Compare the2024 Volkswagen ID.4VS 2024 Audi Q4 e-tron

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

Safety

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Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The ID.4 has standard Maneuver Braking 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 ID.4’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 ID.4 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 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 Volkswagen ID.4 is safer than the Audi Q4 e-tron:

	ID.4	Q4 e-tron
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	18%	33.2%
Neck Compression	8 lbs.	75 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	39/39 lbs.	72/157 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	118	264
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.8 inches
Neck Compression	91 lbs.	132 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	5/20 lbs.	14/25 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 post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Volkswagen ID.4 is safer than the Audi Q4 e-tron:

	ID.4	Q4 e-tron
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	3 Stars

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

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the ID.4 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 67 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Q4 e-tron has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

Volkswagen’s powertrain warranty covers the ID.4 4 years and 50,000 miles longer than Audi covers the Q4 e-tron. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 8 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Q4 e-tron ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

Volkswagen pays for scheduled maintenance on the ID.4 for 2 years and 20,000 miles. Volkswagen will pay for tire rotations, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Audi only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Q4 e-tron.

There are over 2 times as many Volkswagen dealers as there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the ID.4’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Volkswagen vehicles are more reliable than Audi With 15 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Volkswagen higher than Audi.

Engine

The ID.4 has more powerful engines than the Q4 e-tron:

	Horsepower	Torque
ID.4 Pro electric motor	282 HP	402 lbs.-ft.
ID.4 Pro electric motors	335 HP	501 lbs.-ft.
Q4 40 e-tron electric motor	201 HP	229 lbs.-ft.
Q4 50 e-tron electric motors	295 HP	339 lbs.-ft.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the ID.4 gets better mileage than the Q4 e-tron:

			MPGe
ID.4
	RWD	Pro Electric Motor	122 city/104 hwy
		Standard Electric Motor	115 city/98 hwy
	AWD	Pro Electric Motors	108 city/96 hwy
Q4 e-tron
	RWD	Q4 40 e-tron Electric Motor	112 city/94 hwy
	AWD	Q4 50 e-tron Electric Motors	97 city/87 hwy

The ID.4 can travel longer on a full charge than the Q4 e-tron on a full charge:

			Miles
ID.4
	RWD	Pro Electric Motor	291 miles
	AWD	Pro Electric Motors	263 miles
Q4 e-tron
	RWD	Q4 40 e-tron Electric Motor	265 miles
	AWD	Q4 50 e-tron Electric Motors	236 miles

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the ID.4’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Q4 e-tron:

	ID.4	Q4 e-tron
Front Rotors	14.1 inches	13.4 inches

Tires and Wheels

The ID.4 Pro S Plus’ 235/45R21 front and 255/40R21 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series front and 40 series rear 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 ID.4 Pro S Plus has standard 21-inch wheels. The Q4 e-tron’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

Suspension and Handling

The ID.4 handles at .85 G’s, while the Q4 50 e-tron Prestige pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the ID.4’s turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the Q4 e-tron 40’s (31.5 feet vs. 33.5 feet). The ID.4 AWD’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the Q4 e-tron 50’s (36.42 feet vs. 37.7 feet).

Chassis

The Volkswagen ID.4 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 350 pounds less than the Audi Q4 e-tron.

The design of the Volkswagen ID.4 amounts to more than styling. The ID.4 has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .28 Cd. That is lower than the Q4 e-tron (.28 to .31) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the ID.4 get better fuel mileage.

The front grille of the ID.4 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.

Passenger Space

The ID.4 has 2.1 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear legroom and .8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Q4 e-tron.

Cargo Capacity

The ID.4 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Q4 e-tron with its rear seat up (30.3 vs. 24.8 cubic feet). The ID.4 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Q4 e-tron with its rear seat folded (64.2 vs. 53.1 cubic feet).

Towing

Standard trailer stability control on the ID.4 uses the Electronic Stability Control 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.

Ergonomics

The ID.4’s standard KESSY Keyless Access allow you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, open the cargo door, and start the vehicle, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Keyless Start standard on the Q4 e-tron only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the vehicle.

The ID.4’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 Q4 e-tron’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the ID.4 S/S Plus has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Q4 e-tron doesn’t offer cornering lights. The ID.4 S/S Plus also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

Both the ID.4 and the Q4 e-tron have standard heated front seats. The ID.4 Pro S Plus also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Q4 e-tron.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the ID.4 Pro S/Pro S Plus keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Q4 e-tron doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The ID.4 S/S Plus has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Q4 e-tron.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Volkswagen ID.4 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Q4 e-tron.

Recommendations

The Volkswagen ID.4 outsold the Audi Q4 e-tron by almost four to one during 2023.