Compare the2023 Audi RS Q8VS 2022 Porsche Macan

Safety
Warranty
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics

Safety

© 1999 - 2024Advanta-STAR Automotive Research, all rights reserved. This vehicle comparison and all of the content in it are provided only by license from Advanta-STAR Automotive Research Corporation of America (“Advanta-STAR”). If you are not a legally licensed user of this vehicle comparison, it is against federal law to access it, copy it, forward it, or use it in any manner whatsoever. Any unauthorized use of this vehicle comparison is a violation of U.S. and international law and is punishable criminally and civilly. Removal of this watermark/notification without prior written license and approval received from Advanta-STAR is an agreement, understanding, and/or stipulation by the person(s), entities, agents, attorneys, and any other persons involved in the removal of this watermark/notification (including but not limited to Search Optics, LLC and any and all parent entities, sister entities, and subsidiary entities of Search Optics, LLC and/or any other entity, agent, attorney, and persons related in any manner to Search Optics, LLC) to: 1) an agreed upon amount of liquidated monetary damages of a minimum of $1,250,000.00 US Dollars in favor of Advanta-STAR; 2) the jurisdiction and enforcement of any legal claims associated with this matter asserted by Advanta-STAR in the United States Federal District Court in Portand, Oregon; and 3) service of process of any legal claims asserted by Advanta-STAR associated with this matter may be accomplished by First-Class Postage by the United States Postal Service or comparable service. XPYNN-M34HG 2a06:98c0:3600::103 2024/11/21

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

Both the RS Q8 and Macan 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 Macan’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 RS Q8’s standard pretensioning seatbelts also sense rear collisions and remove slack from the seatbelts to help protect the occupants from whiplash and other injuries. The Macan doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

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 Macan doesn’t offer a night vision system.

The RS Q8 has a standard blind spot warning system which 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 Macan’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the RS Q8’s standard rear cross-path warning system uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The Macan doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

Both the RS Q8 and the Macan 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, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems and rearview cameras.

The Audi RS Q8 weighs 1090 to 1339 pounds more than the Porsche Macan. 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 Safety Pick” for 2022, a rating granted to only 158 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Macan has not been tested, yet.

Warranty

There are over 56 percent more Audi dealers than there are Porsche dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the RS Q8’s warranty.

Engine

The RS Q8’s 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 330 more horsepower (591 vs. 261) and 295 lbs.-ft. more torque (590 vs. 295) than the Macan’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The RS Q8’s 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 216 more horsepower (591 vs. 375) and 207 lbs.-ft. more torque (590 vs. 383) than the Macan S’ standard 2.9 turbo V6. The RS Q8’s 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 157 more horsepower (591 vs. 434) and 185 lbs.-ft. more torque (590 vs. 405) than the Macan GTS’ standard 2.9 turbo V6.

Fuel Economy and Range

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

The RS Q8 has 5.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Macan (22.5 vs. 17.1 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Audi RS Q8, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the Macan.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	RS Q8	RS Q8 CCB	Macan	Macan GTS
Front Rotors	16.5 inches	17.3 inches	13.6 inches	15.4 inches
Rear Rotors	14.6 inches	14.6 inches	13 inches	14 inches

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 Macan doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the RS Q8 has larger tires than the Macan (295/40R22 vs. 235/55R19). The RS Q8’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Macan (295/40R22 vs. 265/40R21).

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 Macan’s standard 55 series front and 50 series rear tires. The RS Q8’s tires have a lower 35 series profile than the Macan’s optional 40 series front tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the RS Q8 has standard 22-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the Macan. The RS Q8’s 23-inch wheels are larger than the 21-inch wheels optional on the Macan.

Suspension and Handling

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 Macan 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 Macan, 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. Porsche doesn’t offer an active suspension on the Macan.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the RS Q8’s wheelbase is 7.4 inches longer than on the Macan (117.9 inches vs. 110.5 inches).

Passenger Space

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the RS Q8’s rear seats recline. The Macan’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The RS Q8 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Macan with its rear seat up (30.5 vs. 17.2 cubic feet). The RS Q8 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Macan with its rear seat folded (60.7 vs. 52.9 cubic feet).

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the RS Q8’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Macan doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Towing

The RS Q8’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Macan’s (7700 vs. 4409 pounds).

Ergonomics

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 Macan 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. An easy entry system costs extra on the Macan.

The RS Q8 offers an optional 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 Macan doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

If the windows are left open on the RS 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 Macan can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The RS Q8’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 Macan’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the RS Q8 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Macan doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

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 Macan doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the RS Q8 has standard extendable sun visors. The Macan doesn’t offer extendable visors.

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

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 Macan.

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 Macan.

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. Wireless charging costs extra on the Macan.

The RS Q8’s optional 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 Macan’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park and it doesn’t offer remote control parking.