Compare the2023 Volkswagen ID.4VS 2023 Audi e-tron

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The ID.4 has standard Maneuver Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The e-tron doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The ID.4’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 e-tron doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the ID.4 and the 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, 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 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Volkswagen ID.4 is safer than the Audi e-tron:

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 Volkswagen ID.4 is safer than the Audi e-tron:

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

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the ID.4 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 29 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The e-tron has not been fully tested, yet.

Volkswagen’s powertrain warranty covers the ID.4 4 years and 50,000 miles longer than Audi covers the e-tron. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 8 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the e-tron ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

Volkswagen pays for scheduled maintenance on the ID.4 for 2 years and 20,000 miles. Volkswagen will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Audi only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the e-tron.

There are over 2 times as many Volkswagen dealers as there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the ID.4’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Volkswagen vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 9 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Volkswagen higher than Audi.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Volkswagen vehicles are more reliable than Audi With 15 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Volkswagen higher than Audi.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Volkswagen ID.4 electric motors is faster than the Audi e-tron (base engine):

On the EPA test cycle the ID.4 gets better mileage than the e-tron:

The ID.4 can travel longer on a full charge than the e-tron on a full charge:

The ID.4 handles at .83 G’s, while the e-tron Chronos Edition pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the ID.4’s turning circle is 8.5 feet tighter than the e-tron’s (31.5 feet vs. 40 feet). The ID.4 AWD’s turning circle is 3.6 feet tighter than the e-tron’s (36.42 feet vs. 40 feet).

The Volkswagen ID.4 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1200 to 1450 pounds less than the Audi e-tron.

The ID.4 is 1 foot shorter than the e-tron, making the ID.4 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The design of the Volkswagen ID.4 amounts to more than styling. The ID.4 offers aerodynamic coefficients of drag from .27 to .29 Cd (depending on bodystyle and options). That is significantly lower than the e-tron (.31 to .32) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the ID.4 get better fuel mileage.

The ID.4 has 2.5 inches more front headroom and .3 inches more front legroom than the e-tron.

The ID.4 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the e-tron with its rear seat up (30.3 vs. 28.5 cubic feet). The ID.4 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the e-tron with its rear seat folded (64.2 vs. 56.4 cubic feet).

The ID.4’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the e-tron’s (2200 vs. 0 pounds).

Standard trailer stability control on the ID.4 uses the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The e-tron doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The ID.4’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The e-tron’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the ID.4 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The e-tron doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

Consumer Reports rated the ID.4’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the e-tron’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the ID.4 S/Pro S has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The e-tron doesn’t offer cornering lights. The ID.4 S/Pro S also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Volkswagen ID.4 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the e-tron.

The ID.4’s Park Assist Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The e-tron doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The ID.4 is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The e-tron doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

The Volkswagen ID.4 outsold the Audi e-tron by 62% during 2022.