Compare the2023 Audi e-tron SportbackVS 2022 BMW iX

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Audi e-tron Sportback are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW iX doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

An active infrared night vision system optional on the e-tron Sportback 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 iX doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the e-tron Sportback and the iX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, 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, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the e-tron Sportback its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 89 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The iX has not been tested, yet.

The e-tron Sportback S’ standard electric motors produces 153 lbs.-ft. more torque (717 vs. 564) than the iX xDrive50’s standard electric motors.

For better stopping power the e-tron Sportback’s brake rotors are larger than those on the iX:

For better traction, the e-tron Sportback has larger standard tires than the iX (255/50R20 vs. 235/60R20).

The e-tron Sportback’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 iX’s standard 60 series tires.

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

For better maneuverability, the e-tron Sportback’s turning circle is .4 feet tighter than the iX M60’s (40 feet vs. 40.4 feet). The e-tron Sportback’s turning circle is 2.8 feet tighter than the iX xDrive50’s (40 feet vs. 42.8 feet).

The e-tron Sportback has .6 inches more front legroom and .2 inches more rear legroom than the iX.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the e-tron Sportback. The iX doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the iX, the e-tron Sportback 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 Sportback has standard extendable sun visors. The iX doesn’t offer extendable visors.

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

Optional air conditioned front and rear seats keep the e-tron Sportback’s passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The iX doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

The e-tron Sportback has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the iX.