Compare the2025 Lexus RZVS 2025 Audi Q8 e-tron

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 RZ are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Q8 e-tron doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

With its standard Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, the Lexus RZ is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Audi Q8 e-tron, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The RZ Premium/Luxury has a standard Parking Support Brake 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 RZ’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 RZ 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, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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 around view monitors.

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the RZ 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Audi covers the Q8 e-tron. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Q8 e-tron ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in initial quality. With 68 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in reliability, above the industry average. With 140 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 29th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus first in overall reliability. Audi is ranked 19th.

As tested in Consumer Reports the RZ 450e electric motors is faster than the Audi Q8 e-tron (base engine):

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

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

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

The RZ 450e Luxury handles at .86 G’s, while the Q8 e-tron pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The RZ 450e Luxury executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Q8 e-tron (25.9 seconds @ .7 average G’s vs. 26.6 seconds @ .71 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the RZ’s turning circle is 3.2 feet tighter than the Q8 e-tron’s (36.8 feet vs. 40 feet).

The Lexus RZ may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1450 to 1500 pounds less than the Audi Q8 e-tron.

The RZ is 3.8 inches shorter than the Q8 e-tron, making the RZ easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The design of the Lexus RZ amounts to more than styling. The RZ has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .29 Cd. That is 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 RZ get better fuel mileage.

The RZ uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Q8 e-tron doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The RZ has .5 inches more front headroom, 1.3 inches more front legroom and .1 inches more rear headroom than the Q8 e-tron.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the RZ’s rear seats recline. The Q8 e-tron’s rear seats don’t recline.

The RZ has a much larger cargo volume than the Q8 e-tron with its rear seat up (34.1 vs. 28.5 cubic feet).

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Audi. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With a 43% lower rating, Audi is ranked 18th.

The RZ’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.

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

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The RZ offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Q8 e-tron doesn’t offer headlight washers.

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

The RZ has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Q8 e-tron doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The RZ is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Q8 e-tron doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

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