Compare the2026 Audi Q4 e-tronVS 2026 Chevrolet Equinox EV

The Q4 e-tron’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Equinox EV doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the Q4 e-tron and Equinox EV have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Q4 e-tron 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 Equinox EV’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.

The Q4 e-tron has a standard Secondary Collision Brake Assist, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Equinox EV doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Both the Q4 e-tron and the Equinox EV 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, 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 is safer than the Chevrolet Equinox EV:

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

The Q4 e-tron comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Equinox EV’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The Q4 e-tron’s corrosion warranty is 6 years and unlimited miles longer than the Equinox EV’s (12/unlimited vs. 6/100,000).

Audi pays for scheduled maintenance on the Q4 e-tron for 3 years and 30,000 miles. Audi will pay for cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Chevrolet only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Equinox EV.

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 Q4 e-tron’s reliability 23 points higher than the Equinox EV.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Audi 9 places higher in reliability than Chevrolet.

The Q4 45 e-tron’s standard electric motor produces 62 more horsepower (282 vs. 220) and 170 lbs.-ft. more torque (413 vs. 243) than the Equinox EV’s standard electric motor. The Q4 45 e-tron’s electric motor produces 80 lbs.-ft. more torque (413 vs. 333) than the Equinox EV’s optional electric motors. The Q4 55 e-tron’s standard electric motors produces 47 more horsepower (335 vs. 288) and 203 lbs.-ft. more torque (536 vs. 333) than the Equinox EV’s optional electric motors.

As tested in Motor Trend the Q4 55 e-tron electric motors is faster than the Chevrolet Equinox EV electric motors:

On the EPA test cycle the Q4 e-tron gets better mileage than the Equinox EV:

The Q4 e-tron has a standard locking charge port which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The Equinox EV doesn’t have a locking charge port. A locking charge port prevents tampering and damage.

For better stopping power the Q4 e-tron’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Equinox EV:

The Q4 e-tron stops much shorter than the Equinox EV:

For better traction and acceleration, the Q4 e-tron has larger rear tires than the Equinox EV (255/50R19 vs. 245/55R19).

The Q4 e-tron’s standard 255/50R19 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Equinox EV’s standard 55 series tires.

The Q4 e-tron’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50% to 50%) than the Equinox EV’s (52% to 48%). This gives the Q4 e-tron more stable handling and braking.

The Q4 e-tron Quattro handles at .84 G’s, while the Equinox EV RS pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Q4 e-tron Quattro executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.5 seconds quicker than the Equinox EV RS eAWD (26.6 seconds @ .69 average G’s vs. 28.1 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Q4 e-tron 45’s turning circle is 4.6 feet tighter than the Equinox EV’s (33.5 feet vs. 38.1 feet). The Q4 e-tron 55’s turning circle is .4 feet tighter than the Equinox EV’s (37.7 feet vs. 38.1 feet).

The Q4 45 e-tron is 10 inches shorter than the Equinox EV, making the Q4 e-tron 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. The Equinox EV doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Q4 e-tron’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Equinox EV’s (2200 vs. 1500 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Chevrolet Equinox EV is only 1500 pounds. The Q4 e-tron offers up to a 2650 lbs. towing capacity.

A maintenance reminder system is standard on the Q4 e-tron 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. Chevrolet doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the Equinox EV.

The Q4 e-tron’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Equinox EV’s standard power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. The Equinox EV’s optional passenger windows don’t close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Q4 e-tron 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 Equinox EV can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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

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 Premium Plus offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Equinox EV doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The Q4 e-tron’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Chevrolet charges extra for heated mirrors on the Equinox EV.

The Q4 e-tron’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Equinox EV offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Both the Audi Q4 e-tron and Chevrolet Equinox EV offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The Q4 e-tron offers optional power folding mirrors, which allow for easy, one-touch folding or unfolding at the driver’s discretion. This provides added convenience when maneuvering or parking, as well as when walking past the parked vehicle. In comparison, the Equinox EV’s foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

The Q4 e-tron has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning costs extra on the Equinox EV.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Audi Q4 e-tron, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Chevrolet Equinox EV isn't recommended.