Compare the2024 Lincoln AviatorVS 2024 Audi Q4 e-tron

The Lincoln Aviator 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 Aviator (except Premiere) offers optional Reverse Brake Assist 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.

The Aviator’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 Aviator 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, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

Lincoln’s powertrain warranty covers the Aviator 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.

There are over 2 times as many Lincoln dealers as there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Aviator’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lincoln vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 13 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Lincoln 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 Lincoln vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lincoln above average in long-term dependability. With 12 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Audi is rated below average.

The Aviator’s 3.0 turbo V6 produces 199 more horsepower (400 vs. 201) and 186 lbs.-ft. more torque (415 vs. 229) than the Q4 40 e-tron’s standard electric motor. The Aviator’s 3.0 turbo V6 produces 105 more horsepower (400 vs. 295) and 76 lbs.-ft. more torque (415 vs. 339) than the Q4 50 e-tron’s standard electric motors.

For better stopping power the Aviator’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the Q4 e-tron:

The Lincoln Aviator 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.

For better traction, the Aviator has larger standard tires than the Q4 e-tron (255/60R19 vs. 235/55R19). The Aviator’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Q4 e-tron (275/40R22 vs. 235/55R19).

The Aviator’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Q4 e-tron Quattro’s optional 50 series front and 45 series rear tires.

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

The Aviator has a standard space-saver spare tire 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; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

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

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Aviator’s wheelbase is 10.4 inches longer than on the Q4 e-tron (119.1 inches vs. 108.7 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Aviator is 4.6 inches wider in the front and 5.4 inches wider in the rear than on the Q4 e-tron.

The front grille of the Aviator 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 Aviator (except Premiere) offers available computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Q4 e-tron doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Aviator has standard seating for 7 passengers; the Q4 e-tron can only carry 5.

The Aviator has 3 inches more front headroom, 1.8 inches more front legroom, 4.8 inches more front shoulder room, 1.4 inches more rear headroom, 1.8 inches more rear legroom and 6.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Q4 e-tron.

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

The Aviator’s cargo area provides more volume than the Q4 e-tron.

The Aviator’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Q4 e-tron’s (5600 vs. 2205 pounds).

Optional Trailer Sway Control on the Aviator 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 Q4 e-tron doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Aviator uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Q4 e-tron 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.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Aviator’s exterior PIN entry system. The Q4 e-tron doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Audi Connect CARE can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Aviator has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Q4 e-tron only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

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

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

Both the Aviator and the Q4 e-tron have standard heated front seats. The Aviator also offers optional heated second row seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Q4 e-tron.

Optional air conditioned front and second row seats keep the Aviator’s passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The Q4 e-tron doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Aviator (except Premiere) 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.

The Aviator 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 Aviator (except Premiere)’s optional Active Park Assist Plus 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.

The Lincoln Aviator outsold the Audi Q4 e-tron by over six to one during 2022.