Compare the2023 Lexus RZVS 2023 Audi Q4 e-tron

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 RZ are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Q4 e-tron doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Lexus RZ has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Q4 e-tron doesn’t offer knee airbags.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The RZ has a standard Parking Support Brake that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Q4 e-tron doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, Full-Time Four-Wheel Drive is standard on the RZ. But it costs extra on the Q4 e-tron.

The RZ’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 Q4 e-tron doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the RZ and the Q4 e-tron have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front 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, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and rear cross-path warning.

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the RZ 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Audi covers the Q4 e-tron. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Q4 e-tron ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 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 50 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 RZ’s electric motors produces 107 more horsepower (308 vs. 201) and 92 lbs.-ft. more torque (321 vs. 229) than the Q4 40 e-tron’s standard electric motor. The RZ’s electric motors produces 13 more horsepower (308 vs. 295) than the Q4 50 e-tron’s standard electric motors.

As tested in Car and Driver the Lexus RZ is faster than the Q4 50 e-tron electric motors:

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

The Lexus RZ has standard four-wheel disc brakes for better stopping power and improved directional control in poor weather. Only rear drums come on the Q4 e-tron. Drums can heat up and make stops longer, especially with antilock brakes that work much harder than conventional brakes.

The RZ stops shorter than the Q4 e-tron:

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the RZ’s wheelbase is 3.5 inches longer than on the Q4 e-tron (112.2 inches vs. 108.7 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the RZ is 1.1 inches wider in the front and 2.3 inches wider in the rear than on the Q4 e-tron.

The front grille of the RZ uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Q4 e-tron doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The RZ has 1.4 inches more front headroom, .9 inches more front legroom, .2 inches more front shoulder room, 1.4 inches more rear headroom and .3 inches more rear legroom than the Q4 e-tron.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the RZ’s rear seats recline. The Q4 e-tron’s rear seats don’t recline.

The RZ has a much larger cargo volume than the Q4 e-tron with its rear seat up (34.9 vs. 24.8 cubic feet).

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 RZ’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Q4 e-tron’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

Both the RZ and the Q4 e-tron have standard heated front seats. The RZ Luxury also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Q4 e-tron.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the RZ keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Q4 e-tron doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The RZ has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel is only available on the Q4 e-tron Premium Plus/Prestige.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Lexus RZ has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Q4 e-tron.

The RZ has a 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 Q4 e-tron doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The RZ’s optional Advanced Park can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Q4 e-tron Premium Plus/Prestige’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

Car and Driver performed a comparison test in its June 2023 issue and the Lexus RZ 450e Premium won out over the Audi Q4 50 e-tron Prestige.