Compare the2024 Audi SQ8VS 2024 BMW XM

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 XM doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the SQ8 and XM 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 XM’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.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The SQ8 has Car-to-X Services, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The XM doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure.

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 XM doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the SQ8 and the XM have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the SQ8 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 131 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The XM has not been tested, yet.

On the EPA test cycle the SQ8 gets better fuel mileage than the XM 4.4 turbo V8 Hybrid running its gasoline engine (15 city/21 hwy vs. 12 city/17 hwy).

The SQ8 has 4.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the XM (22.5 vs. 18.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better traction, the SQ8 has larger standard tires than the XM (285/40R22 vs. 275/35R23). The SQ8’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the XM (295/35R23 vs. 275/35R23).

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

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 XM doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The Audi SQ8 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 900 pounds less than the BMW XM.

The SQ8 is 4.6 inches shorter than the XM, making the SQ8 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The SQ8 has 1.2 inches more front legroom and 1 inch more rear shoulder room than the XM.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the SQ8’s rear seats recline. The XM’s rear seats don’t recline.

The SQ8 has a much larger cargo volume than the XM with its rear seat up (30.5 vs. 18.6 cubic feet).

The SQ8’s standard folding rear seats are split to accommodate bulky cargo. The XM’s standard single piece folding rear seat is not as flexible; long cargo and a passenger can’t share the rear seat.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the SQ8’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The XM doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The SQ8’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the XM’s (7700 vs. 5952 pounds).

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 XM doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

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 XM doesn’t offer a rear or rear side window sunshades.

The Audi Q8/SQ8/RS Q8 outsold the BMW XM by almost six to one during 2023.