Compare the2024 Audi SQ8VS 2024 BMW X3 M

Safety
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Audi SQ8 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 X3 M doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Audi SQ8 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 X3 M doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the SQ8 and X3 M have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The SQ8 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 X3 M’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.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The SQ8 has standard Maneuver Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The X3 M doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the SQ8 Prestige 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 X3 M doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the SQ8 and the X3 M have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and rear cross-path warning.

The Audi SQ8 weighs 604 pounds more than the BMW X3 M. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Audi SQ8 is safer than the BMW X3 M:

	SQ8	X3 M
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	34%	38%
Neck Stress	120 lbs.	139 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	47/47 lbs.	183/114 lbs.

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

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Audi SQ8 is safer than the BMW X3 M:

	SQ8	X3 M
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	60	64
Abdominal Force	128 lbs.	153 lbs.
Hip Force	260 lbs.	275 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	43 G’s	45 G’s
Hip Force	684 lbs.	794 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	593 lbs.	624 lbs.

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

Engine

The SQ8’s 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 27 more horsepower (500 vs. 473) and 111 lbs.-ft. more torque (568 vs. 457) than the X3 M’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder. The SQ8’s 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 89 lbs.-ft. more torque (568 vs. 479) than the X3 M Competition’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the SQ8 gets better mileage than the X3 M:

			MPG
SQ8
	AWD	4.0 turbo V8 Hybrid	15 city/21 hwy
X3 M
	AWD	3.0 turbo 6-cyl.	15 city/20 hwy
		Competition 3.0 turbo 6-cyl.	15 city/20 hwy

The SQ8 has 5.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the X3 M (22.5 vs. 17.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the SQ8’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the X3 M:

	SQ8	X3 M
Front Rotors	15.8 inches	15.6 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the SQ8 has larger standard tires than the X3 M (285/40R22 vs. 255/45R20). The SQ8’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the X3 M (295/35R23 vs. 255/45R20).

The SQ8’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the X3 M’s standard 45 series tires. The SQ8’s optional tires have a lower 35 series profile than the X3 M Competition’s 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the SQ8 has standard 22-inch wheels. Smaller 20-inch wheels are standard on the X3 M. The SQ8’s optional 23-inch wheels are larger than the 21-inch wheels on the X3 M Competition.

Suspension and Handling

The SQ8 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 X3 M doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The front and rear suspension of the SQ8 uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the X3 M, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The SQ8 offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. BMW doesn’t offer an active suspension on the X3 M.

The SQ8 has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The SQ8’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 X3 M doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the SQ8’s wheelbase is 5.1 inches longer than on the X3 M (117.9 inches vs. 112.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the SQ8 is 2.2 inches wider in the front and 3.5 inches wider in the rear than on the X3 M.

Passenger Space

The SQ8 has 1.3 inches more front legroom, 1.9 inches more front shoulder room, 3.8 inches more rear legroom and 2.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the X3 M.

Cargo Capacity

The SQ8 has a much larger cargo volume than the X3 M with its rear seat up (30.5 vs. 28.7 cubic feet).

The SQ8’s cargo area is larger than the X3 M’s in almost every dimension:

	SQ8	X3 M
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	41.1”/75.4”	36.5”/69”
Max Width	54”	47”
Min Width	39.8”	43.3”
Height	29”	29.7”

Ergonomics

The SQ8’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The X3 M doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the SQ8 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The X3 M 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 SQ8 has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The X3 M doesn’t offer headlight washers.

A manual rear sunshade and power rear side window sunshades are optional in the SQ8 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The X3 M doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

The SQ8 has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the X3 M.

The SQ8 offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the X3 M.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Audi SQ8 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the X3 M.

The SQ8 Prestige’s 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 X3 M’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.