The Range Rover V8 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 Q8 doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.
The front and rear suspension of the Range Rover uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the Q8, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.
The Range Rover has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Range Rover’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 Q8 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.
The Range Rover’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Q8 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.
For better maneuverability, the Range Rover’s turning circle is 3 feet tighter than the Q8’s (40.5 feet vs. 43.5 feet). The Range Rover LWB’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the Q8’s (42.8 feet vs. 43.5 feet).
For greater off-road capability the Range Rover has a 5.9 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Q8 (11.7 vs. 5.8 inches), allowing the Range Rover to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.