Compare the2024 Audi Q4 e-tronVS 2023 BMW X5 xDrive45e

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Audi Q4 e-tron are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW X5 xDrive45e doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the Q4 e-tron and X5 xDrive45e have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Q4 e-tron 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 X5 xDrive45e’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.

Both the Q4 e-tron and X5 xDrive45e have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Q4 e-tron has Automatic Brake Activation (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The X5 xDrive45e’s Cross Traffic Warning doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Q4 e-tron and the X5 xDrive45e have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Audi Q4 e-tron is safer than the BMW X5 xDrive45e:

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

The Audi Q4 e-tron achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The X5 xDrive45e is not a “Top Safety Pick” for 2024.

On the EPA test cycle the Q4 e-tron gets better mileage than the X5 xDrive45e running on electricity:

On the EPA test cycle the Q4 e-tron gets better mileage than the X5 xDrive45e running its gasoline engine:

The Q4 e-tron can travel with zero emissions on a full charge for 236 to 265 miles. The X5 xDrive45e has to start its internal combustion engine after only 31 miles.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Audi Q4 e-tron higher (10 out of 10) than the BMW X5 xDrive45e (7). This means the Q4 e-tron produces up to 11.8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the X5 xDrive45e every 15,000 miles.

For better maneuverability, the Q4 e-tron 40’s turning circle is 7.8 feet tighter than the X5 xDrive45e’s (33.5 feet vs. 41.3 feet). The Q4 e-tron 50’s turning circle is 3.6 feet tighter than the X5 xDrive45e’s (37.7 feet vs. 41.3 feet).

The Audi Q4 e-tron may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 800 to 950 pounds less than the BMW X5 xDrive45e.

The Q4 e-tron is 1 foot, 1.6 inches shorter than the X5 xDrive45e, making the Q4 e-tron easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Q4 e-tron is 5.5 inches narrower than the X5 xDrive45e, making the Q4 e-tron easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

The Q4 e-tron’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The X5 xDrive45e’s tailgate’s top part raises up, but the bottom part lowers, getting in the way of loading and making an uneven surface for sliding cargo.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The Q4 e-tron Prestige has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The X5 xDrive45e doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The Q4 e-tron is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The X5 xDrive45e doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Audi Q4 e-tron, based on reliability, safety and performance.