Compare the2024 Audi Q8 e-tron SportbackVS 2024 BMW iX

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Audi Q8 e-tron Sportback 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 Sportback 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 Sportback 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 Sportback 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 Sportback’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 Sportback gets better mileage than the iX:

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

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

The Q8 e-tron Sportback stops much shorter than the iX:

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

The Q8 e-tron Sportback Premium ultra’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the iX’s standard 60 series tires.

The Q8 e-tron Sportback 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 Sportback 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 Sportback handles at .92 G’s, while the iX xDrive50 pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Q8 e-tron Sportback executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the iX xDrive50 (25.4 seconds @ .75 average G’s vs. 26.2 seconds @ .71 average G’s).

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

The Q8 e-tron Sportback 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 Sportback. The iX doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the iX, the Q8 e-tron Sportback 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 Sportback has standard extendable sun visors. The iX doesn’t offer extendable visors.

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

Standard air conditioned seats in the front and rear seats keep the Q8 e-tron Sportback Premium Plus/Prestige’s passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The iX doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.