Compare the2026 BMW iXVS 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 iX 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 iX has a standard Active Park Distance Control 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 iX’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 iX 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, 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, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the iX for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for tire rotations, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Audi only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Q8 e-tron.

There are over 14 percent more BMW dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the iX’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 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 73 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks BMW higher than Audi.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 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 13 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Audi is rated below average.

The iX has more powerful engines than the Q8 e-tron:

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

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

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

For better traction, the iX’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Q8 e-tron (275/40R22 vs. 265/45R21).

The iX’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Q8 e-tron’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the iX offers optional 23-inch wheels. The Q8 e-tron’s largest wheels are only 21-inches.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the iX’s wheelbase is 3 inches longer than on the Q8 e-tron (118.1 inches vs. 115.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the iX is .3 inches wider in the front and 1.6 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Q8 e-tron.

The iX xDrive60 handles at .88 G’s, while the Q8 e-tron pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The iX M70 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.1 seconds quicker than the Q8 e-tron (25.5 seconds @ .74 average G’s vs. 26.6 seconds @ .71 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the iX has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Q8 e-tron (8.8 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the iX to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The BMW iX may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 pounds less than the Audi Q8 e-tron.

The design of the BMW iX amounts to more than styling. The iX offers aerodynamic coefficients of drag from .25 to .26 Cd (depending on bodystyle and options). That is significantly 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 iX get better fuel mileage.

The iX has 3.4 inches more front headroom, 2.9 inches more front shoulder room, 1 inch more rear headroom and 1 inch more rear shoulder room than the Q8 e-tron.

The iX has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Q8 e-tron with its rear seat up (35.5 vs. 28.5 cubic feet). The iX has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Q8 e-tron with its rear seat folded (77.9 vs. 56.4 cubic feet).

The iX’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Q8 e-tron’s (3500 vs. 0 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Audi Q8 e-tron is only 4000 pounds. The iX offers up to a 6834 lbs. towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Stabilization Control on the iX 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 e-tron doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The iX’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.

Laser headlights, optional on the iX, produce their light by firing blue lasers through phosphorus, a process that uses one-half the power of the Q8 e-tron’s LED headlights. Laser headlights can have double the range of LEDs with a much smaller surface area.

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

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the iX has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Q8 e-tron doesn’t offer cornering lights. The iX also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

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

According to iSeeCars.com the 2025 BMW iX retains 29.51% of its original value after 5 years, more than the 28.05% resale value of the 2025 Audi Q8 e-tron after five years, which can save the BMW’s owner up to $37324.54378 in depreciation.

The BMW iX outsold the Audi Q8 e-tron by 65% during 2024.