Compare the2024 Audi Q4 e-tron SportbackVS 2023 BMW X5 xDrive45e

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW X5 xDrive45e doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the Q4 e-tron Sportback and X5 xDrive45e 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 X5 xDrive45e’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.

Both the Q4 e-tron Sportback and X5 xDrive45e have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Q4 e-tron Sportback has Automatic Brake Activation (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The X5 xDrive45e’s Cross Traffic Warning doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Q4 e-tron Sportback and the X5 xDrive45e have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The X5 xDrive45e is not a “Top Safety Pick” for 2024.

On the EPA test cycle the Q4 50 e-tron Sportback gets better mileage than the X5 xDrive45e running on electricity (100 city/89 hwy vs. 47 city/54 hwy MPGe).

On the EPA test cycle the Q4 50 e-tron Sportback gets better mileage than the X5 xDrive45e running its gasoline engine (100 city/89 hwy MPGe vs. 19 city/22 hwy).

The Q4 50 e-tron Sportback can travel with zero emissions on a full charge for 242 miles. The X5 xDrive45e has to start its internal combustion engine after only 31 miles.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback higher (10 out of 10) than the BMW X5 xDrive45e (7). This means the Q4 e-tron Sportback produces up to 11.8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the X5 xDrive45e every 15,000 miles.

The Q4 e-tron Sportback’s 255/45R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the X5 xDrive45e’s standard 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Q4 e-tron Sportback has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the X5 xDrive45e.

For better maneuverability, the Q4 e-tron Sportback’s turning circle is 3.6 feet tighter than the X5 xDrive45e’s (37.7 feet vs. 41.3 feet).

The Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 750 pounds less than the BMW X5 xDrive45e.

The Q4 e-tron Sportback is 1 foot, 1.6 inches shorter than the X5 xDrive45e, making the Q4 e-tron Sportback easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Q4 e-tron Sportback is 5.5 inches narrower than the X5 xDrive45e, making the Q4 e-tron Sportback easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

The design of the Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback amounts to more than styling. The Q4 e-tron Sportback has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .3 Cd. That is significantly lower than the X5 xDrive45e (.35) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Q4 e-tron Sportback get better fuel mileage.

The Q4 e-tron Sportback’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The X5 xDrive45e’s tailgate’s top part raises up, but the bottom part lowers, getting in the way of loading and making an uneven surface for sliding cargo.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The Q4 e-tron Sportback Prestige has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The X5 xDrive45e doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The Q4 e-tron Sportback 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 costs extra on the X5 xDrive45e.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback, based on reliability, safety and performance.