Compare the2025 Audi Q4 e-tron SportbackVS 2024 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid

The Q4 e-tron Sportback’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The Q4 e-tron Sportback has a standard Secondary Collision Brake Assist, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Both the Q4 e-tron Sportback and the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid 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.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback is safer than the Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid:

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

The Audi Q4 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 Sorento Plug-In Hybrid has not yet been fully evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

The Q4 e-tron Sportback’s corrosion warranty is 7 years and unlimited miles longer than the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s (12/unlimited vs. 5/100,000).

The Q4 e-tron Sportback’s electric motors produces 74 more horsepower (335 vs. 261) and 243 lbs.-ft. more torque (501 vs. 258) than the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback is faster than the Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid:

On the EPA test cycle the Q4 55 e-tron Sportback gets better mileage than the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid running on electricity (107 city/92 hwy vs. 83 city/75 hwy MPGe).

On the EPA test cycle the Q4 55 e-tron Sportback gets better mileage than the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid running its gasoline engine (107 city/92 hwy MPGe vs. 35 city/33 hwy).

The Q4 55 e-tron Sportback can travel with zero emissions on a full charge for 258 miles. The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid has to start its internal combustion engine after only 32 miles.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback higher (10 out of 10) than the Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (7). This means the Q4 e-tron Sportback produces up to 11.8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid every 15,000 miles.

For better stopping power the Q4 e-tron Sportback’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid:

For better traction and acceleration, the Q4 e-tron Sportback has larger rear tires than the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (255/45R20 vs. 235/55R19).

The Q4 e-tron Sportback’s standard 235/50R20 front and 255/45R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series front and 45 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s standard 55 series tires. The Q4 e-tron Sportback’s optional 235/45R21 front and 255/40R21 rear tires have a lower 45 series front and 40 series rear profile than the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Q4 e-tron Sportback has standard 20-inch wheels. Only 19-inch wheels are available on the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid. The Q4 e-tron Sportback offers optional 21-inch wheels.

The Q4 e-tron Sportback is 8.7 inches shorter than the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid, making the Q4 e-tron Sportback easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Q4 e-tron Sportback has a much larger cargo volume than the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid with its rear seat up (26.1 vs. 12.6 cubic feet).

The Q4 e-tron Sportback’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s (2650 vs. 2000 pounds).

The Q4 e-tron Sportback Prestige has a standard heads-up display that projects speed and driver assistance information readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

If the windows are left open on the Q4 e-tron Sportback the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The Q4 e-tron Sportback Prestige has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer headlight washers.

When the Q4 e-tron Sportback with available tilt-down mirrors is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Q4 e-tron Sportback’s optional 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 Sorento Plug-In Hybrid has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Q4 e-tron Sportback Premium Plus/Prestige’s Park Steering Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback and the Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid, based on reliability, safety and performance.