Compare the2024 Kia EV6VS 2024 Audi Q8 e-tron

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 EV6 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Q8 e-tron doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The EV6 offers optional Parking Collision-Avoidance Reverse that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Q8 e-tron doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The EV6’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 e-tron doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the EV6 and the Q8 e-tron have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, 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.

The EV6 comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Q8 e-tron’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the EV6 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than Audi covers the Q8 e-tron. 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 e-tron ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 3 times as many Kia dealers as there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the EV6’s warranty.

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 EV6’s reliability 54 points higher than the Q8 e-tron.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia above average in initial quality. With 51 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 Kia vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 87 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 25th.

The EV6 GT’s electric motors produces 80 more horsepower (576 vs. 496) than the SQ8 e-tron’s optional electric motors.

As tested in Consumer Reports the EV6 Long Range electric motors is faster than the Audi Q8 e-tron (base engine):

As tested in Motor Trend the EV6 GT electric motors is faster than the Audi Q8 e-tron (base engine):

On the EPA test cycle the EV6 gets better mileage than the Q8 e-tron:

The EV6 can travel longer on a full charge than the Q8 e-tron on a full charge:

The EV6 stops much shorter than the Q8 e-tron:

The EV6 GT’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Q8 e-tron’s optional 45 series tires.

The EV6 GT handles at .92 G’s, while the Q8 e-tron 55 Launch Edition pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The EV6 GT executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.5 seconds quicker than the Q8 e-tron 55 Launch Edition (25.1 seconds @ .77 average G’s vs. 26.6 seconds @ .71 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the EV6’s turning circle is 1.8 feet tighter than the Q8 e-tron’s (38.2 feet vs. 40 feet). The EV6 GT’s turning circle is .8 feet tighter than the Q8 e-tron’s (39.2 feet vs. 40 feet).

The Kia EV6 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1300 to 1800 pounds less than the Audi Q8 e-tron.

The EV6 Light/Wind is 8.7 inches shorter than the Q8 e-tron, making the EV6 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The EV6 has .9 inches more front headroom and 1.6 inches more front legroom than the Q8 e-tron.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the EV6’s rear seats recline. The Q8 e-tron’s rear seats don’t recline.

The EV6’s 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 Q8 e-tron’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

Consumer Reports rated the EV6’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Q8 e-tron’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Kia EV6 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Q8 e-tron.

The EV6 Wind/GT-Line/GT has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the rear seat, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Q8 e-tron doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The EV6 (except Light)’s optional Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Q8 e-tron Prestige/Launch Assist’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park and it doesn’t offer remote control parking.

The EV6 is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Q8 e-tron doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Kia EV6, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Audi Q8 e-tron isn't recommended.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the EV6 first among compact suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Q8 e-tron isn’t in the top three.

The EV6 was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2023. The Q8 e-tron has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the EV6 as the 2023 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The Q8 e-tron has never been chosen.