BMW i4 vs Audi Q4 e-tron

The BMW i4 starts from $88,900 before on-road costs, while the Audi Q4 e-tron opens at $84,900. That makes the Audi Q4 e-tron the more affordable entry point by $4,000.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $97,790 and $93,390 respectively.

Both models qualify for Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) exemption, which is a significant advantage for salary-sacrificed novated leases. Depending on your tax bracket, this can save $5,000-$15,000+ per year compared to an equivalent ICE vehicle.

Both the BMW i4 and Audi Q4 e-tron hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 87% for the BMW i4 and 93% for the Audi Q4 e-tron.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The Audi Q4 e-tron packs more ADAS features with 9 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 6 in the BMW i4.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 6 in the BMW i4 and 7 in the Audi Q4 e-tron. The Audi Q4 e-tron adds a 360-degree camera that the BMW i4 misses.

The BMW i4 features a 12.3-inch touchscreen, while the Audi Q4 e-tron gets a 11.6-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The BMW i4 stands out with head-up display, wireless charging, panoramic roof, heated front seats, ventilated seats and Harman Kardon audio that you will not find on the Audi Q4 e-tron. The Audi Q4 e-tron counters with Bang & Olufsen audio and ambient lighting. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The BMW i4 uses a Electric producing 210kW and 400Nm of torque, sent through a auto to a RWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 5.5 seconds.

The Audi Q4 e-tron responds with a Electric making 210kW and 545Nm, paired to a single-speed (two-stage planetary) driving the rear wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 6.7 seconds.

Power output is identical on paper, so the difference comes down to tuning, weight distribution, and suspension. In the real-world sprint, the BMW i4 is 1.2s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

Battery: 64kWh (BMW i4) vs 82kWh (Audi Q4 e-tron), giving WLTP ranges of 527km and 470km. DC fast charging peaks at 205kW (BMW i4) vs 175kW (Audi Q4 e-tron).

The BMW i4 measures 4,783mm long on a 2,856mm wheelbase, 195mm longer than the Audi Q4 e-tron at 4,588mm (2,764mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the BMW i4 generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 390L in the BMW i4 and 520L in the Audi Q4 e-tron, giving the Audi Q4 e-tron a 130L advantage.

For towing, the BMW i4 leads with a 1,600kg braked capacity vs 1,000kg. That 600kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Running cost data is not yet available for both models. We will update when figures are confirmed.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (BMW i4) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Audi Q4 e-tron). Both match on warranty length.