Audi Q8 Vs BMW X5 | CarsGuide

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9. BMW X5

Audi Q8 vs BMW X5

What's the difference?

VS Audi Q8

$132,269 - $166,090

2024 price

View pricing & specs Change BMW X5

$134,900 - $241,900

2024 price

View pricing & specs Change

Summary

2024 Audi Q8 2024 BMW X5 By Emily Agar By Mark Oastler Safety Rating  Engine Type Turbo V6, 3.0L  Turbo 6, 3.0L Fuel Type -  - Fuel Efficiency 2.6L/100km (combined)  9.2L/100km (combined) Seating 5  5 Likes

• Sharp styling inside and out
• Wonderfully fun to drive
• Spacious cabin



• Design/build quality
• Performance/efficiency
• Interior comfort/features

Dislikes

• Electric driving range is too short
• Expensive compared to ICE siblings
• Individual storage space isn't as great as size suggests



• Space-saver spare
• Busy control panel
• Passenger dash glare

2024 Audi Q8 Summary

Audi has launched the Q8 60 TFSI e, which is a plug-in hybrid and might initially confuse you on where it sits in the Q8 line-up. The PHEV model is closely related to the petrol and diesel Q8 but not the electric e-tron which has only just adopted the Q8 name. So, it’s best to think of the 60 TFSI e as its own branch in the Q8 tree.

On paper, being a large and luxuriously appointed coupe-style SUV and having a plug-in hybrid powertrain means it blends the best of both worlds, but how does it perform in the real world? It faces some stiff competition from the likes of the BMW X5 xDrive 50e M Sport PHEV, Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid, Land Rover Defender 110 P400e and even the Volvo XC90 PHEV.

After a week, the 60 TFSI e has seen us cover a mountain road trip, camping and the general family holiday bustle. Keep reading to see how it went.

View full pricing & specs Interested in an Audi Q8? Insurance Quote 2024 BMW X5 Summary

The BMW X5 is a leading contender in the ‘Over $70K Large SUV’ division of Australia’s new car market, which is a hotly-contested segment boasting 15 marques and 25 models.

The X5 has hit an enduring sweet spot with Aussie buyers in terms of size, performance and price. BMW prefers to call it a Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) as distinct from its Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) rivals.

Clearly, any word association with a utility is something BMW Group Australia wants to avoid after recently launching its latest X5 range, which brings numerous enhancements including design revisions, increased standard equipment, refreshed powertrains and more.

We were entrusted with the digital ‘Comfort Access’ key to one of the latest X5s, to understand from a family car perspective why this model range enjoys such enduring popularity with prestige SUV (sorry, SAV) buyers.

View full pricing & specs Interested in a BMW X5? Insurance Quote

Deep dive comparison

2024 Audi Q8 2024 BMW X5

Verdict

The Audi Q8 60 TFSI e offers an interesting engine combination but with its small electric driving range and strictly AC charging, I kind of feel like it’s a case of ‘what’s the point?’

It’s expensive compared to its fuel-based cousins and it’s only a little bit more for the fully electric Q8 e-tron. That being said, I like everything else that it offers.

The luxurious appointments, comfort and the awesome handling helps to make up for the shortfall of the plug-in hybrid component for me. Regional or country folk might not wring out the full plug-in potential, but urban dwellers will find better luck. 

Verdict

This is a luxurious prestige five-seater brimming with BMW’s latest design and technology that’s not only practical for weekly family duties but can also embrace spirited driving with the push of a button. A great all-rounder for families that like a sporty edge. 

Design

The Q8 e is one of the few coupe-style SUVs that doesn’t feature a rear that is too pinched-looking. It has a more understated kerb-size appearance and yet still looks like it means business with its massive but well-proportioned body and wide stance.

Some design highlights include the upgraded 22-inch alloy wheels and sporty red calipers, black accents across the car and large air-intake vents at the front.

The updated grille is enormous and wide set but complemented by the HD Matrix LED headlights which makes the front really pop at night time.

Head inside the cabin and you’ll notice a luxuriously appointed but, again, understated aesthetic.

