Compare the2024 Audi RS 7VS 2024 BMW M8

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Audi RS 7 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 M8 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Audi RS 7 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 M8 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the RS 7 and M8 Gran Coupe have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The RS 7 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 M8’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 RS 7 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 M8 doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the RS 7 and the M8 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee 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, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

The RS 7’s standard 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 37 lbs.-ft. more torque (590 vs. 553) than the M8’s 4.4 turbo V8. The RS 7 Performance’s standard 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 4 more horsepower (621 vs. 617) and 74 lbs.-ft. more torque (627 vs. 553) than the M8’s 4.4 turbo V8.

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the RS 7’s fuel efficiency. The M8 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

For better stopping power the RS 7’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the M8:

For better traction, the RS 7’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the M8 (285/30R22 vs. 275/35R20).

The RS 7’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 30 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the M8’s 35 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the RS 7 has standard 21-inch wheels. Only 20-inch wheels are available on the M8. The RS 7 offers optional 22-inch wheels.

The front and rear suspension of the RS 7 uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the M8, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The RS 7 has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The RS 7’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 M8 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the RS 7’s wheelbase is 4 inches longer than on the M8 Gran Coupe (115.3 inches vs. 111.3 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the RS 7 is 1.8 inches wider in the front and .2 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the M8.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the RS 7 is quieter than the M8 Competition Gran Coupe:

The RS 7 has .4 inches more rear legroom and 1.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the M8 Gran Coupe.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the RS 7’s rear seats recline. The M8’s rear seats don’t recline.

The RS 7 has a much larger trunk than the M8 Gran Coupe (24.6 vs. 15.5 cubic feet).

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the M8, the RS 7 offers an optional passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle and climate settings and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The RS 7 has two rear doors to provide better access for cargo and rear passengers. The M8 Coupe doesn’t offer rear doors.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the RS 7 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The M8 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The RS 7 has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The M8 doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the RS 7 has standard extendable sun visors. The M8 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The RS 7 offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the M8.

The RS 7’s optional 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 M8’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

Insurance will cost less for the RS 7 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the RS 7 will cost $270 to $680 less than the M8 over a five-year period.

The RS 7 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the RS 7 will retain 51.94% of its original price after five years, while the M8 only retains 42.81% to 46.57%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Audi RS 7 will be $11773 to $14242 less than for the BMW M8.

Car and Driver performed a comparison test in its May 2021 issue and they ranked the Audi RS 7 first. They ranked the BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupe third.