Compare the2024 Lexus RXVS 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 RX 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 Lexus RX 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 RX offers optional Intuitive Parking Assist with Automatic Braking 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 RX’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 RX 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, post-collision automatic braking systems, 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.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the RX its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 50 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Q8 has not been fully tested, yet.

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the RX 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.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the RX has a standard 603-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 RX’s reliability 20 points higher than the Q8.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in initial quality. With 50 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 long-term dependability statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in long-term dependability. With 33 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 Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus second in overall reliability. Audi is ranked 6th.

The RX 500h F Sport Performance’s standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 31 more horsepower (366 vs. 335) and 37 lbs.-ft. more torque (406 vs. 369) than the Q8’s 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the RX running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Q8:

The RX 450h+ can travel with zero emissions for 37 miles. The Q8 can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Lexus RX higher (7 out of 10) than the Audi Q8 (5). This means the RX produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Q8 every 15,000 miles.

The RX offers an available 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.

For better stopping power the RX F Sport’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Q8:

The RX stops shorter than the Q8:

For better maneuverability, the RX 500h F Sport Performance’s turning circle is 8.1 feet tighter than the Q8’s (35.4 feet vs. 43.5 feet). The RX’s turning circle is 4.7 feet tighter than the Q8’s (38.8 feet vs. 43.5 feet).

For greater off-road capability the RX 350 has a 2.3 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Q8 (8.1 vs. 5.8 inches), allowing the RX to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The RX 350h’s minimum ground clearance is 2.4 inches higher than on the Q8 (8.2 vs. 5.8 inches).

The Lexus RX may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 200 to 850 pounds less than the Audi Q8.

The RX is 4.1 inches shorter than the Q8, making the RX easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The design of the Lexus RX amounts to more than styling. The RX has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .35 Cd. That is significantly lower than the Q8 (.39). A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the RX get better fuel mileage.

The RX has 2.4 inches more front headroom and .5 inches more rear headroom than the Q8.

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

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

Pressing a switch automatically lowers or raises the RX’s optional rear seats, to make changing between cargo and passengers easier. The Q8 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the RX uses the Vehicle Stability Control 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 Lexus service is better than Audi. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With a 32% lower rating, Audi is ranked 8th.

The RX’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 improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the RX 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 RX’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Q8’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the RX Luxury/500h F Sport offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Q8 doesn’t offer cornering lights. The RX Luxury/500h F Sport also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The RX Premium/Luxury/F Sport has standard front air conditioned seats and the RX offers them optionally in the rear. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The Q8 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

The RX Hybrid offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet in the cargo area, 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.

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

Consumer Reports® recommends the Lexus RX, based on reliability, safety and performance.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the RX first among 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 in its category.

The Lexus RX outsold the Audi Q8/SQ8/RS Q8 by over 10 to one during 2022.