Compare the2024 Audi Q8 e-tronVS 2024 BMW iX

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Audi Q8 e-tron 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 iX doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The Q8 e-tron has Car-to-X Services, a system that seemlesly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The iX doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure.

Both the Q8 e-tron and the iX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee 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, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The Audi Q8 e-tron achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The iX has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

The SQ8 e-tron’s standard electric motors produces 153 lbs.-ft. more torque (717 vs. 564) than the iX xDrive50’s standard electric motors.

On the EPA test cycle the Q8 e-tron with its standard motors gets better mileage than the iX M60 (80 city/83 hwy vs. 78 city/82 hwy MPGe).

The Q8 e-tron with its standard motors can travel longer on a full charge than the iX M60 (285 miles vs. 274 miles).

For better stopping power the Q8 e-tron’s brake rotors are larger than those on the iX:

The Q8 e-tron stops shorter than the iX:

For better traction, the Q8 e-tron has larger standard tires than the iX (255/50R20 vs. 235/60R20).

The Q8 e-tron’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the iX’s standard 60 series tires.

The Q8 e-tron has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the iX; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

The front and rear suspension of the Q8 e-tron uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the iX, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The Q8 e-tron 55 Launch Edition handles at .85 G’s, while the iX xDrive50 pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Q8 e-tron’s turning circle is .4 feet tighter than the iX M60’s (40 feet vs. 40.4 feet). The Q8 e-tron’s turning circle is 2.8 feet tighter than the iX xDrive50’s (40 feet vs. 42.8 feet).

The Q8 e-tron has .6 inches more front legroom and .2 inches more rear legroom than the iX.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Q8 e-tron. The iX doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the iX, the Q8 e-tron Prestige has a passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Q8 e-tron has standard extendable sun visors. The iX doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Q8 e-tron to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The iX doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Audi Q8 e-tron and the BMW iX, based on reliability, safety and performance.