Compare the2023 Lexus RXVS 2023 Audi A4 Allroad

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the RX are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The A4 Allroad doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The RX offers optional Intuitive Parking Assist with Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The A4 Allroad doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The RX has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the A4 Allroad’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the RX has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Alert to warn the driver of approaching traffic and automatically engage the brakes to help avoid a collision. Audi charges extra for Rear Cross-Traffic Assist on the A4 Allroad.

The RX’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The A4 Allroad doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the RX and the A4 Allroad have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear 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, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the RX its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 29 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The A4 Allroad was last a “Top Safety Pick Plus” in 2019 but no longer qualifies.

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the RX 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Audi covers the A4 Allroad. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the A4 Allroad ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the RX has a standard 603-amp battery. The A4 Allroad’s 420-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the RX’s reliability 20 points higher than the A4 Allroad.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in initial quality. With 82 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in long-term dependability. With 33 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Audi is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus second in overall reliability. Audi is ranked 6th.

The RX 350’s standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 14 more horsepower (275 vs. 261) and 44 lbs.-ft. more torque (317 vs. 273) than the A4 Allroad’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The RX 500h F Sport Performance’s standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 105 more horsepower (366 vs. 261) and 133 lbs.-ft. more torque (406 vs. 273) than the A4 Allroad’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the RX gets better mileage than the A4 Allroad:

The RX can travel with zero emissions on a full charge for .6 miles. The A4 Allroad can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the RX 350h/500h’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The A4 Allroad doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The RX 350h/500h’s standard fuel tank has 1.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the A4 Allroad (17.2 vs. 15.3 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The RX 350’s standard fuel tank has 2.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the A4 Allroad (17.8 vs. 15.3 gallons).

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Lexus RX higher (7 out of 10) than the Audi A4 Allroad (5). This means the RX produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the A4 Allroad every 15,000 miles.

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Lexus RX, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the A4 Allroad.

The RX 350h has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The A4 Allroad doesn’t offer a CVT.

For better stopping power the RX F Sport/500h’s brake rotors are larger than those on the A4 Allroad:

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the RX has standard 19-inch wheels. Only 18-inch wheels are available on the A4 Allroad. The RX offers optional 21-inch wheels.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the RX’s wheelbase is 1.3 inches longer than on the A4 Allroad (112.2 inches vs. 110.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the RX is 2.8 inches wider in the front and 3.9 inches wider in the rear than the track on the A4 Allroad.

For better maneuverability, the RX 500h F Sport Performance’s turning circle is 3 feet tighter than the A4 Allroad’s (35.4 feet vs. 38.4 feet).

For greater off-road capability the RX 350 has a 1.6 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the A4 Allroad (8.1 vs. 6.5 inches), allowing the RX to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The RX 350h’s minimum ground clearance is 1.7 inches higher than on the A4 Allroad (8.2 vs. 6.5 inches).

The RX has 2.1 inches more front headroom, 2.2 inches more front shoulder room, 1.2 inches more rear headroom, 1.7 inches more rear legroom and 2 inches more rear shoulder room than the A4 Allroad.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the RX’s rear seats recline. The A4 Allroad’s rear seats don’t recline.

The RX has a much larger cargo volume than the A4 Allroad with its rear seat up (29.6 vs. 24.2 cubic feet).

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the RX uses the Vehicle Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The A4 Allroad doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Audi. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With a 32% lower rating, Audi is ranked 8th.

The RX has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The A4 Allroad doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The RX Premium/Luxury/500h F Sport’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The A4 Allroad doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The RX’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The A4 Allroad does not have an oil pressure gauge.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the RX has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the A4 Allroad only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The A4 Allroad’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The RX Premium+/Luxury/500h F Sport’s optional adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

The RX Premium/Luxury/F Sport has standard front air conditioned seats and the RX Premium+/Luxury/500h F Sport offers them optionally in the rear. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The A4 Allroad doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

The RX 350h/500h offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet in the cargo area, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The A4 Allroad doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The RX Premium/Luxury/500h F Sport’s optional Advanced Park can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Optional Remote Advanced Park will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The A4 Allroad Prestige’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park and it doesn’t offer remote control parking.

The RX is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The A4 Allroad doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Lexus RX, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Lexus RX outsold the Audi A4/S4 by over six to one during 2022.