's ADAS included Emergency Assist, Turn Assist, and Adaptive Cruise Assist with lane-centring assistance. While the adaptive cruise control worked well, the traffic-sign recognition system was problematic, and the Active Lane Assist was not well-suited for mountain highways. The Q7 received the highest ratings from the IIHS for collision protection.