Compare the2024 Ford EdgeVS 2023 Audi Q3

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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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 Q3 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Edge and the Q3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available front and rear parking sensors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Ford Edge is safer than the Audi Q3:

	Edge	Q3
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	212	326
Neck Injury Risk	22.4%	39%
Neck Stress	229 lbs.	343 lbs.
Neck Compression	21 lbs.	35 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	282	346
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.6 inches
Neck Compression	44 lbs.	83 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	145/201 lbs.	261/249 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 Ford Edge is safer than the Audi Q3:

	Edge	Q3
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	84	88
Hip Force	192 lbs.	333 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	103	159
Spine Acceleration	41 G’s	43 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	257	504
Spine Acceleration	38 G’s	47 G’s
Hip Force	425 lbs.	485 lbs.

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

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 available headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Edge the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2022, a rating granted to only 174 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Q3 last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2019.

Warranty

Ford’s powertrain warranty covers the Edge 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Audi covers the Q3. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Q3 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.

Reliability

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 Q3 doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Edge has a standard 175-amp alternator. The Q3’s 140-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 Q3’s 680-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 20 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Ford 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 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.

Engine

The Edge’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 22 more horsepower (250 vs. 228) and 22 lbs.-ft. more torque (280 vs. 258) than the Q3’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Edge ST’s standard 2.7 turbo V6 produces 107 more horsepower (335 vs. 228) and 122 lbs.-ft. more torque (380 vs. 258) than the Q3’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Ford Edge is faster than the Audi Q3:

	Edge turbo 4 cyl.	Edge ST	Q3
Zero to 60 MPH	7.6 sec	6.1 sec	8.5 sec
Quarter Mile	15.9 sec	14.7 sec	16.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	89.3 MPH	93.4 MPH	85.4 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The Edge has 2.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Q3 (18.5 vs. 15.9 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 Q3 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Edge’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Q3:

	Edge	Q3
Front Rotors	13.6 inches	13.4 inches
Rear Rotors	12.4 inches	11.8 inches
Opt Rear Rotors	13.6 inches	12.2 inches

The Edge stops much shorter than the Q3:

	Edge	Q3
60 to 0 MPH	108 feet	125 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Edge has larger standard tires than the Q3 (245/60R18 vs. 235/55R18). The Edge ST’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Q3 (265/40R21 vs. 255/45R19).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Edge ST offers optional 21-inch wheels. The Q3’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

Suspension and Handling

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 Q3 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Edge’s wheelbase is 6.7 inches longer than on the Q3 (112.2 inches vs. 105.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Edge is 2.6 inches wider in the front and 2.8 inches wider in the rear than on the Q3.

The Edge ST handles at .88 G’s, while the Q3 pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Edge ST executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.4 seconds quicker than the Q3 (26 seconds @ .7 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .65 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Edge has a 2.5 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Q3 (8 vs. 5.5 inches), allowing the Edge to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Edge ST’s minimum ground clearance is 2.7 inches higher than on the Q3 (8.2 vs. 5.5 inches).

Chassis

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 Q3 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 Q3 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Edge has 29.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Q3 (113.9 vs. 84).

The Edge has .6 inches more front headroom, 2.6 inches more front legroom, 3.6 inches more front shoulder room, 2.7 inches more rear headroom, 4.5 inches more rear legroom and 5.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Q3.

Cargo Capacity

The Edge has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Q3 with its rear seat up (39.2 vs. 23.7 cubic feet). The Edge has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Q3 with its rear seat folded (73.4 vs. 48 cubic feet).

The Edge’s cargo area is larger than the Q3’s in every dimension:

	Edge	Q3
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	41.7”/74.8”	34”/65”
Max Width	63.3”	54”
Min Width	45.3”	39”
Height	34.5”	28”

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the Edge SEL/Titanium/ST’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Q3 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the Audi Q3 is limited to 1500 pounds. The Edge offers up to a 3500 lbs. towing capacity.

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 Q3 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 Q3 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

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 Q3 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 Q3 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Edge’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 Q3’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

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 Q3 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

Consumer Reports rated the Edge’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Q3’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The Q3 Premium Plus’ 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.

Both the Edge and the Q3 offer available heated front seats. The Edge Titanium/ST also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Q3.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Edge Titanium/ST keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Q3 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the Edge’s optional (except SE) heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Q3 doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

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 Q3 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Edge Titanium/ST’s optional Active Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Q3 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Edge owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Edge will cost $270 less than the Q3 over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Edge is less expensive to operate than the Q3 because it costs $118 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Edge than the Q3, including $358 less for a water pump, $567 less for a starter, $172 less for fuel injection, $410 less for front struts and $203 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

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

	Edge	Q3
Consumer Reports® Recommends	TRUE	TRUE
Car Book “Best Bet”	TRUE	FALSE

The Ford Edge outsold the Audi Q3 by over three to one during 2022.