Compare the2025 Lexus ISVS 2025 Audi A4

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

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 IS are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The A4 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The IS offers optional Intuitive Parking Assist with Auto Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The A4 doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The IS has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the A4’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the IS has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Alert to warn the driver of approaching traffic and automatically engage the brakes to help avoid a collision. Audi charges extra for Rear Cross-Traffic Assist on the A4.

Both the IS and the A4 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 all wheel drive and 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 Lexus IS is safer than the Audi A4:

	IS	A4
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.5 inches	1 inches

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

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Lexus IS is safer than the Audi A4:

	IS	A4
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	142	172
Chest Movement	1 inches	1.1 inches
Abdominal Force	203 lbs.	219 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	162	277
Spine Acceleration	28 G’s	56 G’s
Hip Force	438 lbs.	777 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	293	333
Spine Acceleration	34 G’s	47 G’s
Hip Force	650 lbs.	666 lbs.

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

Warranty

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the IS 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Audi covers the A4. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the A4 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the IS’ reliability 28 points higher than the A4.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the IS first among compact premium cars in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The A4 isn’t in the top three.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in initial quality. With 68 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 statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in reliability, above the industry average. With 140 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 29th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus first in overall reliability. Audi is ranked 19th.

Engine

The IS 350’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 50 more horsepower (311 vs. 261) and 7 lbs.-ft. more torque (280 vs. 273) than the A4’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The IS 500’s standard 5.0 DOHC V8 produces 211 more horsepower (472 vs. 261) and 122 lbs.-ft. more torque (395 vs. 273) than the A4’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the IS 500 5.0 DOHC V8 is faster than the Audi A4:

	IS	A4
Zero to 60 MPH	4.3 sec	4.8 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	10.4 sec	12.9 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	4.7 sec	5.6 sec
Quarter Mile	12.8 sec	13.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	112 MPH	102 MPH
Top Speed	149 MPH	126 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The IS has 2.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the A4 (17.4 vs. 15.3 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Lexus IS, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the A4.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the IS 500 Performance’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the A4:

	IS 500 Performance	A4
Front Rotors	14 inches	13.3 inches

The IS stops shorter than the A4:

	IS	A4
60 to 0 MPH	129 feet	135 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	141 feet	145 feet	Consumer Reports

Suspension and Handling

The IS offers an available 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 A4’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the IS is .3 inches wider in the front and 1.4 inches wider in the rear than the track on the A4.

The IS 350 F Sport handles at .93 G’s, while the A4 Premium pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The IS 500 Performance executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2 seconds quicker than the A4 Premium (25.2 seconds @ .74 average G’s vs. 27.2 seconds @ .64 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the IS’ turning circle is 3.9 feet tighter than the A4’s (34.2 feet vs. 38.1 feet). The IS AWD’s turning circle is 2.7 feet tighter than the A4’s (35.4 feet vs. 38.1 feet).

Passenger Space

The IS has .9 inches more front headroom and 3.5 inches more front legroom than the A4.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Audi. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With a 43% lower rating, Audi is ranked 18th.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors optional in the A4, the IS offers an optional driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The IS’ optional easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The A4 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The IS’ instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The A4 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The IS’ standard Smart Access allow you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, open the trunk, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Keyless Engine Start/Stop standard on the A4 only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the car.

Consumer Reports rated the IS’ headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the A4’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

The A4’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The IS’ optional adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

A power rear sunshade is optional in the IS to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The A4 doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

Model Availability

The IS is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The A4 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Economic Advantages

The IS will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the IS will retain 53.95% to 59.37% of its original price after five years, while the A4 only retains 48.96% to 51.87%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the IS is less expensive to operate than the A4 because it costs $218 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the IS than the A4, including $168 less for a water pump, $232 less for a muffler, $76 less for front brake pads, $143 less for a fuel pump and $470 less for front struts.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Lexus IS and the Audi A4, based on reliability, safety and performance.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the IS second among compact premium cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The A4 isn’t in the top three.

The Lexus IS outsold the Audi A4/S4 by 66% during 2023.

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