Compare the2024 BMW iXVS 2024 Audi Q8 e-tron

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The iX has a standard Active Park Distance Control that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Q8 e-tron doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The iX’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Q8 e-tron doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the iX and the Q8 e-tron 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.

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the iX for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for tire rotations, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Audi only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Q8 e-tron.

There are over 15 percent more BMW dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the iX’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the iX’s reliability 18 points higher than the Q8 e-tron.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 29 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks BMW 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 BMW vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW above average in long-term dependability. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Audi is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW 10 places higher in reliability than Audi.

The iX xDrive50’s standard electric motors produces 114 more horsepower (516 vs. 402) and 74 lbs.-ft. more torque (564 vs. 490) than the Q8 e-tron’s standard electric motors. The iX xDrive50’s electric motors produces 20 more horsepower (516 vs. 496) than the SQ8 e-tron’s standard electric motors. The iX M60’s standard electric motors produces 114 more horsepower (610 vs. 496) and 32 lbs.-ft. more torque (749 vs. 717) than the SQ8 e-tron’s standard electric motors.

As tested in Consumer Reports the iX xDrive50 is faster than the Audi Q8 e-tron (base engine):

On the EPA test cycle the iX gets better mileage than the Q8 e-tron:

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

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

For better traction, the iX’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Q8 e-tron (275/40R22 vs. 265/45R21).

The iX’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Q8 e-tron’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the iX offers optional 22-inch wheels. The Q8 e-tron’s largest wheels are only 21-inches.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the iX’s wheelbase is 3 inches longer than on the Q8 e-tron (118.1 inches vs. 115.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the iX is .7 inches wider in the front and 2 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Q8 e-tron.

The iX xDrive50 handles at .88 G’s, while the Q8 e-tron 55 Launch Edition pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The iX M60 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.1 seconds quicker than the Q8 e-tron 55 Launch Edition (25.5 seconds @ .74 average G’s vs. 26.6 seconds @ .71 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the iX has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Q8 e-tron (8.8 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the iX to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The design of the BMW iX amounts to more than styling. The iX offers aerodynamic coefficients of drag from .25 to .26 Cd (depending on bodystyle and options). That is significantly lower than the Q8 e-tron (.29 to .32) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the iX get better fuel mileage.

The iX has 3.4 inches more front headroom, 2.9 inches more front shoulder room, .9 inches more rear headroom and 1 inch more rear shoulder room than the Q8 e-tron.

The iX has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Q8 e-tron with its rear seat up (35.5 vs. 28.5 cubic feet). The iX has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Q8 e-tron with its rear seat folded (77.9 vs. 56.4 cubic feet).

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that BMW service is better than Audi. J.D. Power ranks BMW 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 1% lower rating, Audi is ranked 8th.

The iX’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Q8 e-tron’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

Laser headlights, optional on the iX, produce their light by firing blue lasers through phosphorus, a process that uses one-half the power of the Q8 e-tron’s LED headlights. Laser headlights can have double the range of LEDs with a much smaller surface area.

Consumer Reports rated the iX’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Q8 e-tron’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the iX has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Q8 e-tron doesn’t offer cornering lights. The iX also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

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

The iX’s optional Automatic Parking Assistant can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Parking Assistant Professional will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Q8 e-tron Prestige/Launch Assist’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park and it doesn’t offer remote control parking.

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

J.D. Power and Associates rated the iX first among upper midsize premium suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Q8 e-tron isn’t in the top three.

The BMW iX outsold the Audi Q8 e-tron by over two to one during 2023.