Compare the2024 BMW X5VS 2024 Audi Q8

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the X5 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Q8 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The BMW X5 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Q8 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

With its standard Active Pedestrian Protection, the BMW X5 is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Audi Q8, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

The X5’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 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the X5 and the Q8 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, 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 all wheel drive.

The BMW X5 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 Q8 has not yet been fully evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the X5 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Audi only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Q8.

There are over 14 percent more BMW dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the X5’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 BMW X5’s reliability 38 points higher than the Q8.

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 X5 s/xDrive40i’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 40 more horsepower (375 vs. 335) and 29 lbs.-ft. more torque (398 vs. 369) than the Q8’s 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid. The X5 xDrive50e’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 148 more horsepower (483 vs. 335) and 147 lbs.-ft. more torque (516 vs. 369) than the Q8’s 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid. The X5 M60i xDrive’s standard 4.4 turbo V8 hybrid produces 188 more horsepower (523 vs. 335) and 184 lbs.-ft. more torque (553 vs. 369) than the Q8’s 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the X5 running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Q8:

The X550e xDrive can travel with zero emissions for 40 miles. The Q8 can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the BMW X5 higher (5 to 7 out of 10) than the Audi Q8 (4). This means the X5 produces up to 13.2 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Q8 every 15,000 miles.

The X5’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Q8 doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the X5 M Sport’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Q8:

The X5’s optional 275/35R22 front and 315/30R22 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Q8’s optional 40 series tires.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the X5 can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Q8 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The X5 M60i 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 Q8 doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The X5 M60i xDrive offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Audi doesn’t offer an active suspension on the Q8.

The X5 has a standard automatic load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Q8 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For better maneuverability, the X5 M60i xDrive’s turning circle is 4.2 feet tighter than the Q8’s (39.4 feet vs. 43.6 feet). The X5’s turning circle is 2.3 feet tighter than the Q8’s (41.3 feet vs. 43.6 feet).

For greater off-road capability the X5 has a 2.9 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Q8 (8.7 vs. 5.8 inches), allowing the X5 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The front grille of the X5 uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Q8 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The X5 has 3.6 inches more front headroom, .5 inches more front shoulder room and 1.3 inches more rear headroom than the Q8.

The X5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Q8 with its rear seat up (33.9 vs. 30.5 cubic feet). The X5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Q8 with its rear seat folded (72.3 vs. 60.7 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the X5 easier. The X5’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 30.8 inches, while the Q8’s liftover is 33.7 inches.

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the X5’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Q8 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The X5’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the tailgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The Q8’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

Optional Trailer Stabilization Control on the X5 uses the Dynamic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Q8 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

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 Q8’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The X5’s optional adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the BMW X5 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Q8.

The X5 is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Q8 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Consumer Reports® chose the BMW X5 as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The BMW X5 outsold the Audi Q8/SQ8/RS Q8 by over five to one during 2023.