A relatively roomy 5-passenger SUV, the Acura RDX presents value in the small luxury SUV arena with impressive reliability, a well-appointed cabin, and solid resale values. Acura arms every RDX with eight airbags, hill-start assist, high-beam assist, and heated outboard mirrors with integrated turn signals. LED exterior lights (auto on/off headlights, taillights, and DRLs) are standard as well. All-wheel drive also comes standard.
Every RDX also features the AcuraWatch bundle of safety and driver-aid technologies. These include lane-departure warning with steering assist and lane-keeping assist. Other AcuraWatch systems include adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, and front/rear park assist with automatic braking. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are standard, too. Although the next trim level (RDX with Technology) provides a boatload of solid comfort and convenience features, none add much to the RDX safety story. Our value safety pick for this IIHS TSP is the base RDX.
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2024 Audi Q4 e-tron/Q4 e-tron Sportback
Best Safety Value: $56,395 (Premium)
Base Price: $56,395 | Expert Rating: 4.5
Combined Fuel Economy: 103 MPGe (e-tron)/100 MPGe (Sportback)
Different body configurations of the same SUV, the Audi Q4 e-tron and Q4 e-tron Sportback continue for 2024. Opting for the Sportback adds $3,000 to the bottom line. These SUVs are TSP picks. Fully electric, the Q4 e-tron is brimming with safety features and tech from our recommended list. The entry-level Premium grade standards are front/rear park assist, rain-sensing wipers, heated outboard mirrors with integrated turn signals, LED headlights, and high-beam assist. Eight airbags are also installed. Among its safety tech are lane departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and blind-spot monitoring.
Stepping up to the Premium Plus trim gains you adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assist, and better LED headlights. Although there are lots of other goodies added by moving up a trim level, many of them are included in the Premium’s $2,850 Convenience Package option. Among the features in the option package are auto-dimming interior rearview and outboard mirrors. We recommend staying with the Premium trim for the best safety value.
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2025 Audi Q7
Best Safety Value: $62,895 (45 Premium + Convenience Package)
Base Price: $61,795 | Expert Rating: 4.5
Combined Fuel Economy: 22 mpg
Despite being introduced in 2017, the current generation Audi Q7 displays inherent safety, as evidenced by its appearance on the 2024 IIHS TSP list. We characterize this large luxury SUV’s driving demeanor as stately. It is comfortable, quiet, and well-balanced. Among our recommended safety features are LED headlights and taillights, high-beam assist, auto-dimming outboard mirrors, hill start assist, and rain-sensing wipers.
From our advanced safety tech list, the Q7 provides adaptive cruise control, traffic-jam assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and front-rear park assist. For an affordable $1,100, you can add the Convenience Package with a surround-view monitor, among other goodies. Take the package and stick with the entry-level Q7 Premium grade.
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2024 Audi Q8 e-tron/Q8 e-tron Sportback
Best Safety Value: $75,595 (Premium)
Base Price: $75,595 | Expert Rating: 3.9
Combined Fuel Economy: 86 MPGe/81 MPGe (e-tron)
When the e-tron was renamed the Q8 e-tron in mid-2023, Audi beefed up the battery array to boost the minimum estimated range from 222 miles to 300 miles. Audi also made some other performance enhancements. For 2024, the IIHS named the Q8 e-tron to its TSP list. NHTSA followed suit, awarding the 2024 model a 5-Star rating.
Opting for the Sportback will set you back more than three grand. Every Q8 e-tron comes standard with quattro AWD. Among our listed safety features, the Q8 e-tron includes auto on/off LED headlights, high-beam assist, heated outboard mirrors with integrated turn signals, auto-dimming rearview mirrors (inside and outboard), and eight airbags. The list of safety tech is equally impressive. It contains lane-keeping assist, lane departure warning, front/rear park assist, adaptive cruise control with steering assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Moving up to the Premium Plus (about $80K) adds a surround-view camera, matrix-design LED headlights, and traffic sign recognition. We’d save the extra cash and stick with the Premium trim.
