Compare the2024 BMW 7 SeriesVS 2023 Audi S8

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 7 Series are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The S8 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The 7 Series has standard Active Headrests, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Headrests system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The S8 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The 7 Series has a standard Active Park Distance Control that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The S8 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The 7 Series has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the S8’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the 7 Series has standard Cross Traffic Warning with braking function and automatically engage the brakes. Audi charges extra for rear cross-path warning on the S8.

The 7 Series’ 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 S8 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the 7 Series and the S8 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the 7 Series for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Audi only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the S8.

There are over 15 percent more BMW dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the 7 Series’ warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 29 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks BMW 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 BMW vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW above average in long-term dependability. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Audi is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW third in overall reliability. Audi is ranked 6th.

On the EPA test cycle the 7 Series running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the S8:

The 750e can travel with zero emissions for 35 miles. The S8 can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the BMW 7 Series higher (5 to 7 out of 10) than the Audi S8 (3). This means the 7 Series produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the S8 every 15,000 miles.

The 7 Series’ 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 S8 doesn’t offer launch control.

The 7 Series stops shorter than the S8:

For better traction and acceleration, the 7 Series has larger rear tires than the S8 (285/40R20 vs. 265/35R21).

The 7 Series 760i 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 S8 doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The 760i 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 S8.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the 7 Series’ wheelbase is 3.4 inches longer than on the S8 (126.6 inches vs. 123.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the 7 Series is 1.5 inches wider in the front and 1.2 inches wider in the rear than the track on the S8.

For better maneuverability, the 7 Series’ turning circle is 2.6 feet tighter than the S8’s (39.7 feet vs. 42.3 feet). The 7 Series xDrive’s turning circle is 1.9 feet tighter than the S8’s (40.4 feet vs. 42.3 feet).

The BMW 7 Series may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 600 pounds less than the Audi S8.

The front grille of the 7 Series uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The S8 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The 7 Series has 1.5 inches more front headroom, 1.9 inches more front shoulder room and .1 inches more rear headroom than the S8.

The 7 Series has a much larger trunk than the S8 (13.7 vs. 12.5 cubic feet).

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that BMW service is better than Audi. J.D. Power ranks BMW 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 1% lower rating, Audi is ranked 8th.

The 7 Series has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The S8 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The 7 Series’ 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 S8 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The 7 Series’ power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The S8’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The S8’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The 7 Series’ standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

The 7 Series is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The S8 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Insurance will cost less for the 7 Series owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the 7 Series will cost $1230 to $3260 less than the S8 over a five-year period.

The 7 Series will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the 7 Series will retain 40.43% to 43.2% of its original price after five years, while the S8 only retains 40.38%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the BMW 7 Series will be $14442 to $35064 less than for the Audi S8.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the 7 Series first among upper midsize premium cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The S8 isn’t in the top three.

The BMW 7 Series outsold the Audi A8/S8 by almost four to one during 2022.