Compare the2024 Genesis GV70VS 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 GV70 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 Genesis GV70 has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps 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.

The GV70 has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Q8 doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the GV70 deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The GV70’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Q8’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The GV70 Advanced/Prestige has a standard Reverse Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Q8 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The GV70’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Q8 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the GV70 and the Q8 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, 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 and available around view monitors.

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 front crash prevention system, and its headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the GV70 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2019, a rating granted to only 135 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Q8 is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2019.

The GV70 comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes free 24-hour roadside assistance. The Q8’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Genesis’ powertrain warranty covers the GV70 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than Audi covers the Q8. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Q8 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

Genesis pays for scheduled maintenance on the GV70 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Genesis will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, brake fluid replacement, inspections, 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 GV70 has a standard 740-amp battery. The Q8’s 380-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Genesis vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Genesis above average in initial quality. With 45 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Genesis vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Genesis fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 77 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 25th.

The GV70’s optional 3.5 turbo V6 produces 40 more horsepower (375 vs. 335) and 22 lbs.-ft. more torque (391 vs. 369) than the Q8’s 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Genesis GV70 turbo V6 is faster than the Audi Q8:

On the EPA test cycle the GV70 gets better mileage than the Q8:

The GV70’s 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.

The GV70 stops much shorter than the Q8:

The GV70 Sport Prestige executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Q8 Prestige (26.4 seconds @ .7 average G’s vs. 26.9 seconds @ .69 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the GV70’s turning circle is 5.8 feet tighter than the Q8’s (37.7 feet vs. 43.5 feet).

For greater off-road capability the GV70 has a 1.5 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Q8 (7.3 vs. 5.8 inches), allowing the GV70 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Genesis GV70 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 to 850 pounds less than the Audi Q8.

The GV70 is 11 inches shorter than the Q8, making the GV70 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The design of the Genesis GV70 amounts to more than styling. The GV70 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 GV70 get better fuel mileage.

The GV70 has 2.5 inches more front headroom and 1 inch more rear headroom than the Q8.

The front step up height for the GV70 is 2 inches lower than the Q8 (17.5” vs. 19.5”). The GV70’s rear step up height is 2.5 inches lower than the Q8’s (17.3” vs. 19.8”).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the GV70 easier. The GV70’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 29.9 inches, while the Q8’s liftover is 33.7 inches.

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the GV70’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 GV70 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.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The GV70’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Q8’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Genesis GV70 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Q8.

The GV70 Advanced/Sport/3.5T has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Q8 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Genesis GV70, based on reliability, safety and performance.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the GV70 third among compact 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 in its category.

The GV70 was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2023. The Q8 has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

Motor Trend selected the GV70 as their 2022 Sport Utility of the Year. The Q8 has never been chosen.

The Genesis GV70 outsold the Audi Q8/SQ8/RS Q8 by over two to one during 2022.