Compare the2023 Audi SQ8VS 2023 BMW X6 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 X6 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 X6 M doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the SQ8 and X6 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 X6 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 X6 M doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the SQ8 and the X6 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, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

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 X6 M has not been tested, yet.

The SQ8’s 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 15 lbs.-ft. more torque (568 vs. 553) than the X6 M’s standard 4.4 turbo V8. The SQ8’s 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 15 lbs.-ft. more torque (568 vs. 553) than the X6 M’s standard 4.4 turbo V8.

On the EPA test cycle the SQ8 gets better mileage than the X6 M:

For better stopping power the SQ8’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the X6 M:

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the SQ8 offers optional 22-inch wheels. The X6 M’s largest wheels are only 21-inches in the front and 22-inches in the rear.

The front and rear suspension of the SQ8 uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the X6 M, which uses coil springs in front. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

For better maneuverability, the SQ8’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the X6 M’s (41 feet vs. 42 feet).

The SQ8 has 1.2 inches more front legroom, 4.5 inches more rear legroom and .8 inches more rear shoulder room than the X6 M.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the SQ8’s rear seats recline. The X6 M’s rear seats don’t recline.

The SQ8 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the X6 M with its rear seat up (30.5 vs. 27.4 cubic feet). The SQ8 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the X6 M with its rear seat folded (60.7 vs. 59.6 cubic feet).

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the SQ8 has a standard rear wiper. The X6 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 X6 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 X6 M doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

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 X6 M’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

The Audi Q8/SQ8/RS Q8 outsold the BMW X6 by 31% during 2021.