Compare the2027 Audi Q6 e-tron SportbackVS 2026 Lexus RZ

The Q6 e-tron Sportback’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The RZ doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the Q6 e-tron Sportback and RZ have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Q6 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 RZ’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.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Audi Q6 e-tron Sportback 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 Lexus RZ has not been tested.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Q6 e-tron Sportback. But it costs extra on the RZ.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The Q6 e-tron Sportback has Car-to-X Services, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The RZ doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure or other vehicles.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Q6 e-tron Sportback has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Assist with Automatic Brake Activation, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Only the RZ Premium/Luxury/F Sport offers Parking Support Brake.

Both the Q6 e-tron Sportback and the RZ 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 Q6 e-tron Sportback weighs 639 to 1113 pounds more than the Lexus RZ. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The Audi Q6 e-tron Sportback has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2026 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, a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test, and a “Good” score in the revised vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention test. The RZ has not yet been fully evaluated by the IIHS for 2026.

The Q6 e-tron Sportback’s corrosion warranty is 6 years longer than the RZ’s (12 vs. 6 years).

Audi pays for scheduled maintenance (up to 1 visits) on the Q6 e-tron Sportback for 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Lexus pays for maintenance for the RZ (3/30,000 vs. 1/10,000).

There are over 25 percent more Audi dealers than there are Lexus dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Q6 e-tron Sportback’s warranty.

The Q6 e-tron Sportback has more powerful engines than the RZ:

The Q6 e-tron Sportback can travel longer on a full charge than the RZ on a full charge:

The Q6 e-tron Sportback’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 RZ doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the Q6 e-tron Sportback’s brake rotors are larger than those on the RZ:

For better traction, the Q6 e-tron Sportback’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the RZ (F:255/50R20 & R:285/45R20 vs. F:235/60R18 & R:255/55R18).

The Q6 e-tron Sportback SQ6’s optional 255/45R21 front and 285/40R21 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series front and 40 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the RZ’s optional 50 series front and 45 series rear tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Q6 e-tron Sportback has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the RZ. The Q6 e-tron Sportback SQ6’s optional 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the RZ.

The Q6 e-tron Sportback 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 or off-road. The RZ’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Q6 e-tron Sportback Prestige/SQ6 has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Q6 e-tron Sportback’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 RZ doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Q6 e-tron Sportback’s wheelbase is 1.5 inches longer than on the RZ (113.7 inches vs. 112.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Q6 e-tron Sportback is 2.2 inches wider in the front and .4 inches wider in the rear than the track on the RZ.

The Q6 e-tron Sportback has 1.8 inches more front shoulder room and 2.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the RZ.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Q6 e-tron Sportback. The RZ doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Q6 e-tron Sportback uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The RZ 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.

A maintenance reminder system is standard on the Q6 e-tron Sportback 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. Lexus doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the RZ.

The power windows standard on both the Q6 e-tron Sportback and the RZ have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Q6 e-tron Sportback is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The RZ prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

If the windows are left open on the Q6 e-tron Sportback the driver can close all of them at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the RZ can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Q6 e-tron Sportback to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The RZ doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Q6 e-tron Sportback has a standard rear wiper. The RZ doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Q6 e-tron Sportback’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the RZ’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Q6 e-tron Sportback offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The RZ doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Q6 e-tron Sportback to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The RZ doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Audi Q6 e-tron Sportback 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 RZ Premium/Luxury/F Sport.

The Q6 e-tron Sportback SQ6 has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the RZ.

The Audi Q6 e-tron Sportback outsold the Lexus RZ by almost three to one during 2025.