The supple Valcona leather upholstery and Nappa leather trims add refinement but it’s the flush joinery and the way the dashboard seems so well settled that makes the cockpit look good. Add the LED ambient lighting with its 30 colour choices and combos and the interior can be customised to your liking.

Being a hybrid model, you do miss out on any frunk storage and the boot capacity drops by 100L to accommodate the battery. Other than those items, the added electrical component doesn’t affect the design.

Design

The latest front-end design features subtle revisions to BMW’s signature 'kidney' grille theme, highlighted by slimmer matrix LED headlights with chevron-shaped DRLs that incorporate the turn indicators.

There’s also an ‘iconic glow’ function, which illuminates the twin-grilles at night in-sync with the external courtesy lights when approaching and departing the vehicle. Lower front air-intake and tail-light treatments have also been revised.

The dash features a new curved instrument panel. Based on BMW’s latest generation 'iDrive' operating system, it consists of a 12.3-inch driver’s info display and 14.9-inch control display presented across the same seamless glass surface.

The control display’s touchscreen functionality has allowed dash buttons and switches to be minimised.

This new design dash has a blend of synthetic leather trim and dark brown/high-gloss woodgrain surfaces, along with new LED ambient lighting and gear-selector design.

The rear seat is sumptuous and spacious, even for someone my height (186cm). There’s ample knee and headroom and it can seat three kids in comfort, but for adult passengers wanting that 'business class' feel it would be ideal for two.

My only criticism of the new instrument display is that with more than 30 applications displayed on the expansive control screen, it can be distracting at times trying to visually locate and operate these functions while driving.

And, depending on sun angle, there were also complaints from different front seat passengers on different days about blinding glare caused by the dash’s high-gloss woodgrain inserts. Fortunately, the driver is unaffected by these reflections.

Practicality

The cabin feels spacious in both rows for head- and legroom. The wide door apertures and higher ground clearance also make it an easy car to get in and out of.

When it comes to seat comfort, the front seats feel ergonomic with the adjustable lumbar and under-thigh supports. The seats sit low and you sit in them rather than perch on top like some SUV set ups.

The rear seats are comfortable and the back rest supportive, so even adults will be happy on a long journey.

The individual storage is pretty thin up front and the cabin gets messy quickly because of it. You get a shallow shelf as a middle console, glove box and two cupholders but the storage bins in each door are quite big, which is a plus.

The storage in the back seat is much better with two large net map pockets, two cupholders in the fold-down armrest and large drink bottle holders/storage bins in each door.

The boot is a good size at 505L but the sloped roof does mean you can’t position bulkier items at the front. The loading space is level and if you need to, you can adjust the height of the car via the adaptive air suspension.

The back seat has a 40/20/40 split and the boot features a luggage racking system with adjustable anchors, which opens up storage options.   

Amenities is both rows are what you hope for at this price point with three-zone air-conditioning, two USB-C ports in each row and a total of three 12-volt ports, as well. The front also gets a wireless charging pad.

The rear also has reading lights, four directional air vents and its own digital climate control but curiously, the fan control remains manual. The electric sunblinds were a hit for my seven-year old and I like that each door has a control of each blind – perfect for when you’re travelling solo in the back and want to adjust it.

Onto the other technology, the touchscreen multimedia system has haptic feedback, which means it vibrates when you press it - a bit gimmicky for me but the system itself is easy enough to use once you spend some time with it. You also get built-in satellite navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The climate control panel can feel fiddly to use at times but on a whole, the cockpit feels very driver-orientated.

Practicality

With its 2165kg kerb weight and maximum allowable weight of 2885kg, our test vehicle can legally carry up to 720kg.

That should be ample for five adults (even better for kids) and their luggage, of which up to 100kg can be carried on the roof rails using a rack or roof box (both in BMW's accessory range).

Powered upper and lower tailgates provide good access to the luggage area, which is carpeted and equipped with a roll-out privacy screen, load securing hooks, a 12-volt accessory outlet and a first-aid kit stored behind a removable side panel.

The space-saver spare and tools are stored below the hinged load floor, so all luggage must be removed to access them.

Internal luggage space with the rear seat upright is 650 litres (0.65 cubic metres) which expands to 1870 litres (1.87 cubic metres) with the rear seat folded flat.

