Compare the2024 Audi A4 AllroadVS 2024 Lexus RX

The A4 Allroad’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The RX doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the A4 Allroad and RX have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The A4 Allroad 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 RX’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 A4 Allroad has a standard Audi Backguard System, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Audi Backguard System moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. At the same time the pretensioning seatbelts fire, removing slack from the belts. The RX doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the A4 Allroad. But it costs extra on the RX.

Both the A4 Allroad and the RX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear 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, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The A4 Allroad’s corrosion warranty is 6 years longer than the RX’s (12 vs. 6 years).

There are over 25 percent more Audi dealers than there are Lexus dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the A4 Allroad’s warranty.

The Audi A4 Allroad’s engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the RX’s engines use an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

The A4 Allroad’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 15 more horsepower (261 vs. 246) and 40 lbs.-ft. more torque (273 vs. 233) than the RX 350h’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the A4 Allroad gets better mileage than the RX running its gasoline engine:

Both the A4 Allroad and the RX have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All A4 Allroads have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The RX 350h/500h doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Audi A4 Allroad uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The RX 350 requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The A4 Allroad offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The RX doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The A4 Allroad’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 RX doesn’t offer launch control.

The A4 Allroad stops much shorter than the RX:

For better traction, the A4 Allroad has larger tires than the RX (245/45R18 vs. 235/60R19).

The A4 Allroad’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the RX’s standard 60 series tires. The A4 Allroad’s tires are lower profile than the RX’s optional 50 series tires.

The A4 Allroad has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The RX base model’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The A4 Allroad Prestige handles at .85 G’s, while the RX 500h F Sport Performance pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The A4 Allroad Premium Plus executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.3 seconds quicker than the RX 350h (26.3 seconds @ .69 average G’s vs. 28.6 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

The Audi A4 Allroad may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 950 pounds less than the Lexus RX.

The A4 Allroad is 5 inches shorter than the RX, making the A4 Allroad easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The A4 Allroad is 8.5 inches shorter in height than the RX, making the A4 Allroad much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

The A4 Allroad has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the RX with its rear seat folded (58.5 vs. 46.2 cubic feet).

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the A4 Allroad easier. The A4 Allroad’s trunk lift-over height is 26.1 inches, while the RX’s liftover is 31 inches.

The A4 Allroad’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the RX’s (3968 vs. 0 pounds).

The engine in the A4 Allroad is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the RX. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the A4 Allroad to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The RX doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the A4 Allroad to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The RX doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The A4 Allroad has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the car heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the RX.