Compare the2025 Porsche TaycanVS 2025 Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability

Safety

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The Porsche Taycan 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 Sportback doesn’t offer knee airbags.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the Taycan helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The Q4 e-tron Sportback doesn’t offer a night vision system.

The Taycan’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 Sportback doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Taycan and the Q4 e-tron Sportback 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, 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.

Warranty

Porsche pays for scheduled maintenance on the Taycan for 2 years and 24,000 miles. Porsche will pay for cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Audi only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Q4 e-tron Sportback.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Taycan first among upper midsize premium cars in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The Q4 e-tron Sportback isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Porsche vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Porsche above average in initial quality. With 70 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Porsche vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Porsche above average in long-term dependability. With 15 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Audi is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Porsche vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Porsche 11 places higher in reliability than Audi.

Engine

The Taycan Performance Battery’s standard electric motor produces 67 more horsepower (402 vs. 335) than the Q4 e-tron Sportback’s electric motors. The Taycan 4 Performance Battery’s standard electric motors produces 67 more horsepower (402 vs. 335) than the Q4 e-tron Sportback’s electric motors. The Taycan Performance Battery Plus’ standard electric motor produces 94 more horsepower (429 vs. 335) than the Q4 e-tron Sportback’s electric motors. The Taycan 4 Performance Battery Plus’ standard electric motors produces 94 more horsepower (429 vs. 335) than the Q4 e-tron Sportback’s electric motors. The Taycan Turbo GT’s standard electric motors produces 684 more horsepower (1019 vs. 335) and 413 lbs.-ft. more torque (914 vs. 501) than the Q4 e-tron Sportback’s electric motors.

Fuel Economy and Range

The Taycan Cross Turismo can travel longer on a full charge than the Q4 e-tron Sportback on a full charge:

			Miles
Taycan Cross Turismo
	RWD	Turbo Electric Motor	265 miles
	AWD	Turbo S Electric Motors	266 miles
Q4 e-tron Sportback
	AWD	Q4 55 e-tron Sportback Electric Motors	258 miles

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Taycan CCB’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Q4 e-tron Sportback:

	Taycan Base/4S	Taycan CCB	Q4 e-tron Sportback	Q4 e-tron Sportback
Front Rotors	14.2 inches	16.5 inches	14.1 inches	15 inches
Rear Rotors	14.1 inches	16.1 inches	11” drums	13.9” drums

The Porsche Taycan 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 Sportback. Drums can heat up and make stops longer, especially with antilock brakes that work much harder than conventional brakes.

The Taycan offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The Q4 e-tron Sportback doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The Taycan stops much shorter than the Q4 e-tron Sportback:

	Taycan	Q4 e-tron Sportback
70 to 0 MPH	147 feet	177 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	103 feet	129 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Taycan’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Q4 e-tron Sportback (F:265/35R21 & R:305/30R21 vs. F:235/50R20 & R:255/45R20).

The Taycan’s optional 265/35R21 front and 305/30R21 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Q4 e-tron Sportback’s optional 45 series front and 40 series rear tires.

Suspension and Handling

The Taycan AWD offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The Q4 e-tron Sportback doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The front and rear suspension of the Taycan uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the Q4 e-tron Sportback, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The Taycan offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Audi doesn’t offer an active suspension on the Q4 e-tron Sportback.

The Taycan 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. The Q4 e-tron Sportback’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Taycan has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Taycan’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 Q4 e-tron Sportback doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Taycan Cross Turismo’s wheelbase is 5.6 inches longer than on the Q4 e-tron Sportback (114.3 inches vs. 108.7 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Taycan is 4.8 inches wider in the front and 4.6 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Q4 e-tron Sportback.

The Taycan 4S Cross Turismo handles at .88 G’s, while the Q4 e-tron Sportback pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Taycan 4 Cross Turisimo executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.3 seconds quicker than the Q4 e-tron Sportback (25 seconds @ .76 average G’s vs. 26.3 seconds @ .68 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Taycan w/Rear Axle Steering’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the Q4 e-tron Sportback’s (36.7 feet vs. 37.7 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Taycan has a 1.1 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Q4 e-tron Sportback (6.9 vs. 5.8 inches), allowing the Taycan to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The Taycan is 9.1 inches shorter in height than the Q4 e-tron Sportback, making the Taycan much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

The front grille of the Taycan 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 Sportback doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Servicing Ease

The Taycan uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Q4 e-tron Sportback 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 Porsche service is better than Audi. J.D. Power ranks Porsche second in service department satisfaction. With a 40% lower rating, Audi is ranked 18th.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors optional at extra cost in the Q4 e-tron Sportback, the Taycan offers an optional passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position (with optional power wheel adjuster), outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The Taycan’s standard Comfort Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the trunk, and start the car, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Keyless Start standard on the Q4 e-tron Sportback only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the vehicle.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Taycan has a standard rear variable intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Q4 e-tron Sportback only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Taycan offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Q4 e-tron Sportback doesn’t offer cornering lights. The Taycan also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The Porsche Taycan 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 Sportback.

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

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Taycan keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Q4 e-tron Sportback doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Taycan offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Q4 e-tron Sportback.

The Porsche Taycan has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the rear view mirror. 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 Sportback.

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

The Taycan’s optional Active Parking Support can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Optional Remote ParkAssist 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 Sportback Premium Plus/Prestige’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park and it doesn’t offer remote control parking.

Model Availability

The Porsche Taycan comes in sedan and station wagon bodystyles; the Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback isn’t available as a sedan.

The Taycan is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The Q4 e-tron Sportback doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

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