Compare the2023 Audi Q4 e-tron SportbackVS 2022 Rivian R1S

The Q4 e-tron Sportback’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The R1S doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the Q4 e-tron Sportback and the R1S have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, 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 Sportback its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 101 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The R1S has not been tested, yet.

The Q4 e-tron Sportback’s corrosion warranty is 4 years longer than the R1S’ (12 vs. 8 years).

On the EPA test cycle the Q4 50 e-tron Sportback gets better mileage than the R1S Quad Motor (100 city/89 hwy vs. 73 city/65 hwy MPGe).

For better stopping power the Q4 e-tron Sportback’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the R1S:

The Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 950 pounds less than the Rivian R1S.

The Q4 e-tron Sportback is 1 foot, 8.1 inches shorter than the R1S, making the Q4 e-tron Sportback easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Q4 e-tron Sportback is 8.4 inches narrower than the R1S, making the Q4 e-tron Sportback easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

The Q4 e-tron Sportback is 13.4 inches shorter in height than the R1S, making the Q4 e-tron Sportback much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

The Q4 e-tron Sportback has a much larger cargo volume than the R1S 4dr Sport Utility with its rear seat up (26.1 vs. 17.6 cubic feet).

The Q4 e-tron Sportback’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The R1S’ tailgate’s top part raises up, but the bottom part lowers, getting in the way of loading and making an uneven surface for sliding cargo.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Q4 e-tron Sportback’s available liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The R1S doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its tailgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The Q4 e-tron Sportback offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The R1S doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

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 Sportback Prestige has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The R1S doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The Q4 e-tron Sportback’s available GPS navigation system has a real-time traffic update feature that plots alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service not available in all areas.) The R1S’ available navigation system doesn’t offer real-time traffic updates.

The Q4 e-tron Sportback 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 R1S doesn’t offer an automated parking system.