Compare the2024 Porsche Macan ElectricVS 2024 Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics

Safety

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The Porsche Macan Electric 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 Sportback doesn’t offer knee airbags.

Both the Macan Electric and the Q4 e-tron Sportback have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear 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.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Porsche vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Porsche above average in initial quality. With 54 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Porsche vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Porsche above average in long-term dependability. With 30 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Audi is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Porsche vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Porsche 11 places higher in reliability than Audi.

Engine

The Macan 4 Electric’s standard electric motors produces 107 more horsepower (402 vs. 295) and 140 lbs.-ft. more torque (479 vs. 339) than the Q4 e-tron Sportback’s electric motors. The Macan Electric Turbo’s standard electric motors produces 335 more horsepower (630 vs. 295) and 494 lbs.-ft. more torque (833 vs. 339) than the Q4 e-tron Sportback’s electric motors.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Macan Electric Turbo’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Q4 e-tron Sportback:

	Macan Electric Turbo	Q4 e-tron Sportback
Front Rotors	15.7 inches	14.1 inches
Rear Rotors	13.8 inches	11” drums

The Porsche Macan Electric 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 Sportback. Drums can heat up and make stops longer, especially with antilock brakes that work much harder than conventional brakes.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Macan Electric’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Q4 e-tron Sportback (F:255/45R21 & R:295/40R21 vs. F:235/50R20 & R:255/45R20).

The Macan Electric’s optional 255/40R22 front and 295/35R22 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Q4 e-tron Sportback’s optional 50 series front and 45 series rear tires.

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

Suspension and Handling

The front and rear suspension of the Macan Electric uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the Q4 e-tron Sportback, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The Macan Electric has a standard driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Q4 e-tron Sportback’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Macan Electric has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Macan Electric’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The Q4 e-tron Sportback doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Macan Electric’s wheelbase is 5.2 inches longer than on the Q4 e-tron Sportback (113.9 inches vs. 108.7 inches).

Chassis

The design of the Porsche Macan Electric amounts to more than styling. The Macan Electric has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .25 Cd. That is significantly lower than the Q4 e-tron Sportback (.3) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Macan Electric get better fuel mileage.

The front grille of the Macan Electric 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 Sportback doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Cargo Capacity

The Macan Electric has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Q4 e-tron Sportback with its rear seat folded (59.5 vs. 54.4 cubic feet).

Towing

The Macan Electric’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Q4 e-tron Sportback’s (4409 vs. 2646 pounds).

Standard Trailer Stability Management on the Macan Electric uses the Porsche Stability Management 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 Sportback doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Porsche service is better than Audi. J.D. Power ranks Porsche third in service department satisfaction. With a 14% lower rating, Audi is ranked 8th.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors optional in the Q4 e-tron Sportback, the Macan Electric offers an optional driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The Macan Electric’s standard Comfort Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside 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 Sportback only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the vehicle.

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

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

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

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

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Macan Electric keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Q4 e-tron Sportback doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Macan Electric 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 Sportback.

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

The Macan Electric offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet in the cargo area, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Q4 e-tron Sportback doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Macan Electric’s optional Self Steering ParkAssist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Q4 e-tron Sportback Premium Plus/Prestige’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.