A useful load-carrying feature when the rear seat’s backrest is upright is a hinged centre section that folds forward and flat to carry long and narrow items.

These can stretch all the way from the tailgate to the dash if need be, which could be handy for carting anything from skis to home hardware purchases (firmly secured, of course).

It’s also rated to tow up to an impressive 3500kg of braked trailer, which matches the class benchmark for one-tonne utes.

However, given that tow-ball download (TBD) is usually around 10 per cent of trailer weight, the X5’s maximum TBD rating of only 140kg could be a challenge if 3500kg towing is required.

Front of cabin storage includes a big bottle-holder and bin in each front door, a glove box and on the right-hand side of the dash a pull-out driver’s bin, both of which are felt-lined.

The centre console, in addition to its wireless phone-charging pad, USB-A port and 12-volt outlet, has two small-bottle/cupholders up front and a large box at the rear, housing a USB-C port and topped by a padded dual 'brochure fold' lid that double as an elbow-rest for driver and front passenger.

Rear seat storage includes a large-bottle holder and bin in each door and pockets on each front seat backrest. The rear of the centre console has two storage nooks for small items in addition to its air-vents, two USB-C ports and a 12-volt outlet. There’s also a handy tablet-mount and USB-C port on each front seat backrest, which is great for long trips.

Folding down the rear seat’s centre armrest reveals two pop-out small-bottle/cupholders. And under its hinged lid is a hidden felt-lined compartment that’s ideal for storing slim screened devices away from prying eyes.

Price and features

There is only one variant available for the Q8 60 TFSI e and it’s priced at $152,500 before on-road costs and optional extras. That positions it towards the higher end of the rival line-up but the starting prices for the BMW and Porsche are $149,900 and $154,600, respectively.

The Q8 e is a well-specified SUV and you get lots of premium features, like a panoramic sunroof, heated and electric front seats, Valcona leather upholstery and high-end haptic feedback technology screens like the 10.1-inch touchscreen multimedia system and the 8.6-inch climate control panel. However, at this price point, I am surprised that you miss out on a ventilation function for the front seats.

Other standard technology highlights include wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, built-in satellite navigation, coloured head-up display, digital instrument panel, three-zone climate control and a Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system with a whopping 17 speakers. Hello, in-car concert!

Adaptive air suspension, HD Matrix LED headlights, keyless entry and start, electric steering wheel adjustments, a handsfree powered tailgate and a bunch of safety features round out the package. 

Our test vehicle is also fitted with the Full Leather package for $8900, which adds Nappa leather trims throughout the car, as well as electric sun blinds on the rear outboard windows. The Waitomo Blue paintwork tacks on an additional $2300, as do the upgraded 22-inch alloy wheels. So, our test model actually swings in at $163,700 before on roads.

Value for money-wise, if you compare only to its rivals, it’s not outrageous but if you compare it to its fuel-based cousins, which are around $15K less, it might be harder to justify. And if you’re looking for an electric alternative, the Q8 e-tron is only a little more expensive.

Price and features

Our test vehicle, to use its full name, is the X5 xDrive 40i M Sport. That breaks down to xDrive (intelligent all-wheel drive) and 40i (3.0L turbo in-line petrol six) with eight-speed automatic transmission.

M Sport denotes a package that's included as standard equipment which contains desirable goodies like enormous multi-piston M Sport brakes/adaptive suspension/aerodynamics, M leather-rimmed steering wheel, high-gloss black roof-rails and more.

All up, the list price is $138,900. However, our example has an optional ‘Enhancement Package’ which for another $6000 adds your choice of selected 22-inch alloy wheels (fitted with 275/35 R22 Continental tyres on ours), a tyre pressure monitoring system, metallic paint ('Skyscraper Grey' on ours), Harman Kardon 16-speaker surround-sound audio and 'Crafted Clarity' glass application (glass-handled shifter).

And this is on top of many standard features including three-zone climate control, automatic two-piece tailgate, digital radio, a head-up driver display, adaptive LED headlights with high beam assist, a panoramic full-length sunroof, wireless Apple/Android integration, 'Verino' quilted synthetic leather upholstery, numerous USB ports/12v outlets and more. However, there’s only a space-saver spare.

