Compare the2024 Audi Q4 e-tronVS 2024 Acura RDX

The Q4 e-tron’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The RDX doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the Q4 e-tron and RDX 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 RDX’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 Q4 e-tron has a standard Secondary Collision Brake Assist, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The RDX 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.

Both the Q4 e-tron and RDX 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 RDX’s Rear Cross Traffic Monitor doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Q4 e-tron and the RDX 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, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The Audi Q4 e-tron weighs 616 to 847 pounds more than the Acura RDX. 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 Q4 e-tron is safer than the Acura RDX:

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

The Q4 e-tron’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the RDX’s (12 vs. 5 years).

There are over 12 percent more Audi dealers than there are Acura dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Q4 e-tron’s warranty.

The Q4 50 e-tron’s standard electric motors produces 23 more horsepower (295 vs. 272) and 59 lbs.-ft. more torque (339 vs. 280) than the RDX’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Q4 50 e-tron electric motors is faster than the Acura RDX:

On the EPA test cycle the Q4 e-tron gets better mileage than the RDX:

The Q4 e-tron can travel with zero emissions for 236 to 265 miles (dependent on model). The RDX can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the Q4 e-tron’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The RDX doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

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 Acura RDX (6). This means the Q4 e-tron produces up to 12.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the RDX every 15,000 miles.

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

The Q4 e-tron stops much shorter than the RDX:

For better traction and acceleration, the Q4 e-tron has larger rear tires than the RDX (255/50R19 vs. 235/55R19).

The Q4 e-tron’s standard 255/50R19 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the RDX’s standard 55 series tires.

The Q4 50 e-tron Prestige handles at .84 G’s, while the RDX A-Spec pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Q4 e-tron 40’s turning circle is 5.4 feet tighter than the RDX’s (33.5 feet vs. 38.9 feet). The Q4 e-tron 50’s turning circle is 1.2 feet tighter than the RDX’s (37.7 feet vs. 38.9 feet).

The Q4 e-tron is 6.7 inches shorter than the RDX, making the Q4 e-tron easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Q4 e-tron’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the RDX’s (2205 vs. 1500 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Acura RDX is only 1500 pounds. The Q4 e-tron offers up to a 2646 lbs. towing capacity.

The Q4 e-tron’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 RDX’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Q4 e-tron to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The RDX doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

Consumer Reports rated the Q4 e-tron’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the RDX’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

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 RDX doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The Q4 e-tron’s optional 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 RDX has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Q4 e-tron Premium Plus/Prestige’s Park Steering Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The RDX doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

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

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