The Q8 e-tron’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Wagoneer S doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.
The Audi Q8 e-tron 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 Wagoneer S doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.
The Q8 e-tron’s standard pretensioning seatbelts also sense rear collisions and remove slack from the seatbelts to help protect the occupants from whiplash and other injuries. The Wagoneer S doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.
The Q8 e-tron has a standard Secondary Collision Brake Assist, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Wagoneer S doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.
Full-time four-wheel drive is standard on the Q8 e-tron. Full-time four-wheel drive gives added traction for safety in all conditions, not just off-road, like the only system available on the Wagoneer S.
Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The Q8 e-tron has Car-to-X Services, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The Wagoneer S doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure.
Both the Q8 e-tron and Wagoneer S have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Q8 e-tron has Automatic Brake Activation (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Wagoneer S’ Rear Cross Path Detection doesn’t automatically brake.
Both the Q8 e-tron and the Wagoneer S 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 Audi Q8 e-tron 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 Wagoneer S has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.