Compare the2024 Audi Q4 e-tron SportbackVS 2024 Acura RDX

The Q4 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 RDX doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

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

Both the Q4 e-tron Sportback and RDX have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Q4 e-tron Sportback 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 Sportback 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, all wheel drive, 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 Sportback weighs 825 to 869 pounds more than the Acura RDX. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The Q4 e-tron Sportback’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 Sportback’s warranty.

The Q4 e-tron Sportback’s 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.

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

The Q4 50 e-tron Sportback can travel with zero emissions for 242 miles. The RDX can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the Q4 e-tron Sportback’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 Sportback higher (10 out of 10) than the Acura RDX (6). This means the Q4 e-tron Sportback 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 Sportback’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the RDX:

For better traction and acceleration, the Q4 e-tron Sportback has larger rear tires than the RDX (255/45R20 vs. 235/55R19).

The Q4 e-tron Sportback’s 235/50R20 front and 255/45R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series front and 45 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the RDX’s standard 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Q4 e-tron Sportback has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the RDX.

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

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

The Q4 e-tron Sportback’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the RDX’s (2646 vs. 1500 pounds).

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

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 Sportback Prestige has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The RDX doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The Q4 e-tron Sportback’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 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 costs extra on the RDX.

The Q4 e-tron Sportback 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.

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