Compare the2025 BMW X6VS 2025 Audi Q8

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 X6 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Q8 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The BMW X6 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help 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 Q8 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

With its standard Active Pedestrian Protection, the BMW X6 is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Audi Q8, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the BMW X6 achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, outperforming the Audi Q8 which scored “Poor” - the lowest rating - in these critical safety features.

Both the X6 and the Q8 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the X6 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Audi only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Q8.

There are over 14 percent more BMW dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the X6’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 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 36 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks BMW higher than Audi.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 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 With 85 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks BMW higher than Audi.

The X6 xDrive40i’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 40 more horsepower (375 vs. 335) and 29 lbs.-ft. more torque (398 vs. 369) than the Q8’s 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid. The X6 M60i xDrive’s standard 4.4 turbo V8 hybrid produces 188 more horsepower (523 vs. 335) and 184 lbs.-ft. more torque (553 vs. 369) than the Q8’s 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the X6 xDrive40i gets better fuel mileage than the Q8 (23 city/26 hwy vs. 17 city/23 hwy).

The X6’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Q8 doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the X6 M60i xDrive M Sport’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Q8:

The X6’s optional 275/35R22 front and 315/30R22 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Q8’s optional 40 series tires.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the X6 can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Q8 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The X6 M60i offers 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 Q8 doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The X6 M60i xDrive offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Audi doesn’t offer an active suspension on the Q8.

For better maneuverability, the X6’s turning circle is 2.3 feet tighter than the Q8’s (41.3 feet vs. 43.6 feet).

For greater off-road capability the X6 has a 2.7 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Q8 (8.5 vs. 5.8 inches), allowing the X6 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The front grille of the X6 uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Q8 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The X6 has 2.2 inches more front headroom and .5 inches more front shoulder room than the Q8.

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the X6’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Q8 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Optional Trailer Stabilization Control on the X6 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 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Q8’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The X6’s optional adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the BMW X6 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Q8.