Compare the2023 Audi Q7VS 2022 Lexus RXL

Safety
Warranty
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The Q7’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The RXL doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the Q7 and RXL 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 RXL’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 RXL 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 Q7. But it costs extra on the RXL.

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 RXL doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the Q7 and the RXL 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, 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.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Audi Q7 is safer than the Lexus RXL:

	Q7	RXL
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	3 Stars
HIC	99	194
Neck Injury Risk	25%	33.2%
Neck Stress	186 lbs.	412 lbs.
Neck Compression	37 lbs.	60 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	61/46 lbs.	433/719 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	102	305
Chest Compression	.7 inches	.7 inches
Neck Stress	118 lbs.	267 lbs.
Neck Compression	38 lbs.	70 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	46/29 lbs.	403/457 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 post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Audi Q7 is safer than the Lexus RXL:

	Q7	RXL
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	14 inches
Spine Acceleration	40 G’s	44 G’s
Hip Force	557 lbs.	685 lbs.

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

Warranty

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

There are over 25 percent more Audi dealers than there are Lexus dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Q7’s warranty.

Engine

The Q7 45 TFSI’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 10 lbs.-ft. more torque (273 vs. 263) than the RX 350L’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6. The Q7 55 TFSI’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid produces 27 more horsepower (335 vs. 308) than the RX 450hL’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Q7 55 TFSI 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid is faster than the RX 350L 3.5 DOHC V6:

	Q7	RXL
Zero to 60 MPH	7 sec	7.7 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	4.8 sec	5.3 sec
Quarter Mile	15.4 sec	16 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	97 MPH	90 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Q7 45 TFSI 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder Hybrid gets better fuel mileage than the RX 350L AWD (19 city/25 hwy vs. 18 city/25 hwy).

Regardless of its engine, the Q7’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. Lexus only offers an automatic engine start/stop system on the RXL Hybrid.

The Q7 has 5.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the RXL Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (22.5 vs. 17.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Q7 has 3.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the RXL’s standard fuel tank (22.5 vs. 19.2 gallons).

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Q7	RXL
Front Rotors	14.8 inches	12.9 inches
Rear Rotors	13.8 inches	13.3 inches

The Q7 stops much shorter than the RXL:

	Q7	RXL
60 to 0 MPH	117 feet	133 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Q7 has larger standard tires than the RXL (255/55R19 vs. 235/65R18). The Q7’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the RXL (285/45R20 vs. 235/65R18).

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 RXL’s standard 65 series tires. The Q7 Prestige’s optional tires have a lower 35 series profile than the RXL’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 RXL. The Q7 Prestige’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the RXL.

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 RXL doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

The Q7 offers an available 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 RXL’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

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

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Q7 is 1.7 inches wider in the front and 2.6 inches wider in the rear than on the RXL.

The Q7 Prestige handles at .85 G’s, while the RX 350L AWD pulls only .75 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Q7 Premium Plus executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.1 seconds quicker than the RX 350L (26.4 seconds @ .68 average G’s vs. 28.5 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Q7 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the RXL (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 RXL (9.7 vs. 8.1 inches).

Passenger Space

The Q7 has .1 inches more front headroom, .3 inches more front legroom, 1.2 inches more front shoulder room, .3 inches more rear headroom, 7.9 inches more rear legroom, .7 inches more rear shoulder room, 1.1 inches more third row headroom, 5.7 inches more third row legroom and 3.7 inches more third row shoulder room than the RXL.

The front step up height for the Q7 is 1.9 inches lower than the RXL (18.6” vs. 20.5”). The Q7’s rear step up height is 2.1 inches lower than the RXL’s (18.7” vs. 20.8”).

Cargo Capacity

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

	Q7	RXL
Behind Third Seat	14.8 cubic feet	7.5 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	37.5 cubic feet	23 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	69.6 cubic feet	58.5 cubic feet

Towing

The Q7’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the RXL’s (4400 vs. 0 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Lexus RXL is only 3500 pounds. The Q7 offers up to a 7700 lbs. towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Q7 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the RXL. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system optional at extra cost in the RXL, 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’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 RXL’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

Laser headlights, optional on the Q7 Prestige, produce their light by firing blue lasers through phosphorus, a process that uses one-half the power of the RXL’s LED headlights. Laser headlights can have double the range of LEDs with a much smaller surface area.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The Q7 Prestige offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The RXL doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To better shield the driver and front passenger’s vision, the Q7 has standard dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The RXL doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

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 RXL doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

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 RXL.

The Q7 55 TFSI 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 RXL doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Q7 is less expensive to operate than the RXL because typical repairs cost much less on the Q7 than the RXL, including $771 less for a water pump, $595 less for a timing belt/chain and $1570 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

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