Compare the2025 Kia EV6VS 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 EV6 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.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The EV6 offers optional Parking Collision-Avoidance Reverse 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 EV6’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 EV6 and the Q8 e-tron have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver 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, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Kia EV6 is safer than the Audi Q8 e-tron:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Kia EV6 is safer than the Audi Q8 e-tron:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The EV6 comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Q8 e-tron’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the EV6 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than Audi covers the Q8 e-tron. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Q8 e-tron ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 3 times as many Kia dealers as there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the EV6’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 79 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 31st, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia above average in long-term dependability. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Audi is rated below average.

The EV6 GT’s electric motors produces 145 more horsepower (641 vs. 496) than the SQ8 e-tron’s optional electric motors.

As tested in Consumer Reports the EV6 Long Range electric motors is faster than the Audi Q8 e-tron (base engine):

The EV6 can travel longer on a full charge than the Q8 e-tron on a full charge:

The EV6 stops much shorter than the Q8 e-tron:

The EV6 GT’s 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.

The EV6 GT handles at .92 G’s, while the Q8 e-tron pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The EV6 GT executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.5 seconds quicker than the Q8 e-tron (25.1 seconds @ .77 average G’s vs. 26.6 seconds @ .71 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the EV6’s turning circle is 1.8 feet tighter than the Q8 e-tron’s (38.2 feet vs. 40 feet). The EV6 GT’s turning circle is .8 feet tighter than the Q8 e-tron’s (39.2 feet vs. 40 feet).

The Kia EV6 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1200 to 1650 pounds less than the Audi Q8 e-tron.

The EV6 is 8.2 inches shorter than the Q8 e-tron, making the EV6 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The EV6 has .9 inches more front headroom and 1.6 inches more front legroom than the Q8 e-tron.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the EV6’s rear seats recline. The Q8 e-tron’s rear seats don’t recline.

The EV6’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 EV6’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Q8 e-tron’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Kia EV6 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Q8 e-tron.

The EV6 offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the rear seat, 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 EV6 is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Q8 e-tron doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the EV6 first among compact 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 EV6 was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2023. The Q8 e-tron has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the EV6 as the 2023 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The Q8 e-tron has never been chosen.

The Kia EV6 outsold the Audi Q8 e-tron by over two to one during 2024.