Compare the2024 Infiniti QX55VS 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 QX55 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 Infiniti QX55 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 QX55 has standard Rear 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.

Both the QX55 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, 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.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Infiniti QX55 is safer than the Audi Q8:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The QX55 comes with a full 4-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Q8’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 10,000 miles sooner.

Infiniti’s powertrain warranty covers the QX55 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.

Infiniti pays for scheduled maintenance on the QX55 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Infiniti will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, 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 Q8.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the QX55 has a standard 720-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 Infiniti vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 9 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Infiniti 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 Infiniti vehicles are more reliable than Audi With 4 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Infiniti higher than Audi.

On the EPA test cycle the QX55 gets better fuel mileage than the Q8 (22 city/28 hwy vs. 18 city/23 hwy).

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Infiniti QX55 higher (6 out of 10) than the Audi Q8 (5). This means the QX55 produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Q8 every 15,000 miles.

The QX55 has a standard 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.

The QX55 has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Q8 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the QX55 can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Q8 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

For better maneuverability, the QX55’s turning circle is 7.1 feet tighter than the Q8’s (36.4 feet vs. 43.5 feet).

For greater off-road capability the QX55 has a 2.8 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Q8 (8.6 vs. 5.8 inches), allowing the QX55 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Infiniti QX55 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 900 to 950 pounds less than the Audi Q8.

The QX55 is 10.3 inches shorter than the Q8, making the QX55 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The design of the Infiniti QX55 amounts to more than styling. The QX55 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 QX55 get better fuel mileage.

The QX55 uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Q8 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The front step up height for the QX55 is 2.1 inches lower than the Q8 (17.4” vs. 19.5”). The QX55’s rear step up height is 2 inches lower than the Q8’s (17.8” vs. 19.8”).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the QX55 easier. The QX55’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 QX55’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 QX55 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.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the QX55 Essential/Sensory has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Q8 doesn’t offer cornering lights.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Infiniti QX55 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Q8.

Insurance will cost less for the QX55 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the QX55 will cost $1075 to $4535 less than the Q8 over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Infiniti QX55 will be $21542 to $23114 less than for the Audi Q8.