Compare the2023 Ford EdgeVS 2023 Audi A4 Allroad

The Edge 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 Allroad’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Edge 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 Allroad.

The Edge’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 Edge 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, plastic fuel tanks, 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, rearview cameras and available front and rear parking sensors.

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 Ford Edge is safer than the Audi A4 Allroad:

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

Ford’s powertrain warranty covers the Edge 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Audi covers the A4 Allroad. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the A4 Allroad ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 10 times as many Ford dealers as there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Edge’s warranty.

The Edge has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The A4 Allroad doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the car’s engine.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Edge has a standard 175-amp alternator. The A4 Allroad’s 150-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Edge has a standard 760-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 Edge’s reliability 12 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 Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford above average in initial quality. With 72 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 Ford vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford above average in long-term dependability. With 4 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Audi is rated below average.

The Edge’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 7 lbs.-ft. more torque (280 vs. 273) than the A4 Allroad’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The Edge ST’s standard 2.7 turbo V6 produces 74 more horsepower (335 vs. 261) and 107 lbs.-ft. more torque (380 vs. 273) than the A4 Allroad’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

The Edge has 3.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the A4 Allroad (18.5 vs. 15.3 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Edge has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The A4 Allroad doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certifies the Ford Edge as a “Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle” (PZEV). The Audi A4 Allroad is only certified to “Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (ULEV) standards.

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

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

The Edge stops much shorter than the A4 Allroad:

For better traction, the Edge ST’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the A4 Allroad (265/40R21 vs. 245/45R18).

The Edge ST’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the A4 Allroad’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Edge ST offers optional 21-inch wheels. The A4 Allroad’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

The Edge’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The A4 Allroad doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Edge’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 track (width between the wheels) on the Edge is 2.7 inches wider in the front and 3 inches wider in the rear than on the A4 Allroad.

The Edge ST handles at .88 G’s, while the A4 Allroad Premium Plus pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the Edge has a 1.5 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the A4 Allroad (8 vs. 6.5 inches), allowing the Edge to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Edge ST’s minimum ground clearance is 1.7 inches higher than on the A4 Allroad (8.2 vs. 6.5 inches).

The front grille of the Edge uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The A4 Allroad doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Edge ST uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The A4 Allroad doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Edge has 21.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the A4 Allroad (113.9 vs. 92).

The Edge has 2.8 inches more front headroom, 1.3 inches more front legroom, 4.4 inches more front shoulder room, 2.9 inches more rear headroom, 4.9 inches more rear legroom and 6 inches more rear shoulder room than the A4 Allroad.

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

The Edge has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the A4 Allroad with its rear seat up (39.2 vs. 24.2 cubic feet). The Edge has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the A4 Allroad with its rear seat folded (73.4 vs. 58.5 cubic feet).

The Edge ST can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Edge can be unhitched and driven around locally. The A4 Allroad can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Optional Trailer Sway Control on the Edge (except SE) uses the AdvanceTrac® 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.

The Edge offers a 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 Edge Titanium/ST’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.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Edge 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 Edge Titanium/ST’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 Edge (except SE) offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, 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.

Insurance will cost less for the Edge owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Edge will cost $1930 to $3110 less than the A4 Allroad over a five-year period.

The Edge will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Edge will retain 48.21% to 53.65% of its original price after five years, while the A4 Allroad only retains 46.18% to 46.44%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Ford Edge will be $12092 to $14281 less than for the Audi A4 Allroad.

The Ford Edge has won recognition from these important consumer publications:

The Ford Edge outsold the Audi A4/S4 by almost six to one during 2022.