Compare the2026 BMW iXVS 2026 Audi Q4 e-tron

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 iX are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Q4 e-tron doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The BMW iX has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help 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 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, Full-Time Four-Wheel Drive is standard on the iX. But it costs extra on the Q4 e-tron.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the iX’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Q4 e-tron doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The BMW iX’s optional Surround View offers available integrated front and rear camera washers, ensuring clear, all-weather visibility without the need for manual cleaning. In contrast, the Audi Q4 e-tron lacks camera washers, requiring you to manually clean the cameras for optimal performance.

The iX’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 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the iX and the Q4 e-tron have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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 BMW iX weighs 717 to 1175 pounds more than the Audi Q4 e-tron. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

There are over 14 percent more BMW dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the iX’s warranty.

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 iX’s reliability 20 points higher than the Q4 e-tron.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 73 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks BMW higher than Audi.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW above average in long-term dependability. With 13 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’ March 2026 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW 8 places higher in reliability than Audi.

The iX has more powerful engines than the Q4 e-tron:

	Horsepower	Torque
iX xDrive45 electric motors	402 HP	516 lbs.-ft.
iX xDrive60 electric motors	536 HP	564 lbs.-ft.
iX M70 electric motors	650 HP	811 lbs.-ft.
Q4 45 e-tron electric motor	282 HP	413 lbs.-ft.
Q4 55 e-tron electric motors	335 HP	536 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Motor Trend the iX xDrive45 is faster than the Q4 55 e-tron electric motors:

	iX	Q4 e-tron
Zero to 60 MPH	4.6 sec	4.7 sec
Quarter Mile	13.2 sec	13.4 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	107.1 MPH	98.8 MPH

The iX can travel longer on a full charge than the Q4 e-tron on a full charge:

			Miles
iX
	AWD	xDrive60 20" Wheels Electric Motors	364 miles
		xDrive60 21" Wheels Electric Motors	341 miles
		xDrive60 22" Wheels Electric Motors	327 miles
		xDrive60 23" Wheels Electric Motors	318 miles
		xDrive45 20" Wheels Electric Motors	312 miles
Q4 e-tron
	RWD	Q4 45 e-tron Electric Motor	288 miles
	AWD	Q4 55 e-tron Electric Motors	258 miles

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

The iX stops shorter than the Q4 e-tron:

	iX	Q4 e-tron
60 to 0 MPH	117 feet	125 feet	Motor Trend

For better traction, the iX’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Q4 e-tron (275/40R22 vs. 235/55R19).

The iX’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Q4 e-tron 55 e-tron’s optional 45 series front and 40 series rear tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the iX xDrive45/60 has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the Q4 e-tron. The iX’s optional 23-inch wheels are larger than the 21-inch wheels optional on the Q4 e-tron 55 e-tron.

The iX 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 or off-road. The Q4 e-tron’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The iX has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The iX’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 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the iX’s wheelbase is 9.4 inches longer than on the Q4 e-tron (118.1 inches vs. 108.7 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the iX is 3.4 inches wider in the front and 5.3 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Q4 e-tron.

The iX xDrive60 handles at .88 G’s, while the Q4 e-tron Quattro pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The iX M70 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.1 seconds quicker than the Q4 e-tron Quattro (25.5 seconds @ .74 average G’s vs. 26.6 seconds @ .69 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the iX has a 3 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Q4 e-tron (8.8 vs. 5.8 inches), allowing the iX to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The design of the BMW iX amounts to more than styling. The iX offers aerodynamic coefficients of drag from .25 to .26 Cd (depending on bodystyle and options). That is significantly lower than the Q4 e-tron (.3 to .31) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the iX get better fuel mileage.

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

The iX has 3 inches more front headroom, 4.8 inches more front shoulder room, 1.3 inches more rear headroom, 1.7 inches more rear legroom and 3.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Q4 e-tron.

The iX has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Q4 e-tron with its rear seat up (35.5 vs. 24.8 cubic feet). The iX has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Q4 e-tron with its rear seat folded (77.9 vs. 53.1 cubic feet).

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the iX’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Q4 e-tron doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The iX’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Q4 e-tron’s (3500 vs. 2200 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Audi Q4 e-tron is only 2650 pounds. The iX offers up to a 6834 lbs. towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Stabilization Control on the iX uses the Dynamic 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 Q4 e-tron doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The iX’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Q4 e-tron doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

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

The iX’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 Q4 e-tron’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

Laser headlights, optional on the iX, produce their light by firing blue lasers through phosphorus, a process that uses one-half the power of the Q4 e-tron’s LED headlights. Laser headlights can have double the range of LEDs with a much smaller surface area.

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

The BMW iX 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.

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

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

The iX 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 is only available on the Q4 e-tron Premium Plus.

The iX 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.

The BMW iX 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.

Compared to traditional radio, the BMW iX’s standard SiriusXM satellite radio provides an unmatched listening experience. Its extensive coverage guarantees consistent, crystal-clear reception across the continental U.S., and access to over 100 channels dedicated to a multitude of genres, including music, news, sports, talk shows, and comedy, many with only limited commercial breaks. Satellite radio costs extra on the Q4 e-tron.

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

The iX’s Parking Assistant can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Control Parking 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 Premium Plus’ automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

Consumer Reports® recommends the BMW iX, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The BMW iX outsold the Audi Q4 by 87% during 2025.