Numerous options include self-levelling air suspension, 'Merino' leather upholstery, active seat ventilation and massage functions, thermo-adjustable cupholders, LED-illuminated ‘sky lounge’ panoramic glass sunroof and Bowers & Wilkins premium surround sound to name a few.

Under the bonnet

The Q8 60 TFSI e has a 3.0-litre, V6 turbo-petrol plug-in hybrid powertrain for a combined power output of 340kW and 700Nm of torque. You’ll get a happy tummy sucking sensation if you ever have to put your foot down because it can do a 0-100km/h sprint in just 5.4 seconds.

The Q8 e features an eight-speed automatic transmission and is an all-wheel drive. The switch between the petrol and electric engine components is seamless leading to a pleasant driving experience.

Being a plug-in hybrid, the Q8 e has a 17.9kWh lithium-ion battery that produces a pure electric driving range of 47km WLTP, although I only ever saw a top range of 43km. You will chew through that range quickly.

The Q8 e has a Type 2 charging port but misses out on the fast DC charging component, so you’re stuck with AC charging. Audi says the charging speed is 2.5 hours but you’ll need a 7.2kW wall-box for that. Expect much longer from a wall socket. You also can’t charge larger appliances as it lacks a standard three-pin household plug port.

Under the bonnet

The X5 xDrive40i is powered by BMW’s legendary 3.0-litre DOHC 24-valve in-line six with state-of-the-art technology.

This includes twin-scroll turbocharging, variable valve/camshaft timing and 48-volt mild hybrid technology (delivering up to 9.0kW and 200Nm) using an electric motor integrated with the transmission.

The combined effect is optimised power and throttle response (0-100km/h in 5.4 secs) with minimal fuel consumption and Euro 6d emissions.

It produces 280kW between 5200-6250rpm and 520Nm of torque (this can reach 540Nm with hybrid input) across a remarkably wide and flat peak torque band between 1850-5000rpm, which showcases its flexibility. There’s also auto start-stop and selectable drive modes.

This is paired with BMW’s smooth and sharp-shifting eight-speed torque converter automatic, which combines the best characteristics of a dual-clutch and traditional torque converter transmission.

There’s overdrive on the seventh and eighth gears to optimise fuel economy and the choice of rapid manual-shifting using the steering wheel paddles.

Power reaches its wide tyres through the xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive system, which actively varies the engine’s torque distribution between the front and rear wheels to optimise traction at all times.

BMW’s ‘Efficient Dynamics’ also includes brake energy regeneration with recuperation display and many other standard features to enhance driving safety and efficiency.

Efficiency

The official combined fuel cycle is 2.6L/100km but that’s in a perfect world when the electric battery remains charged at all times. Realistically, my best onboard fuel figure is 4.9L in hybrid mode but when the battery is depleted, my figures hovered around the 9.1L mark.

Overall, not a terrible consumption figure, given how large and powerful the car is but as with most plug-ins, you get the best fuel economy if you charge the battery regularly. For someone who lives regionally and typically does longer trips, it’s not the best combo for me but for an urban dweller, it might be perfect.

The regenerative braking doesn’t feel particularly strong but you do gain percentage when going down a mountain. My average kWh usage sat around 8.7kWh/100km when cruising but hit the mid-to-high 30s when accelerating.

Efficiency

BMW claims combined average (WLTP) fuel consumption of 9.9-8.5L/100km. Our 415km test comprised a mix of suburban and highway driving and when we stopped to refuel the dash display was showing 10.2L/100km which was line-ball with our own 10.6L/100km figure, calculated from fuel bowser and tripmeter readings.

So, based on our figures, you could expect a realistic driving range of around 780km from its 83-litre tank using standard 91-octane petrol.

Driving

The Q8 PHEV has plenty of power and you never feel like you’re tapping into the full scope of what it could do.

There are moments where the acceleration from a full stop can feel a little anaemic in the sense that it doesn’t ‘jump to it’ as quickly as what the 5.4-second 100km/h sprint time would suggest.

That being said, those moments are short lived and the Q8 PHEV has proven to be a fun ride overall.

