Compare the2026 Lincoln AviatorVS 2025 Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Recommendations

Safety

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The Lincoln Aviator 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 Sportback doesn’t offer knee airbags.

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

The Aviator’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 Sportback doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Aviator and the Q4 e-tron Sportback 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 all wheel drive.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Lincoln Aviator is safer than the Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback:

	Aviator	Q4 e-tron Sportback
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	131	165
Neck Injury Risk	29.4%	33.2%
Neck Compression	13 lbs.	75 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	236	264
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.8 inches
Neck Compression	118 lbs.	132 lbs.

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 post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Lincoln Aviator is safer than the Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback:

	Aviator	Q4 e-tron Sportback
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	3 Stars

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

Warranty

Lincoln’s powertrain warranty covers the Aviator 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Audi covers the Q4 e-tron Sportback. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Q4 e-tron Sportback ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 55 percent more Lincoln dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Aviator’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lincoln vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 63 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Lincoln 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 Lincoln vehicles are more reliable than Audi With 52 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Lincoln higher than Audi.

Engine

The Aviator’s 3.0 turbo V6 produces 65 more horsepower (400 vs. 335) than the Q4 e-tron Sportback’s electric motors.

Brakes and Stopping

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

The Aviator stops much shorter than the Q4 e-tron Sportback:

	Aviator	Q4 e-tron Sportback
60 to 0 MPH	118 feet	129 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Aviator has larger standard tires than the Q4 e-tron Sportback (255/55R20 vs. 235/50R20). The Aviator’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Q4 e-tron Sportback (275/40R22 vs. 235/50R20).

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

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Aviator offers optional 22-inch wheels. The Q4 e-tron Sportback’s largest wheels are only 21-inches.

The Aviator offers an optional space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Q4 e-tron Sportback; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

The Aviator has a standard 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 Sportback’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Aviator Reserve/Black Label has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Aviator’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 Sportback doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The Aviator’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Q4 e-tron Sportback doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Aviator’s wheelbase is 10.4 inches longer than on the Q4 e-tron Sportback (119.1 inches vs. 108.7 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Aviator is 4.6 inches wider in the front and 5.4 inches wider in the rear than on the Q4 e-tron Sportback.

The Aviator Reserve AWD handles at .82 G’s, while the Q4 e-tron Sportback pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the Aviator has a 2.9 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Q4 e-tron Sportback (8.7 vs. 5.8 inches), allowing the Aviator to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

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

The Aviator Reserve/Black Label uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Q4 e-tron Sportback doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Aviator offers optional seating for 7 passengers; the Q4 e-tron Sportback can only carry 5.

The Aviator has 3 inches more front headroom, 1.8 inches more front legroom, 4.8 inches more front shoulder room, 2.7 inches more rear headroom, 1.8 inches more rear legroom and 6.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Q4 e-tron Sportback.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Aviator’s middle row seats recline. The Q4 e-tron Sportback’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The Aviator’s cargo area provides more volume than the Q4 e-tron Sportback.

	Aviator	Q4 e-tron Sportback
Third Seat Folded	39.9 cubic feet	n/a
Third Seat Removed	n/a	26.1 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	75.9 cubic feet	54.4 cubic feet

Pressing a button automatically lowers the Aviator’s second and third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Q4 e-tron Sportback doesn’t offer automatic folding second row seats.

Towing

The Aviator’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Q4 e-tron Sportback’s (5000 vs. 2650 pounds).

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Aviator uses the AdvanceTrac® 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 Sportback doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Servicing Ease

The Aviator uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Q4 e-tron Sportback uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

Ergonomics

The Aviator’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 Sportback doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Aviator’s exterior PIN entry system. The Q4 e-tron Sportback doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Audi Connect CARE can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

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

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Aviator has a standard rear wiper. The Q4 e-tron Sportback doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

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

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Aviator to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Q4 e-tron Sportback doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Lincoln Aviator 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 Sportback.

Both the Aviator and the Q4 e-tron Sportback have standard heated front seats. The Aviator also offers optional heated second row seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Q4 e-tron Sportback.

Optional air conditioned front and second row seats keep the Aviator’s passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The Q4 e-tron Sportback doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Aviator (except Premiere) 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 Sportback.

The Lincoln Aviator has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the driver’s visor. 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 Sportback.

The Aviator is equipped with both FM and AM stereo radios, offering access to more content and better coverage than the Q4 e-tron Sportback, which solely provides FM radio. With AM radio, you can enjoy a wider variety of stations featuring news, talk shows, sports commentary, native language programing, automated traffic guidance, and emergency broadcasts. AM waves travel further and penetrate buildings and obstacles more effectively than FM signals, especially at night. Having both FM and AM stereo radios the Aviator offers a more comprehensive listening experience compared to only FM in the Q4 e-tron Sportback.

HD Radio boasts several benefits over conventional radio: superior sound quality with clearer and consistent FM broadcasts, CD-quality audio, and Multicast Channels offering up to four streams from a single station, adding programming choices. Cars like the Aviator equipped with HD Radio provide an improved in-car entertainment experience. The Q4 e-tron Sportback, devoid of this technology, foregoes these benefits. Selecting the Lincoln Aviator empowers drivers to enjoy a more immersive and enjoyable listening experience while on the go.

Compared to traditional radio, the Lincoln Aviator’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 Sportback.

The Aviator has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Q4 e-tron Sportback doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Model Availability

The Aviator is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Q4 e-tron Sportback doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Recommendations

The Lincoln Aviator outsold the Audi Q4 by over two to one during 2024.

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