Compare the2023 Audi Q8VS 2023 Chevrolet Blazer

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Audi 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 Chevrolet Blazer doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The Q8’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Blazer doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

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

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Q8. But it costs extra on the Blazer.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Q8’s standard Hill Descent Assist allows you to creep down safely. The Blazer doesn’t offer Hill Descent Assist.

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

The Q8 has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Blazer’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Q8 has standard rear cross-path warning, helping the driver avoid collisions. Chevrolet charges extra for Rear Cross Traffic Alert on the Blazer.

Both the Q8 and the Blazer have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and available around view monitors.

The Audi Q8 weighs 681 to 1086 pounds more than the Chevrolet Blazer. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Audi Q8 is safer than the Chevrolet Blazer:

	Q8	Blazer
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	238	313
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.8 inches
Neck Injury Risk	34%	43%
Neck Stress	120 lbs.	124 lbs.
Neck Compression	117 lbs.	140 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Audi Q8 is safer than the Chevrolet Blazer:

	Q8	Blazer
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	60	93
Chest Movement	.7 inches	.8 inches
Abdominal Force	128 lbs.	157 lbs.
Hip Force	260 lbs.	369 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	141	251
Spine Acceleration	43 G’s	45 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	593 lbs.	695 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

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 standard headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Q8 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 127 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Blazer has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

The Q8 comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Blazer’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The Q8’s corrosion warranty is 6 years and unlimited miles longer than the Blazer’s (12/unlimited vs. 6/100,000).

Reliability

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Audi 14 places higher in reliability than Chevrolet.

Engine

The Q8’s 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid produces 107 more horsepower (335 vs. 228) and 111 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 258) than the Blazer’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Q8’s 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid produces 27 more horsepower (335 vs. 308) and 99 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 270) than the Blazer’s optional 3.6 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Audi Q8 is faster than the Chevrolet Blazer V6:

	Q8	Blazer
Zero to 60 MPH	5.9 sec	6.1 sec
Quarter Mile	14.4 sec	14.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	97.6 MPH	95.5 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

Regenerative brakes improve the Q8’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Blazer doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The Q8 has 3.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Blazer FWD’s standard fuel tank (22.5 vs. 19.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Q8 has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Blazer. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Q8	Blazer
Front Rotors	14.8 inches	12.64 inches
Rear Rotors	13.8 inches	12.4 inches

The Q8’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Blazer are solid, not vented.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Q8 has larger tires than the Blazer (285/45R21 vs. 235/65R18). The Q8’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Blazer (285/45R21 vs. 265/45R21).

The Q8’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Blazer’s standard 65 series tires. The Q8 Premium Plus/Prestige’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Blazer RS/Premier’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Q8 has standard 21-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Blazer. The Q8 Premium Plus/Prestige’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 21-inch wheels optional on the Blazer RS/Premier.

Suspension and Handling

The Q8 has a standard driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Blazer’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Q8’s wheelbase is 5.2 inches longer than on the Blazer (117.9 inches vs. 112.7 inches).

The Q8 Prestige handles at .83 G’s, while the Blazer RS 4x4 pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Q8 Prestige executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Blazer RS 4x4 (26.9 seconds @ .69 average G’s vs. 27.3 seconds @ .67 average G’s).

Passenger Space

The Q8 has .6 inches more front legroom, .4 inches more front shoulder room and .6 inches more rear legroom than the Blazer.

Towing

The Q8’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Blazer’s (7700 vs. 1500 pounds).

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Q8 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Blazer. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Audi service is better than Chevrolet. J.D. Power ranks Audi 8th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 13% lower rating, Chevrolet is ranked 16th.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system optional at extra cost in the Blazer RS/Premier, the Q8 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 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. An easy entry system costs extra on the Blazer, and is not available on all models.

The Q8 Prestige has a standard heads-up display that projects speed 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 Blazer doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Q8’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Blazer’s passenger windows don’t close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Q8 the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Blazer can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Q8’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 Blazer’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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

A manual rear sunshade is optional in the Q8 and power rear side window sunshades are optional in the Q8 (except Premium) to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Blazer doesn’t offer a rear or rear side window sunshades.

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

The Q8 Prestige’s Park Assist Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Park Assist Plus will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Blazer doesn’t offer an automated parking system.