Compare the2022 Audi e-tronVS 2021 Volkswagen ID.4

The Audi e-tron has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The ID.4 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

To allow off-road and deep snow capability, Four-Wheel Drive is standard on the e-tron. But it costs extra on the ID.4.

An active infrared night vision system optional on the e-tron helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera and near-infrared lights to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The ID.4 doesn’t offer a night vision system.

The e-tron offers an optional Top View Camera System to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The ID.4 only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the e-tron and the ID.4 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and rear cross-path warning.

The Audi e-tron weighs 1100 to 1515 pounds more than the Volkswagen ID.4. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The e-tron’s corrosion warranty is 5 years and unlimited miles longer than the ID.4’s (12/unlimited vs. 7/100,000).

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Audi 20th in reliability. With 36 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is ranked 28th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Audi 10 places higher in reliability than Volkswagen.

The e-tron’s standard electric motors produce 201 more horsepower (402 vs. 201) and 261 lbs.-ft. more torque (490 vs. 229) than the ID.4’s standard electric motor. The e-tron’s electric motors produce 107 more horsepower (402 vs. 295) and 151 lbs.-ft. more torque (490 vs. 339) than the ID.4’s optional electric motors. The e-tron S’ standard electric motors produce 201 more horsepower (496 vs. 295) and 378 lbs.-ft. more torque (717 vs. 339) than the ID.4’s optional electric motors.

As tested in Car and Driver the Audi e-tron (base engine) is faster than the Volkswagen ID.4 electric motor:

The e-tron’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The ID.4 doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the e-tron’s brake rotors are larger than those on the ID.4:

The Audi e-tron has standard four-wheel disc brakes for better stopping power and improved directional control in poor weather. Only rear drums come on the ID.4. Drums can heat up and make stops longer, especially with antilock brakes that work much harder than conventional brakes.

For better traction, the e-tron has larger standard tires than the ID.4 (255/50R20 vs. 235/55R19). The e-tron’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the ID.4 (265/45R21 vs. 235/55R19).

The e-tron’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the ID.4’s standard 55 series front tires. The e-tron’s optional tires have a lower 45 series profile than the ID.4’s optional 50 series front tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the e-tron has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the ID.4. The e-tron’s optional 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the ID.4.

The front and rear suspension of the e-tron uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the ID.4, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The e-tron has a standard driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The ID.4’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The e-tron has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The e-tron’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The ID.4 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the e-tron’s wheelbase is 6.2 inches longer than on the ID.4 (115.1 inches vs. 108.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the e-tron is 2.8 inches wider in the front and 3.9 inches wider in the rear than the track on the ID.4.

The e-tron Chronos Edition executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the ID.4 1st Edition (26.6 seconds @ .71 average G’s vs. 27.4 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

The front grille of the e-tron uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The ID.4 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The e-tron has 1.1 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear headroom, 1.5 inches more rear legroom and 1.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the ID.4.

The e-tron’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the ID.4’s (4000 vs. 2200 pounds).

The e-tron uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The ID.4 uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors in the ID.4 Pro S, the e-tron Prestige has a passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the e-tron has standard extendable sun visors. The ID.4 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the e-tron to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The ID.4 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The e-tron’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The ID.4 has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Both the e-tron and the ID.4 have standard heated front seats. The e-tron also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the ID.4.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the e-tron Premium Plus/Prestige keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The ID.4 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.