Compare the2023 Infiniti QX50VS 2023 Audi Q8

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the QX50 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Q8 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Infiniti QX50 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Q8 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The QX50 has standard Rear Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Q8 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

Both the QX50 and the Q8 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, available all wheel drive and 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 Infiniti QX50 is safer than the Audi Q8:

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 Infiniti QX50 is safer than the Audi Q8:

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

The QX50 comes with a full 4-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Q8’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 10,000 miles sooner.

Infiniti’s powertrain warranty covers the QX50 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Audi covers the Q8. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Q8 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

Infiniti pays for scheduled maintenance on the QX50 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Infiniti will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Audi only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Q8.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the QX50 has a standard 720-amp battery. The Q8’s 380-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the QX50’s reliability 44 points higher than the Q8.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Infiniti vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 35 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Infiniti higher than Audi.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Infiniti vehicles are more reliable than Audi With 4 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Infiniti higher than Audi.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Infiniti vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Infiniti 3 places higher in reliability than Audi.

On the EPA test cycle the QX50 gets better mileage than the Q8:

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Infiniti QX50 higher (6 out of 10) than the Audi Q8 (5). This means the QX50 produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Q8 every 15,000 miles.

The QX50 has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Q8 doesn’t offer a CVT.

The QX50 stops much shorter than the Q8:

The QX50 has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Q8 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the QX50 can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Q8 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The QX50 AWD handles at .84 G’s, while the Q8 Prestige pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the QX50’s turning circle is 7.1 feet tighter than the Q8’s (36.4 feet vs. 43.5 feet).

For greater off-road capability the QX50 has a 2.8 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Q8 (8.6 vs. 5.8 inches), allowing the QX50 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Infiniti QX50 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 800 to 1150 pounds less than the Audi Q8.

The QX50 is 11.9 inches shorter than the Q8, making the QX50 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The design of the Infiniti QX50 amounts to more than styling. The QX50 has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .32 Cd. That is significantly lower than the Q8 (.39) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the QX50 get better fuel mileage.

The QX50 uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Q8 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The QX50 has 3.9 inches more front headroom and 1 inch more rear headroom than the Q8.

The front step up height for the QX50 is 2.3 inches lower than the Q8 (17.2” vs. 19.5”). The QX50’s rear step up height is 2.1 inches lower than the Q8’s (17.7” vs. 19.8”).

The QX50 has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Q8 with its rear seat up (31.4 vs. 30.5 cubic feet). The QX50 has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Q8 with its rear seat folded (65.1 vs. 60.7 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the QX50 easier. The QX50’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 26.6 inches, while the Q8’s liftover is 33.7 inches.

The QX50’s cargo area is larger than the Q8’s in almost every dimension:

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the QX50’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Q8 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the QX50 has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Q8 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the QX50 Sensory/Autograph has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Q8 doesn’t offer cornering lights.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Infiniti QX50 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) for the front seat. Wireless charging costs extra on the Q8.

The QX50 is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Q8 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Insurance will cost less for the QX50 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the QX50 will cost $3320 less than the Q8 over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Infiniti QX50 will be $19516 to $27023 less than for the Audi Q8.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Infiniti QX50, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Infiniti QX50 outsold the Audi Q8/SQ8/RS Q8 by 32% during the 2022 model year.