Compare the2023 Porsche CayenneVS 2023 Audi Q8

The Porsche Cayenne 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.

Both the Cayenne and the Q8 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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, rearview cameras, available night vision systems, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Porsche vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 39 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Porsche 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 Porsche vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Porsche above average in long-term dependability. With 30 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Audi is rated below average.

The Cayenne S’ standard 2.9 turbo V6 produces 99 more horsepower (434 vs. 335) and 36 lbs.-ft. more torque (405 vs. 369) than the Q8’s 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid. The Cayenne GTS’ standard 4.0 turbo V8 produces 118 more horsepower (453 vs. 335) and 88 lbs.-ft. more torque (457 vs. 369) than the Q8’s 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid. The Cayenne E-Hybrid’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid produces 120 more horsepower (455 vs. 335) and 147 lbs.-ft. more torque (516 vs. 369) than the Q8’s 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid. The Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid’s standard 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 335 more horsepower (670 vs. 335) and 294 lbs.-ft. more torque (663 vs. 369) than the Q8’s 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Porsche Cayenne turbo V6 is faster than the Audi Q8:

On the EPA test cycle the Cayenne running on electricity gets better mileage than the Q8:

On the EPA test cycle the Cayenne E-Hybrid running its gasoline engine gets better fuel mileage than the Q8 (20 city/22 hwy vs. 18 city/23 hwy).

The Cayenne can travel with zero emissions for 15 to 17 miles (dependent on model). The Q8 can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

The Cayenne’s standard fuel tank has 1.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Q8 (23.7 vs. 22.5 gallons).

The Cayenne’s optional launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Q8 doesn’t offer launch control.

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

The Cayenne 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 Q8 doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The Cayenne Turbo has standard air brakes, which adjust the spoiler automatically during high-speed braking in order to shorten stopping distances. The Q8 doesn’t offer air brakes.

The Cayenne stops much shorter than the Q8:

The Cayenne’s optional 285/35R22 front and 315/30R22 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Q8 Premium Plus/Prestige’s optional 40 series tires.

The Cayenne 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 Q8 doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The Cayenne offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Audi doesn’t offer an active suspension on the Q8.

The Cayenne has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Cayenne’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 Q8 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The Cayenne Turbo handles at .98 G’s, while the Q8 Prestige pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Cayenne Turbo executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 3 seconds quicker than the Q8 Prestige (23.9 seconds @ .83 average G’s vs. 26.9 seconds @ .69 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Cayenne w/Rear Wheel Steering’s turning circle is 8.4 feet tighter than the Q8’s (35.1 feet vs. 43.5 feet). The Cayenne’s turning circle is 3.7 feet tighter than the Q8’s (39.8 feet vs. 43.5 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Cayenne has a 2.4 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Q8 (8.2 vs. 5.8 inches), allowing the Cayenne to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Cayenne Air Suspension’s minimum ground clearance is 3.8 inches higher than on the Q8 (9.6 vs. 5.8 inches).

The Porsche Cayenne may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 400 pounds less than the Audi Q8.

The front grille of the Cayenne uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Q8 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Cayenne has 1.9 inches more front headroom, .9 inches more rear headroom and .1 inches more rear legroom than the Q8.

The front step up height for the Cayenne is 2.8 inches lower than the Q8 (16.75” vs. 19.5”). The Cayenne’s rear step up height is 3.8 inches lower than the Q8’s (16” vs. 19.8”).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Cayenne easier. The Cayenne’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 31 inches, while the Q8’s liftover is 33.7 inches.

Standard trailer sway control on the Cayenne uses the Porsche Stability Management sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Q8 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Porsche service is better than Audi. J.D. Power ranks Porsche third in service department satisfaction. With a 14% lower rating, Audi is ranked 8th.

The Cayenne’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Q8 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Cayenne offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Q8 doesn’t offer cornering lights.

To better shield the driver and front passenger’s vision, the Cayenne has standard dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The Q8 doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

Optional air conditioned front and rear seats keep the Cayenne’s passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The Q8 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Porsche Cayenne, based on reliability, safety and performance.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Cayenne third among upper midsize premium suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Q8 isn’t in the top three.

The Porsche Cayenne outsold the Audi Q8/SQ8/RS Q8 by 56% during 2022.