Compare the2023 Audi SQ8VS 2023 BMW X4 M

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Audi SQ8 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 its rear seat belts.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Audi SQ8 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 SQ8 and X4 M have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The SQ8 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 SQ8 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 X4 M doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the SQ8 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 SQ8 weighs 683 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 SQ8 the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2022, a rating granted to only 164 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The X4 M has not been tested, yet.

The SQ8’s 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 27 more horsepower (500 vs. 473) and 111 lbs.-ft. more torque (568 vs. 457) than the X4 M’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder. The SQ8’s 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 89 lbs.-ft. more torque (568 vs. 479) than the X4 M Competition’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder.

The SQ8 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 SQ8’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the X4 M:

For better traction, the SQ8 has larger tires than the X4 M (285/45R21 vs. 255/45R20).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the SQ8 has standard 21-inch wheels. Smaller 20-inch wheels are standard on the X4 M. The SQ8’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 21-inch wheels on the X4 M Competition.

The SQ8 Prestige offers 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 SQ8 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 SQ8 Prestige 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 SQ8 has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The SQ8’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 SQ8’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 SQ8 is 2.3 inches wider in the front and 2.3 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the X4 M.

The SQ8 has .9 inches more front legroom, 2 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear headroom, 4.7 inches more rear legroom and 2.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the X4 M.

The SQ8 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 SQ8 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 SQ8’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 SQ8 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 SQ8 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 SQ8 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The X4 M doesn’t offer a rear or rear side window sunshades.

The SQ8 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 SQ8 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 SQ8 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the X4 M.

The SQ8 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 X4 M’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

The SQ8 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the SQ8 will retain 51.44% to 52% of its original price after five years, while the X4 M only retains 51.1%.

The Audi Q8/SQ8/RS Q8 outsold the BMW X4 by 18% during 2021.