Compare the2023 Audi Q4 e-tronVS 2022 Lexus RXL

The Q4 e-tron’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The RXL doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the Q4 e-tron and RXL have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Q4 e-tron has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The RXL’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The Q4 e-tron has a standard Secondary Collision Brake Assist, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The RXL doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Both the Q4 e-tron and the RXL have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear 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, 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 Q4 e-tron its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 101 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The RXL is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2022.

The Q4 e-tron’s corrosion warranty is 6 years longer than the RXL’s (12 vs. 6 years).

There are over 25 percent more Audi dealers than there are Lexus dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Q4 e-tron’s warranty.

On the EPA test cycle the Q4 e-tron gets better mileage than the RXL:

The Q4 e-tron can travel with zero emissions for 236 to 265 miles (dependent on model). The RXL can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regardless of its engine, regenerative brakes improve the Q4 e-tron’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. Lexus only offers a regenerative brake system on the RXL Hybrid.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Audi Q4 e-tron higher (10 out of 10) than the Lexus RXL (5 to 7). This means the Q4 e-tron produces up to 19.8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the RXL every 15,000 miles.

For better stopping power the Q4 e-tron’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the RXL:

For better traction and acceleration, the Q4 e-tron has larger rear tires than the RXL (255/50R19 vs. 235/65R18).

The Q4 e-tron’s standard 235/55R19 front and 255/50R19 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series front and 50 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the RXL’s standard 65 series tires. The Q4 e-tron Quattro’s optional 235/50R20 front and 255/45R20 rear tires have a lower 50 series front and 45 series rear profile than the RXL’s optional 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Q4 e-tron has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the RXL.

The Q4 e-tron offers an optional or off-road. The RXL’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For better maneuverability, the Q4 e-tron 40’s turning circle is 5.3 feet tighter than the RXL’s (33.5 feet vs. 38.8 feet). The Q4 e-tron 50’s turning circle is 1.1 feet tighter than the RXL’s (37.7 feet vs. 38.8 feet).

The Q4 e-tron is 1 foot, 4.2 inches shorter than the RXL, making the Q4 e-tron easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Q4 e-tron has a much larger cargo volume than the RXL with its rear seat up (24.8 vs. 7.5 cubic feet).

The Q4 e-tron’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the RXL’s (2205 vs. 0 pounds).

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Q4 e-tron’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the RXL’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Marginal.”

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The Q4 e-tron Prestige has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The RXL doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The Q4 e-tron Premium Plus/Prestige’s Park Steering Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The RXL doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Audi Q4 e-tron will be $3588 to $5460 less than for the Lexus RXL.