Compare the2022 Audi Q7VS 2022 Lexus GX

Both the Q7 and GX have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Q7 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 GX’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 Q7 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 GX 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.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Q7 offers an optional backup collision prevention system that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The GX doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the Q7 Prestige helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The GX doesn’t offer a night vision system.

For better protection of the passenger compartment, the Q7 uses safety cell construction with a three-dimensional high-strength frame that surrounds the passenger compartment. It provides extra impact protection and a sturdy mounting location for door hardware and side impact beams. The GX uses a body-on-frame design, which has no frame members above the floor of the vehicle.

Both the Q7 and the GX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, 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.

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and its standard front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Q7 the rating of “Top Pick” for 2017, a rating granted to only 214 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The GX has not been tested, yet.

The Q7’s corrosion warranty is 6 years longer than the GX’s (12 vs. 6 years).

There are over 24 percent more Audi dealers than there are Lexus dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Q7’s warranty.

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Q7’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the GX’s camshafts. If the GX’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

The Q7 55 TFSI’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid produces 34 more horsepower (335 vs. 301) and 40 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 329) than the GX’s 4.6 DOHC V8.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Q7 55 TFSI 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid is faster than the Lexus GX:

On the EPA test cycle the Q7 gets better mileage than the GX:

Regenerative brakes improve the Q7 55 TFSI’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The GX doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stop lights the Q7’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The GX doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Audi Q7, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the GX.

For better stopping power the Q7’s brake rotors are larger than those on the GX:

The Q7 stops much shorter than the GX:

For better traction, the Q7’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the GX (285/45R20 vs. 265/60R18).

The Q7’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the GX’s standard 60 series tires. The Q7 Prestige’s optional tires have a lower 35 series profile than the GX’s optional 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Q7 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the GX. The Q7 Prestige’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels optional on the GX.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the Q7 can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The GX doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

For superior ride and handling, the Audi Q7 has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Lexus GX has a solid rear axle, with a non-independent rear suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Q7’s wheelbase is 8.1 inches longer than on the GX (117.9 inches vs. 109.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Q7 is 3.7 inches wider in the front and 4.2 inches wider in the rear than on the GX.

The Q7 Prestige handles at .86 G’s, while the GX pulls only .74 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Q7 Premium Plus executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.9 seconds quicker than the GX (26.4 seconds @ .68 average G’s vs. 28.3 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Q7 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the GX (8.3 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the Q7 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Q7 w/Air Suspension’s minimum ground clearance is 1.6 inches higher than on the GX (9.7 vs. 8.1 inches).

The Audi Q7 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 100 to 350 pounds less than the Lexus GX.

Unibody construction lowers the Q7’s center of gravity significantly without reducing ground clearance. This contributes to better on the road handling and better off-road performance and stability. In addition, unibody construction makes the chassis stiffer, improving handling and reducing squeaks and rattles. The GX uses body-on-frame design instead.

The Q7 has 1.9 inches more front headroom, 4.1 inches more front shoulder room, 4.7 inches more rear legroom, 1.2 inches more rear shoulder room and .7 inches more third row headroom than the GX.

The front step up height for the Q7 is 3.1 inches lower than the GX (18.6” vs. 21.7”). The Q7’s rear step up height is 3.3 inches lower than the GX’s (18.7” vs. 22”).

The Q7’s cargo area provides more volume than the GX.

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Q7 easier. The Q7’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 32.5 inches, while the GX’s liftover is 33.8 inches.

The Q7’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The GX’s swing out door blocks loading from the passenger’s side.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Q7’s power cargo door can be opened or closed just by waving your foot, leaving your hands completely free. The GX doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening cargo door.

Maximum trailer towing in the Lexus GX is limited to 6500 pounds. The Q7 offers up to a 7700 lbs. towing capacity.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the GX, the Q7 Prestige offers an optional passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The Q7 Prestige has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The GX doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Q7’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The GX’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The Q7’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The GX’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Q7’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The GX’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

A manual rear sunshade and rear side window sunshades are optional in the Q7 (except Premium) to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The GX doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

The Q7’s power mirror controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The GX’s power mirror controls are on the dash where they are possibly hidden by the steering wheel and are awkward to manipulate.

The Q7 Prestige offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the GX.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Audi Q7 offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The GX doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Insurance will cost less for the Q7 owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Q7 with a number “5” insurance rate while the GX is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Q7 is less expensive to operate than the GX because typical repairs cost much less on the Q7 than the GX, including $94 less for a water pump, $132 less for a fuel pump and $606 less for a power steering pump.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Audi Q7 and the Lexus GX, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Q7 was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Five/10Best Trucks” for 3 of the last 6 years. The GX has never been a Car and Driver “Top Five/10Best Truck” pick.