Compare the2023 Audi e-tron SportbackVS 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

Safety
Warranty
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics

Safety

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The 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 Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the e-tron Sportback and Highlander Hybrid have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The e-tron Sportback 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 Highlander Hybrid’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 Audi e-tron Sportback 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 Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the e-tron Sportback. But it costs extra on the Highlander Hybrid.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the e-tron Sportback’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

An active infrared night vision system optional on the e-tron Sportback helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera and near-infrared lights to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer a night vision system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the e-tron Sportback has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Assist with Automatic Brake Activation, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Only the Highlander Hybrid Limited/Platinum offers Parking Support Brake.

Both the e-tron Sportback and the Highlander Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee 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, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The Audi e-tron Sportback weighs 1159 to 1424 pounds more than the Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Audi e-tron Sportback is safer than the Toyota Highlander Hybrid:

	e-tron Sportback	Highlander Hybrid
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	212	292
Neck Injury Risk	23%	38.2%
Neck Stress	253 lbs.	347 lbs.
Neck Compression	16 lbs.	55 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	137/335 lbs.	321/243 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	323	328
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.6 inches
Neck Stress	157 lbs.	179 lbs.
Neck Compression	67 lbs.	90 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	244/319 lbs.	545/323 lbs.

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

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 Audi e-tron Sportback is safer than the Toyota Highlander Hybrid:

	e-tron Sportback	Highlander Hybrid
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	44	55
Hip Force	236 lbs.	300 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	8 inches	15 inches
HIC	279	366
Hip Force	631 lbs.	664 lbs.

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

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the e-tron Sportback, with its five-star roll-over rating, is 7.2% to 7.7% less likely to roll over than the Highlander Hybrid, which received a four-star rating.

Warranty

The e-tron Sportback comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Highlander Hybrid’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The e-tron Sportback’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Highlander Hybrid’s (12 vs. 5 years).

Engine

The e-tron Sportback’s standard electric motors produces 159 more horsepower (402 vs. 243) than the Highlander Hybrid’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The e-tron Sportback S’ standard electric motors produces 253 more horsepower (496 vs. 243) than the Highlander Hybrid’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the e-tron Sportback gets better mileage than the Highlander Hybrid:

			MPGe
e-tron Sportback
	AWD	Electric Motors	77 city/80 hwy
		S Electric Motors	73 city/77 hwy
		Black Optic Electric Motors	64 city/66 hwy
Highlander Hybrid
			MPG
	FWD	2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	36 city/35 hwy
	AWD	LE 2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	35 city/35 hwy
		2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	35 city/34 hwy

The e-tron Sportback can travel with zero emissions for 185 to 225 miles (dependent on model). The Highlander Hybrid can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Audi e-tron Sportback higher (10 out of 10) than the Toyota Highlander Hybrid (7). This means the e-tron Sportback produces up to 11.8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Highlander Hybrid every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

The e-tron Sportback’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the e-tron Sportback’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Highlander Hybrid:

	e-tron Sportback	Highlander Hybrid
Front Rotors	15.7 inches	13.3 inches
Rear Rotors	13.8 inches	13.3 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the e-tron Sportback has larger standard tires than the Highlander Hybrid (255/50R20 vs. 235/65R18). The e-tron Sportback Premium Plus/Prestige’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Highlander Hybrid (265/45R21 vs. 235/65R18).

The e-tron Sportback’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Highlander Hybrid LE/XLE/Bronze’s standard 65 series tires. The e-tron Sportback’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Highlander Hybrid Limited/Platinum’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the e-tron Sportback has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Highlander Hybrid LE/XLE/Bronze. The e-tron Sportback’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels on the Highlander Hybrid Limited/Platinum.

Suspension and Handling

The front and rear suspension of the e-tron Sportback uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the Highlander Hybrid, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The e-tron Sportback 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 Highlander Hybrid’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The e-tron Sportback has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The e-tron Sportback’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The e-tron Sportback has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the e-tron Sportback’s wheelbase is 2.8 inches longer than on the Highlander Hybrid (115 inches vs. 112.2 inches).

Cargo Capacity

The e-tron Sportback has a much larger cargo volume than the Highlander Hybrid with its rear seat up (27.2 vs. 16 cubic feet).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the e-tron Sportback’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the Toyota Highlander Hybrid is limited to 3500 pounds. The e-tron Sportback offers up to a 4000 lbs. towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The e-tron Sportback uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Highlander Hybrid 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 Audi service is better than Toyota. J.D. Power ranks Audi 8th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 17% lower rating, Toyota is ranked 20th.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors in the Highlander Hybrid Limited/Platinum, the e-tron Sportback Prestige has a passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The e-tron Sportback’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The e-tron Sportback’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Highlander Hybrid’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The e-tron Sportback’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Highlander Hybrid offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Optional air conditioned front and rear seats keep the e-tron Sportback’s passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

The e-tron Sportback 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 Highlander Hybrid Limited/Platinum.

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

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