Compare the2025 Audi A6 e-tronVS 2026 Volkswagen ID.4

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 A6 e-tron are reminded to check the back seat when a sensor determines the back seat is occupied. The ID.4 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Audi A6 e-tron 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 ID.4 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

With its available Active Front Assist, the Audi A6 e-tron is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Volkswagen ID.4, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Audi A6 e-tron achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Volkswagen ID.4 has not been tested.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The A6 e-tron has Car-to-X Services, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The ID.4 doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure or other vehicles.

Both the A6 e-tron and the ID.4 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, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The Audi A6 e-tron (only applies to vehicles with Active Front Assist) has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The ID.4 has not yet been fully evaluated by the IIHS for 2025.

The A6 e-tron’s corrosion warranty is 5 years and unlimited miles longer than the ID.4’s (12/unlimited vs. 7/100,000).

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen With 12 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Audi higher than Volkswagen.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Audi 11 places higher in reliability than Volkswagen.

The A6 e-tron’s standard electric motor produces 93 more horsepower (375 vs. 282) and 26 lbs.-ft. more torque (428 vs. 402) than the ID.4’s standard electric motor. The A6 e-tron’s electric motor produces 40 more horsepower (375 vs. 335) than the ID.4’s optional electric motors. The A6 e-tron Quattro’s standard electric motors produces 121 more horsepower (456 vs. 335) and 95 lbs.-ft. more torque (631 vs. 536) than the ID.4’s optional electric motors.

As tested in Motor Trend the Audi A6 e-tron electric motor is faster than the Volkswagen ID.4 electric motors:

On the EPA test cycle the A6 e-tron gets better mileage than the ID.4:

The A6 e-tron can travel longer on a full charge than the ID.4 on a full charge:

The A6 e-tron’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The ID.4 doesn’t offer launch control.

The Audi A6 e-tron has standard four-wheel disc brakes for better stopping power and improved directional control in poor weather. Only rear drums come on the ID.4. Drums can heat up and make stops longer, especially with antilock brakes that work much harder than conventional brakes.

The A6 e-tron stops shorter than the ID.4:

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the A6 e-tron can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The ID.4 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The A6 e-tron 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. The ID.4’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The A6 e-tron Prestige has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The A6 e-tron’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 ID.4 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the A6 e-tron’s wheelbase is 7.3 inches longer than on the ID.4 AWD (116.1 inches vs. 108.8 inches). The A6 e-tron’s wheelbase is 7.2 inches longer than on the ID.4 (116.1 inches vs. 108.9 inches).

The A6 e-tron Prestige handles at .88 G’s, while the ID.4 Pro S AWD pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The design of the Audi A6 e-tron amounts to more than styling. The A6 e-tron has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .23 Cd. That is significantly lower than the ID.4 (.28) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the A6 e-tron get better fuel mileage.

The A6 e-tron has .3 inches more front legroom, .7 inches more front shoulder room and 1.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the ID.4.

A standard locking glovebox keeps your small valuables safer in the A6 e-tron. The ID.4 doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The A6 e-tron uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The ID.4 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.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The A6 e-tron Premium Plus/Prestige has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The ID.4 doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the A6 e-tron has standard extendable sun visors. The ID.4 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Audi A6 e-tron 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 are only offered on the ID.4 Pro S Plus.

The Audi A6 e-tron 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. Homelink® is only available on the ID.4 Pro S Plus.