2020 Audi Q7 vs 2020 Lincoln Navigator

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator stood out with its luxurious design, setting itself apart from its Ford Expedition roots. Designers gave it unique front and rear styling, along with the Lincoln Embrace lighting system that welcomed owners with sequential illumination. The Navigator featured a distinctive lattice-type grille with an illuminated Lincoln star, fender vents, and full-width taillights. Its black roof pillars created a wraparound glass appearance, enhancing its premium look. Inside, the Navigator offered a mid-century modern dashboard, digital instrumentation, and a 10-inch infotainment touchscreen, all contributing to its upscale feel. The panoramic glass roof and high-quality materials further elevated the Navigator's status as a luxury flagship SUV.

In contrast, the 2020 Audi Q7 received design updates that aligned it with the flagship Q8 model. The Q7 55 TFSI, priced at $86,100 with the Technik trim, featured new front and rear styling, wheels, and lighting elements. Inside, the Q7 adopted the high-tech dashboard and instrumentation from the Q8, replacing physical controls with three digital displays. Audi's Virtual Cockpit provided customizable instrumentation, while two touchscreens handled infotainment functions. The Q7's cabin, decked out in Okapi Brown leather and Gray/Brown Fine Grain Ash wood inlays, exuded a high-tech and upscale vibe. The Technik's standard multi-colour ambient lighting added a soothing ambiance, enhancing the Q7's luxurious feel.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator was powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V6 engine, delivering 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque, surpassing the Ford Expedition's most powerful version. A 10-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive were standard, with multiple Lincoln Drive Modes tailoring the powertrain to various driving conditions. The Navigator's maximum towing capacity was 3,764 kilograms, aided by Pro Trailer Backup Assist for easier trailer maneuvering. The SUV averaged 14.3 litres per 100 kilometres during testing, slightly above the expected 13.4 L/100 km. Despite its size, the Navigator offered excellent body motion control, though impact harshness was noticeable on imperfect roads. Around town, its size was evident, but features like a tight turning radius and parking assist improved maneuverability.

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 all-wheel drive, the Q7 offered various driving modes through Audi Drive Select. The SUV accelerated from zero to 100 km/h in 5.9 seconds, with a maximum tow rating of just under 3,500 kilograms. The Q7 averaged 11.2 L/100 km during a road trip, slightly better than the expected 12.0 L/100 km. The Technik trim's adaptive air suspension and 21-inch wheels provided a comfortable ride, while the Q7's agility and quiet cabin made it enjoyable on winding roads and highways.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator required a climb to enter, but once inside, it offered ample space for passengers to stretch out. The optional Luxury Package included 30-way Perfect Position front seats, power-adjustable pedals, and a heated steering wheel. The second row offered a choice between a bench or captain's chairs, with triple-zone climate control ensuring comfort across all rows. The third-row seat provided exceptional legroom and thigh support, unmatched by competitors. Cargo volumes were class-leading, with the standard model offering up to 2,928 litres and the longer Navigator L providing up to 3,407 litres.

The 2020 Audi Q7, while accommodating seven passengers, was best suited for five. The third-row seat was suitable only for young children, with limited cargo space when in use. Folding the third row expanded cargo capacity to 1,010 litres, with a maximum of 1,970 litres when both rows were folded. The Technik trim's standard eight-way power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated front seats were comfortable for long journeys. The second-row seats offered ample legroom and thigh support, with features like four-zone climate control and a panoramic sunroof enhancing passenger comfort. However, the Q7 lacked practical interior storage, with limited space for personal items.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator's Sync 3 infotainment system was its least impressive technology, with slow content loading. However, it offered Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, and a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. "Phone As A Key" technology allowed smartphone-based vehicle access. The 20-speaker Revel Ultima audio system provided a compelling audio experience, with additional features like a surround-view camera system and a head-up display enhancing the Navigator's tech offerings.

The 2020 Audi Q7 introduced MMI Touch Response technology, featuring a 10.1-inch and an 8.6-inch touchscreen for system access. The system included natural voice recognition, handwriting recognition, wireless Apple CarPlay, and navigation. While the interface was intuitive, dry fingertips occasionally caused unresponsive virtual buttons. The Technik trim included a head-up display and a Bose premium sound system, though Audi planned to upgrade to a Bang & Olufsen system for 2021.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator featured the Lincoln Co-Pilot360 suite of advanced driver assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. The adaptive cruise control operated with refinement, while the lane-keeping assistance system was subtle yet effective. The Navigator received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, though the IIHS had not tested the 2020 model.

The 2020 Audi Q7's HD Matrix LED headlights provided excellent illumination, though the IIHS rated them "poor" for excessive glare. The Q7 offered numerous advanced driving-assistance systems, including Emergency Assist, Turn Assist, and Adaptive Cruise Assist. However, the traffic-sign-recognition technology occasionally caused issues, and the Active Lane Assist was not well-suited to certain road conditions. Despite these challenges, the Q7 received the highest collision protection ratings from the IIHS.