Compare the2024 Audi Q8 e-tron SportbackVS 2024 Volkswagen ID.4

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics

Safety

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The Audi Q8 e-tron Sportback 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 ID.4 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Q8 e-tron Sportback. But it costs extra on the ID.4.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Q8 e-tron Sportback’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The ID.4 doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

Both the Q8 e-tron Sportback and the ID.4 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 Audi Q8 e-tron Sportback weighs 921 to 1481 pounds more than the Volkswagen ID.4. 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 Q8 e-tron Sportback is safer than the Volkswagen ID.4:

	Q8 e-tron Sportback	ID.4
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	38%	54%
Neck Compression	67 lbs.	91 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 flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Audi Q8 e-tron Sportback is safer than the Volkswagen ID.4:

	Q8 e-tron Sportback	ID.4
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	44	76
Chest Movement	.7 inches	.8 inches
Abdominal Force	117 lbs.	128 lbs.
Hip Force	236 lbs.	356 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	123	125
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	279	333
Hip Force	631 lbs.	925 lbs.

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

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Q8 e-tron Sportback, with its five-star roll-over rating, is 1.1% to 1.7% less likely to roll over than the ID.4, which received a four-star rating.

The Audi Q8 e-tron Sportback achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The ID.4 has not yet been fully evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

Warranty

The Q8 e-tron Sportback’s corrosion warranty is 5 years and unlimited miles longer than the ID.4’s (12/unlimited vs. 7/100,000).

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Audi vehicles are better in initial quality than Volkswagen vehicles. With 28 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Audi higher than Volkswagen.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Audi 8 places higher in reliability than Volkswagen.

Engine

The Q8 e-tron Sportback has more powerful engines than the ID.4:

	Horsepower	Torque
Q8 e-tron Sportback electric motors	402 HP	490 lbs.-ft.
SQ8 e-tron Sportback electric motors	496 HP	717 lbs.-ft.
ID.4 electric motor	201 HP	229 lbs.-ft.
ID.4 Pro electric motor	282 HP	402 lbs.-ft.
ID.4 Pro electric motors	335 HP	501 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Motor Trend the Audi Q8 e-tron Sportback (base engine) is faster than the Volkswagen ID.4 electric motor:

	Q8 e-tron Sportback	ID.4
Zero to 30 MPH	2.3 sec	2.6 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	5.2 sec	7.4 sec
Zero to 80 MPH	8.3 sec	13.3 sec
Passing 45 to 65 MPH	2.3 sec	4 sec
Quarter Mile	13.9 sec	15.9 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	101.6 MPH	86.3 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The Q8 e-tron Sportback can travel longer on a full charge than the ID.4 on a full charge:

			Miles
Q8 e-tron Sportback
	AWD	ultra Electric Motors	300 miles
		Electric Motors	296 miles
ID.4
	RWD	Pro Electric Motor	291 miles
		Standard Electric Motor	206 miles
	AWD	Pro Electric Motors	263 miles

Transmission

The Q8 e-tron Sportback’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The ID.4 doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Q8 e-tron Sportback’s brake rotors are larger than those on the ID.4:

	Q8 e-tron Sportback	ID.4
Front Rotors	15.7 inches	14.1 inches
Rear Rotors	13.8 inches	11” drums

The Audi Q8 e-tron Sportback has standard four-wheel disc brakes for better stopping power and improved directional control in poor weather. Only rear drums come on the ID.4. 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 Q8 e-tron Sportback has larger standard tires than the ID.4 (255/50R20 vs. 235/55R19). The Q8 e-tron Sportback Premium Plus/Prestige’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the ID.4 (265/45R21 vs. 235/50R20).

The Q8 e-tron Sportback’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 ID.4 Pro S Plus’ 45 series front tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Q8 e-tron Sportback offers optional 22-inch wheels. The ID.4’s largest wheels are only 21-inches.

The Q8 e-tron Sportback 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 ID.4; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

The Q8 e-tron Sportback has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The ID.4’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The front and rear suspension of the Q8 e-tron Sportback uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the ID.4, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The Q8 e-tron Sportback 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 ID.4’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Q8 e-tron Sportback has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Q8 e-tron Sportback’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 ID.4 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Q8 e-tron Sportback’s wheelbase is 6.3 inches longer than on the ID.4 (115.1 inches vs. 108.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Q8 e-tron Sportback is 2.3 inches wider in the front and 2.9 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the ID.4.

The Q8 e-tron Sportback handles at .92 G’s, while the ID.4 Pro pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Q8 e-tron Sportback executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.2 seconds quicker than the ID.4 Pro (25.4 seconds @ .75 average G’s vs. 27.6 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

Passenger Space

The Q8 e-tron Sportback has 2.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the ID.4 (102 vs. 99.9).

The Q8 e-tron Sportback has 1.1 inches more front shoulder room, 1.5 inches more rear legroom and 1.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the ID.4.

Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the Volkswagen ID.4 is limited to 2700 pounds. The Q8 e-tron Sportback offers up to a 4000 lbs. towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The Q8 e-tron Sportback uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The ID.4 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.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Audi service is better than Volkswagen. J.D. Power ranks Audi 8th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 32% lower rating, Volkswagen is ranked 28th.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors in the ID.4 S/S Plus, the Q8 e-tron Sportback Prestige has a 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 Q8 e-tron Sportback’s standard Audi Advanced Key allows 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. KESSY Keyless Access standard on the ID.4 doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Q8 e-tron Sportback has standard extendable sun visors. The ID.4 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Q8 e-tron Sportback to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The ID.4 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Q8 e-tron Sportback’s standard 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 ID.4 has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Standard air conditioned seats in the front and rear seats keep the Q8 e-tron Sportback Premium Plus/Prestige’s passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The ID.4 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

The Q8 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 is only available on the ID.4 S/Plus.