Compare the2022 Audi RS Q8VS 2022 BMW X4 M

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Audi RS Q8 have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The BMW X4 M doesn’t offer pretensioners for the rear seat belts.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Audi RS Q8 are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW X4 M doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the RS Q8 and X4 M have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The RS Q8 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 X4 M’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.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the RS Q8 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 X4 M doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the RS Q8 and the X4 M have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, 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 and rear cross-path warning.

The Audi RS Q8 weighs 893 pounds more than the BMW X4 M. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the RS Q8 the rating of “Top Pick” for 2021, a rating granted to only 128 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The X4 M has not been tested, yet.

The RS Q8’s 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 118 more horsepower (591 vs. 473) and 133 lbs.-ft. more torque (590 vs. 457) than the X4 M’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder. The RS Q8’s 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 88 more horsepower (591 vs. 503) and 111 lbs.-ft. more torque (590 vs. 479) than the X4 M Competition’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder.

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the RS Q8’s fuel efficiency. The X4 M doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The RS Q8 has 5.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the X4 M (22.5 vs. 17.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the RS Q8’s brake rotors are larger than those on the X4 M:

The RS Q8 offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The X4 M doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

For better traction, the RS Q8 has larger tires than the X4 M (295/40R22 vs. 255/45R20).

The RS Q8’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the X4 M’s standard 45 series tires. The RS Q8’s tires have a lower 35 series profile than the X4 M Competition’s 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the RS Q8 has standard 22-inch wheels. Smaller 20-inch wheels are standard on the X4 M. The RS Q8’s 23-inch wheels are larger than the 21-inch wheels on the X4 M Competition.

The RS Q8 has active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The X4 M doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The front and rear suspension of the RS Q8 uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the X4 M, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The RS Q8 offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. BMW doesn’t offer an active suspension on the X4 M.

The RS Q8 has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The RS Q8’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 X4 M doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the RS Q8’s wheelbase is 5.1 inches longer than on the X4 M (117.9 inches vs. 112.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the RS Q8 is 2.8 inches wider in the front and 2.4 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the X4 M.

The RS Q8 has 1.6 inches more front headroom, .5 inches more front legroom, 2 inches more front shoulder room, .9 inches more rear headroom, 4.7 inches more rear legroom and 2.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the X4 M.

The RS Q8 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the X4 M with its rear seat up (30.5 vs. 18.5 cubic feet). The RS Q8 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the X4 M with its rear seat folded (60.7 vs. 50.5 cubic feet).

The RS Q8 has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The X4 M doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The RS Q8’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The X4 M doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the RS Q8 has a standard rear wiper. The X4 M doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The RS Q8 has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The X4 M doesn’t offer headlight washers.

A manual rear sunshade and power rear side window sunshades are optional in the RS Q8 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The X4 M doesn’t offer a rear or rear side window sunshades.

The RS Q8 has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the X4 M.

The RS Q8 offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the X4 M.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Audi RS Q8 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The X4 M doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Audi Q8/SQ8/RS Q8 outsold the BMW X4 by 59% during the 2021 model year.