Compare the2026 Audi Q4 e-tron SportbackVS 2026 Lexus RZ

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 RZ doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the Q4 e-tron Sportback and RZ have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Q4 e-tron Sportback has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The RZ’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

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 RZ.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Q4 e-tron Sportback has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Assist with Automatic Brake Activation, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Only the RZ Premium/Luxury/F Sport offers Parking Support Brake.

Both the Q4 e-tron Sportback and the RZ 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 Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback is safer than the Lexus RZ:

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

The Q4 e-tron Sportback’s corrosion warranty is 6 years longer than the RZ’s (12 vs. 6 years).

Audi pays for scheduled maintenance on the Q4 e-tron Sportback for 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Lexus pays for maintenance for the RZ (3/30,000 vs. 1/10,000).

There are over 25 percent more Audi dealers than there are Lexus dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Q4 e-tron Sportback’s warranty.

The Q4 e-tron Sportback’s electric motors produces 114 more horsepower (335 vs. 221) and 338 lbs.-ft. more torque (536 vs. 198) than the RZ 350e’s standard electric motor. The Q4 e-tron Sportback’s electric motors produces 27 more horsepower (335 vs. 308) and 215 lbs.-ft. more torque (536 vs. 321) than the RZ 450e’s standard electric motors. The Q4 e-tron Sportback’s electric motors produces 140 lbs.-ft. more torque (536 vs. 396) than the RZ 550e F Sport’s standard electric motors.

The Q4 e-tron Sportback can travel longer on a full charge than the RZ 450e w/20" Wheels (258 miles vs. 257 miles).

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

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 RZ’s standard 60 series front and 55 series rear 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 RZ’s optional 50 series front and 45 series rear tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Q4 e-tron Sportback has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the RZ. The Q4 e-tron Sportback’s optional 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the RZ.

The Q4 e-tron Sportback is 8.6 inches shorter than the RZ, making the Q4 e-tron Sportback easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Q4 e-tron Sportback. The RZ doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Q4 e-tron Sportback has a 2650 lbs. towing capacity. The RZ has no towing capacity.

A maintenance reminder system is standard on the Q4 e-tron Sportback to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals for vehicle inspections, vehicle inspection based on odometer mileage. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Lexus doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the RZ.

The power windows standard on both the Q4 e-tron Sportback and the RZ have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Q4 e-tron Sportback is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The RZ prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

If the windows are left open on the Q4 e-tron Sportback the driver can close all of them 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 RZ can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Q4 e-tron Sportback to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The RZ doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Q4 e-tron Sportback’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the RZ’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

Consumer Reports® recommends the Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Lexus RZ isn't recommended.

The Audi Q4 outsold the Lexus RZ by 14% during 2024.