Compare the2023 Lexus ISVS 2023 Audi A4

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The IS offers optional Auto Rear Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The A4 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The IS has a standard blind spot warning system which 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’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the IS has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the A4.

Both the IS and the A4 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.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Lexus IS is safer than the Audi A4:

	IS	A4
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.5 inches	1 inches

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Lexus IS is safer than the Audi A4:

	IS	A4
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	142	172
Chest Movement	1 inches	1.1 inches
Abdominal Force	203 lbs.	219 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	162	277
Spine Acceleration	28 G’s	56 G’s
Hip Force	438 lbs.	777 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	293	333
Spine Acceleration	34 G’s	47 G’s
Hip Force	650 lbs.	666 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

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 IS its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 96 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The A4 is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2022.

Warranty

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the IS 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Audi covers the A4. 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 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates rated the IS first among compact premium cars in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The A4 isn’t in the top three.

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 2021 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus third in overall reliability. Audi is ranked 14th.

Engine

The IS has more powerful engines than the A4:

	Horsepower	Torque
IS 300 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder	241 HP	258 lbs.-ft.
IS 300 AWD 3.5 DOHC V6	260 HP	236 lbs.-ft.
IS 350 F Sport 3.5 DOHC V6	311 HP	280 lbs.-ft.
IS 500 5.0 DOHC V8	472 HP	395 lbs.-ft.
A4 40 TFSI 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid	201 HP	236 lbs.-ft.
A4 45 TFSI 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid	261 HP	273 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Car and Driver the IS 500 5.0 DOHC V8 is faster than the A4 45 TFSI:

	IS	A4
Zero to 60 MPH	4.3 sec	4.8 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	10.4 sec	12.9 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	4.7 sec	5.6 sec
Quarter Mile	12.8 sec	13.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	112 MPH	102 MPH
Top Speed	149 MPH	126 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The IS has 2.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the A4 (17.4 vs. 15.3 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission

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

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the IS’ front brake rotors are larger than those on the A4:

	IS	IS 500 Performance	A4 40 TFSI	A4 45 TFSI
Front Rotors	13.1 inches	14 inches	12.4 inches	13.3 inches

The IS stops much shorter than the A4:

	IS	A4
60 to 0 MPH	110 feet	120 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	141 feet	145 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the IS has larger standard tires than the A4 (235/45R18 vs. 225/50R17).

The IS 300’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the A4’s standard 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the IS 300 has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the A4.

Suspension and Handling

The IS offers an optional 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. The A4’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the IS is .3 inches wider in the front and 1.4 inches wider in the rear than the track on the A4.

The IS 350 F Sport handles at .93 G’s, while the A4 Premium pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The IS 500 Performance executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2 seconds quicker than the A4 Premium (25.2 seconds @ .74 average G’s vs. 27.2 seconds @ .64 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the IS’ turning circle is 3.9 feet tighter than the A4’s (34.2 feet vs. 38.1 feet). The IS AWD’s turning circle is 2.7 feet tighter than the A4’s (35.4 feet vs. 38.1 feet).

Passenger Space

The IS has .9 inches more front headroom and 3.5 inches more front legroom than the A4.

Servicing Ease

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.

Ergonomics

The IS 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 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors optional in the A4, the IS offers an optional driver and 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.

The IS’ standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The A4 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The IS’ 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 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

Consumer Reports rated the IS’ headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the A4’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

The A4’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The IS’ 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.

A power rear sunshade is optional in the IS to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The A4 doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

Model Availability

The IS is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The A4 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Economic Advantages

The IS will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the IS will retain 44.72% to 48.44% of its original price after five years, while the A4 only retains 43.4% to 44.48%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the IS is less expensive to operate than the A4 because it costs $218 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the IS than the A4, including $168 less for a water pump, $232 less for a muffler, $76 less for front brake pads, $143 less for a fuel pump and $470 less for front struts.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Lexus IS and the Audi A4, based on reliability, safety and performance.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the IS first among compact premium cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The A4 isn’t in the top three.

The Lexus IS outsold the Audi A4/S4 by 35% during the 2021 model year.

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