Compare the2023 Porsche Cayenne CoupeVS 2023 Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback

The Porsche Cayenne Coupe 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 Sportback doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Cayenne Coupe has a standard Multi-collision Brake System, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Q4 e-tron Sportback 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.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the Cayenne Coupe helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The Q4 e-tron Sportback doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the Cayenne Coupe and the Q4 e-tron Sportback have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear 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, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

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 Cayenne Coupe’s reliability 20 points higher than the Q4 e-tron Sportback.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Porsche vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 39 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Porsche higher than Audi.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Porsche vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Porsche above average in long-term dependability. With 30 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Audi is rated below average.

The Cayenne Coupe’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 40 more horsepower (335 vs. 295) than the Q4 e-tron Sportback’s electric motors. The Cayenne S Coupe’s standard 2.9 turbo V6 produces 139 more horsepower (434 vs. 295) and 66 lbs.-ft. more torque (405 vs. 339) than the Q4 e-tron Sportback’s electric motors. The Cayenne GTS Coupe’s standard 4.0 turbo V8 produces 158 more horsepower (453 vs. 295) and 118 lbs.-ft. more torque (457 vs. 339) than the Q4 e-tron Sportback’s electric motors. The Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid produces 160 more horsepower (455 vs. 295) and 177 lbs.-ft. more torque (516 vs. 339) than the Q4 e-tron Sportback’s electric motors. The Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid Coupe’s standard 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 375 more horsepower (670 vs. 295) and 324 lbs.-ft. more torque (663 vs. 339) than the Q4 e-tron Sportback’s electric motors.

The Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe’s maximum EPA estimated range on a full tank and a full charge is 453 miles, after which it can be refueled at any gas station in minutes. The Q4 e-tron Sportback’s range is only 242 miles, after which the minimum time to recharge is 36 minutes for only an 80% charge at a specially configured quick charge station not available in most areas. A full recharge at a professionally installed 220-volt charging station can take up to 7 hours and 30 minutes.

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

The Porsche Cayenne Coupe 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 Sportback. Drums can heat up and make stops longer, especially with antilock brakes that work much harder than conventional brakes.

The Cayenne Coupe offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The Q4 e-tron Sportback doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The Cayenne Coupe Turbo has standard air brakes, which adjust the spoiler automatically during high-speed braking in order to shorten stopping distances. The Q4 e-tron Sportback doesn’t offer air brakes.

For better traction, the Cayenne Coupe has larger standard tires than the Q4 e-tron Sportback (F:275/45R20 & R:305/40R20 vs. F:235/50R20 & R:255/45R20). The Cayenne Coupe’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Q4 e-tron Sportback (F:285/40R21 & R:315/35R21 vs. F:235/50R20 & R:255/45R20).

The Cayenne Coupe’s standard 275/45R20 front and 305/40R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series front and 40 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Q4 e-tron Sportback’s 50 series front and 45 series rear tires. The Cayenne Coupe’s optional 285/35R22 front and 315/30R22 rear tires have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile than the Q4 e-tron Sportback’s optional 50 series front and 45 series rear tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Cayenne Coupe offers optional 22-inch wheels. The Q4 e-tron Sportback’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The Cayenne Coupe has a standard space-saver spare (not available on E-Hybrid) so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Q4 e-tron Sportback; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

The Cayenne Coupe offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The Q4 e-tron Sportback doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The Cayenne Coupe offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Audi doesn’t offer an active suspension on the Q4 e-tron Sportback.

The Cayenne Coupe has a standard 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 or off-road. The Q4 e-tron Sportback’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Cayenne Coupe has a standard automatic load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Q4 e-tron Sportback doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Cayenne Coupe’s wheelbase is 5.3 inches longer than on the Q4 e-tron Sportback (114 inches vs. 108.7 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Cayenne Coupe is 3.9 inches wider in the front and 4.7 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Q4 e-tron Sportback.

For better maneuverability, the Cayenne Coupe w/Rear Wheel Steering’s turning circle is 2.6 feet tighter than the Q4 e-tron Sportback’s (35.1 feet vs. 37.7 feet).

The Porsche Cayenne Coupe may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 200 pounds less than the Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback.

The front grille of the Cayenne Coupe 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 Sportback doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Cayenne Coupe has 2.4 inches more front shoulder room, 1.3 inches more rear headroom, 2.8 inches more rear legroom and 1.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Q4 e-tron Sportback.

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

The Cayenne Coupe’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Q4 e-tron Sportback’s (7700 vs. 2646 pounds).

Standard trailer sway control on the Cayenne Coupe uses the Porsche Stability Management sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Q4 e-tron Sportback doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Cayenne Coupe uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Q4 e-tron Sportback uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Porsche service is better than Audi. J.D. Power ranks Porsche third in service department satisfaction. With a 14% lower rating, Audi is ranked 8th.

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors optional in the Q4 e-tron Sportback, the Cayenne Coupe offers an optional driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle and climate settings and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Cayenne Coupe offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Q4 e-tron Sportback doesn’t offer cornering lights.

To better shield the driver and front passenger’s vision, the Cayenne Coupe has standard dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The Q4 e-tron Sportback doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Cayenne Coupe to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Q4 e-tron Sportback doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

Both the Cayenne Coupe and the Q4 e-tron Sportback offer available heated front seats. The Cayenne Coupe also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Q4 e-tron Sportback.

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

The Cayenne Coupe offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Q4 e-tron Sportback.

The Cayenne Coupe’s optional Active Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Park Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Q4 e-tron Sportback Premium Plus/Prestige’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park and it doesn’t offer remote control parking.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Porsche Cayenne Coupe, based on reliability, safety and performance.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Cayenne Coupe third among upper midsize premium suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Q4 e-tron Sportback isn’t in the top three.

The Porsche Cayenne outsold the Audi Q4 e-tron by over four to one during 2022.