Compare the2025 Cadillac OptiqVS 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
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics

Safety

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In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Optiq are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Q4 e-tron doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Cadillac Optiq 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 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Optiq has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Q4 e-tron doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Optiq has standard Reverse Automatic 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.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, Full-Time Four-Wheel Drive is standard on the Optiq. But it costs extra on the Q4 e-tron.

The Optiq’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 Optiq 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, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and rear cross-path warning.

Warranty

Cadillac’s powertrain warranty covers the Optiq 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Audi covers the Q4 e-tron. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Q4 e-tron ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 85 percent more Cadillac dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Optiq’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Cadillac vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 28 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Cadillac higher than Audi.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Cadillac vehicles are more reliable than Audi With 79 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Cadillac higher than Audi.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Cadillac vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Cadillac 3 places higher in reliability than Audi.

Engine

The Optiq’s electric motors produces 99 more horsepower (300 vs. 201) and 125 lbs.-ft. more torque (354 vs. 229) than the Q4 40 e-tron’s standard electric motor. The Optiq’s electric motors produces 5 more horsepower (300 vs. 295) and 15 lbs.-ft. more torque (354 vs. 339) than the Q4 50 e-tron’s standard electric motors.

Fuel Economy and Range

The Optiq can travel longer on a full charge than the Q4 e-tron on a full charge:

			Miles
Optiq
	AWD	Electric Motors	300 miles
Q4 e-tron
	RWD	Q4 40 e-tron Electric Motor	265 miles
	AWD	Q4 55 e-tron Electric Motors	258 miles
		Q4 50 e-tron Electric Motors	236 miles

Brakes and Stopping

The Cadillac Optiq 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. 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 Optiq has larger standard tires than the Q4 e-tron (245/50R20 vs. 235/55R19). The Optiq’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Q4 e-tron (275/40R21 vs. 235/55R19).

The Optiq’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Q4 e-tron’s standard 55 series front tires. The Optiq’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Q4 e-tron 55 e-tron’s optional 45 series front tires.

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

The Cadillac Optiq’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Audi Q4 e-tron only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

Having a flat tire is dangerous, inconvenient and expensive. The self-sealing tires available on the Optiq can automatically seal most punctures up to 3/16 of an inch, effectively preventing most flat tires. The Q4 e-tron doesn’t offer self-sealing tires.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Optiq’s wheelbase is 7.6 inches longer than on the Q4 e-tron (116.3 inches vs. 108.7 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Optiq is 1.7 inches wider in the front than on the Q4 e-tron.

Chassis

The front grille of the Optiq 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 Optiq has 1.1 inches more front headroom, .4 inches more front legroom, .3 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom, .6 inches more rear legroom and .9 inches more rear shoulder room than the Q4 e-tron.

Cargo Capacity

The Optiq has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Q4 e-tron with its rear seat up (26 vs. 24.8 cubic feet). The Optiq has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Q4 e-tron with its rear seat folded (57 vs. 53.1 cubic feet).

Towing

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Optiq uses the StabiliTrak® 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.

Servicing Ease

The Optiq uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Q4 e-tron 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 Cadillac service is better than Audi. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac fifth in service department satisfaction. With a 29% lower rating, Audi is ranked 18th.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors optional at extra cost in the Q4 e-tron, the Optiq offers an optional passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The Optiq’s standard Keyless 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 only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the vehicle.

The Optiq’s cruise control switch is lit from behind, making it 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 Optiq offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Q4 e-tron doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Cadillac Optiq has power folding mirrors that offer unparalleled convenience while maneuvering in tight places or parked. With the mirrors folded it’s easier to walk past and help prevent parking damage. The mirrors can be quickly unfolded when the driver is ready to leave. Power folding mirrors costs extra on the Q4 e-tron.

Both the Optiq and the Q4 e-tron have standard heated front seats. The Optiq 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.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Optiq 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 Optiq 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 Q4 e-tron Premium Plus/Prestige.

The Optiq 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.

The Cadillac Optiq has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the infotainment. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Audi charges extra for Homelink® on the Q4 e-tron.

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

The Optiq has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Q4 e-tron doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Optiq’s Enhanced Automatic Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Enhanced Automatic Park Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Q4 e-tron Premium Plus/Prestige’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park and it doesn’t offer remote control parking.