Compare the2025 Audi Q4 e-tron SportbackVS 2025 Polestar 4

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 Polestar 4 doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Q4 e-tron Sportback. But it costs extra on the Polestar 4.

The Q4 e-tron Sportback has a standard Audi Connect CARE, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Polestar 4 doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Q4 e-tron Sportback and the Polestar 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 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 Polestar 4 has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

There are almost 10 times as many Audi dealers as there are Polestar dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Q4 e-tron Sportback’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Audi vehicles are better in initial quality than Polestar vehicles. With 74 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Audi higher than Polestar.

The Q4 e-tron Sportback’s electric motors produces 63 more horsepower (335 vs. 272) and 248 lbs.-ft. more torque (501 vs. 253) than the Polestar 4’s standard electric motor.

On the EPA test cycle the Q4 e-tron Sportback gets better mileage than the Polestar 4:

The Q4 e-tron Sportback’s standard 255/45R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Polestar 4’s standard 50 series tires.

The Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 to 650 pounds less than the Polestar 4.

The Q4 e-tron Sportback is 9.9 inches shorter than the Polestar 4, making the Q4 e-tron Sportback easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Q4 e-tron Sportback is 5.7 inches narrower than the Polestar 4, making the Q4 e-tron Sportback easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

The Q4 e-tron Sportback has a much larger cargo volume than the Polestar 4 with its rear seat up (26.1 vs. 18.6 cubic feet).

The Q4 e-tron Sportback’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Polestar 4’s (2650 vs. 0 pounds).

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 Polestar 4 doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Q4 e-tron Sportback has standard extendable sun visors. The Polestar 4 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Q4 e-tron Sportback’s power mirror controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The Polestar 4’s power mirror controls are embedded in the infotainment system, seriously distracting drivers who have to adjust them while driving.

The Q4 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 costs extra on the Polestar 4.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback, based on reliability, safety and performance.