Two new Audi SUVs snagged the highest Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) award this week. Both the 2023 Audi Q4 e-tron and e-tron Sportback electric SUVs received the Top Safety Pick Plus award. Which crash tests did these electric midsize luxury SUVs perform well in?

The 2023 Audi Q4 e-tron and e-tron Sportback SUVs earned the IIHS award

The IIHS announced that the 2023 Audi Q4 e-tron and 2023 Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback earned the IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus award. These brand-new midsize luxury SUVs received high scores on the import crashworthiness tests. To qualify for Top Safety Pick Plus award, vehicles have to earn a rating of “good” in all six essential tests.

The first tests are the small overlap front: driver-side, and small overlap front: passenger-side. Followed by the moderate overlap front, side: original test, roof strength, and head restraints/seat tests. The 2023 e-tron and Sportback received high scores on all of the tests.

In the areas of crash avoidance and mitigation, both Audi SUVs received the highest score of superior on the front crash prevention vehicle-to-vehicle test. On the front crash prevention vehicle-to-pedestrian test, both scored an advanced rating. Other tests, such as the structure and safety cage, passenger injury, and driver injury measures, earned the highest score.

Headlights helped the 2023 Audi Q4 e-tron earn Top Safety Pick Plus award

The 2023 Audi Q4 e-tron and e-tron Sportback received two different scores depending on which headlights were used. On the Prestige trim, the LED projector headlights received the higher score. The low-beam headlights offered good visibility on both sides of the road. The high beams also provided good visibility. The LED projector headlights are the preferred version for the IIHS.

The LED reflector headlights on the Premium and Premium Plus trims led to a lower acceptable score. Visibility was between good and fair but sometimes inadequate on the gradual left turns. Scoring for the high beams is positive. This led to a lower score, but still qualified for the Top Safety Pick award.

While the electric midsize luxury SUVs earned top marks, so did another Audi sedan. Audi’s 2023 A3 also performed well on the crash tests, earning the same TSP+ award.

Audi’s brand-new A3 also earned the TSP+ award

The 2023 Audi A3 also earned the Top Safety Pick Plus award in the midsize luxury sedan category. This sedan received high scores in all of the important crashworthiness tests. In the front crash prevention vehicle-to-vehicle test, the A3 earned top marks. It did well in the vehicle-to-pedestrian tests too.

Overall, the 2023 Audi Q4 e-tron, e-tron Sportback, and 2023 Audi A3 have proved to be safe choices. The 2022 models also received Top Safety Pick Plus awards, which is a good sign. Testing for 2023 models continues at the IIHS facility, but these Audi SUVs and sedans set the bar high.