Compare the2025 Audi RS Q8VS 2025 BMW X4 M

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Audi RS Q8 have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The BMW X4 M doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Audi RS Q8 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 X4 M doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the RS Q8 and X4 M have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The RS Q8 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 X4 M’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 RS Q8 has Car-to-X Services, a system that seemlesly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The X4 M doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the RS Q8 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 X4 M doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the RS Q8 and X4 M have rear cross-traffic warning, but the RS Q8 has Automatic Brake Activation (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The X4 M’s Cross Traffic Warning doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the RS Q8 and the X4 M have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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 and rear cross-path warning.

The Audi RS Q8 weighs 915 pounds more than the BMW X4 M. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The RS Q8’s 4.0 turbo V8 produces 158 more horsepower (631 vs. 473) and 170 lbs.-ft. more torque (627 vs. 457) than the X4 M’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder. The RS Q8’s 4.0 turbo V8 produces 128 more horsepower (631 vs. 503) and 148 lbs.-ft. more torque (627 vs. 479) than the X4 M Competition’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder.

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the RS Q8’s fuel efficiency. The X4 M doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The RS Q8 has 5.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the X4 M (22.5 vs. 17.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the RS Q8’s brake rotors are larger than those on the X4 M:

The RS Q8 has standard heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The X4 M doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

For better traction, the RS Q8 has larger tires than the X4 M (295/40R22 vs. 255/45R20).

The RS Q8’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the X4 M’s standard 45 series tires. The RS Q8’s optional tires have a lower 35 series profile than the X4 M Competition’s 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the RS Q8 has standard 22-inch wheels. Smaller 20-inch wheels are standard on the X4 M. The RS Q8’s optional 23-inch wheels are larger than the 21-inch wheels on the X4 M Competition.

The RS Q8 has 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 X4 M doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The front and rear suspension of the RS Q8 uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the X4 M, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The RS Q8 offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. BMW doesn’t offer an active suspension on the X4 M.

The RS Q8 has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The RS Q8’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 X4 M doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the RS Q8’s wheelbase is 5.1 inches longer than on the X4 M (117.9 inches vs. 112.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the RS Q8 is 2.8 inches wider in the front and 2.4 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the X4 M.

The RS Q8 handles at .98 G’s, while the X4 M Competition pulls only .97 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The RS Q8 has .9 inches more front legroom, 2 inches more front shoulder room, .9 inches more rear headroom, 4.7 inches more rear legroom and 2.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the X4 M.

The RS Q8 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the X4 M with its rear seat up (30.5 vs. 18.5 cubic feet). The RS Q8 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the X4 M with its rear seat folded (60.7 vs. 50.5 cubic feet).

The RS Q8’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The X4 M doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The RS Q8’s standard Audi Advanced Key allows you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Comfort Access standard on the X4 M doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the RS Q8 has a standard rear wiper. The X4 M doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The RS Q8 has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The X4 M doesn’t offer headlight washers.

A manual rear sunshade is standard in the RS Q8 and power rear side window sunshades are optional to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The X4 M doesn’t offer a rear or rear side window sunshades.

The RS Q8 has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the X4 M.

The RS Q8 offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the X4 M.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Audi RS Q8 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the X4 M.

The RS Q8’s optional Park Assist Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Park Assist Plus will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The X4 M’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

The Audi Q8/SQ8/RS Q8 outsold the BMW X4 by 42% during 2023.