The steering and nimble footing produce dynamic handling when you’re hitting corners or winding roads. You feel confident tackling terrain like this at speed. Taking it camping also proves it can handle damp grassy campgrounds and the gravel/dirt stuff very well.

The adaptive air suspension makes for a comfortable ride and even though you have those 22-inch wheels, the outside world sounds wonderfully muffled. The engine is near silent most of the time and honestly, a bit too quiet for my liking with a V6 engine on board but that also helps create a Zen-like cabin space.  

At 4986mm long, 2190mm wide and 1705mm high you’d be forgiven for thinking the Q8 e would feel big to drive but it doesn’t at all. At least, not until you come to park it.

It can feel cumbersome to manoeuvre in tight spaces due to its 13.3m turning circle but the ultra-clear 360-degree view camera system helps takes out the guesswork.

The front and rear parking sensors are also great but I downgraded the sensitivity of the collision avoidance detection system because it activates too early, or when there is seemingly nothing behind it to set it off.

Driving

It’s supremely comfortable, with front bucket seats that offer powered-adjustment of height, reach and backrest angle along with side bolsters that can tighten their grip of your upper torso.

There’s also two-way lumbar support, that adjusts not only how far it pushes your spine forward but also allows that pressure point to be raised or lowered.

Combined with its power-adjustable leather-rimmed steering wheel, it would be hard not to find a comfortable driving position.

Eyelines to all mirrors are good and over-shoulder blind-spots are minimal. Front and rear occupants can talk without raised voices thanks to low engine, wind and tyre noise at highway speeds.

As you’d expect, it has high build quality and a tangibly solid feel as though it was machined from a single block of steel, from the satisfying thuds of its closing doors to the absence of shudders or rattles on a variety of roads.

It also has two personalities, which can be switched in an instant. In 'Comfort' mode it will happily cruise around city and suburbs as a mild-mannered family car, fulfilling daily duties like work commutes, school drop-offs and pick-ups, supermarket shopping and the like.

However, flick the drive mode to 'Sport Plus' and you awaken, well, if not ‘the ultimate driving machine’ then something close.

Its optimised drivetrain and handling settings feel more like a sports sedan than a family car, which can turn any winding mountain road into an engaging experience.

It has impressive reserves of cornering grip and braking force, combined with sparkling engine response and fast sequential manual-shifting at your fingertips.

It feels impressively agile, with all-round response that belies its 2.0-tonne-plus kerb weight, backed by a symphony of sounds from its sublime in-line six.

Safety

The Q8 has a lot of standard safety features, but a highlight is the adaptive cruise control with its lane keeping and stop and go functions – it has the right balance of sensitivity and doesn’t slow down dramatically when approaching cars in front.

Other standard features include daytime-running lights, lane-keeping aid, lane departure alert, blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, collision avoidance assistance, rear cross-traffic alert, safe exit warning, intelligent seat-belt reminders, 360-degree camera system, front and rear parking sensors.

The Q8 PHEV variant is untested by ANCAP and thus unrated but its fuel-based cousins all achieved a maximum five-star rating in 2019. The Q8 e has eight airbags, including side chest airbags for both rows but it’s common to only find these on the front.

For any families out there, you have ISOFIX child seat mounts on the rear outboard seats and three top tethers. You may be able to fit three skinny child seats and there is plenty of room for front passengers when a 0-4 rearward facing child seat installed.

Safety

Five-star ANCAP (awarded in 2018) includes front and side airbags for driver and front passenger, plus head airbags for front and rear seats.

The comprehensive 'Driver Assistant Professional' active safety menu includes AEB (city, interurban and vulnerable road user) and a multitude of others.

It also has 'Parking Assist Professional' and for young families there are ISOFIX child seat anchorages on the two outer rear seating positions and top-tethers for all three.

Ownership

The Q8 e comes with a five-year/unlimited km warranty, which is a normal term for the class.

There is a five-year or up to 75,000km servicing plan which costs $3570 or an average of $714 per service, which is reasonable for the class.

Servicing intervals are good at every 12 months of 15,000km, whichever occurs first.

Ownership

BMW covers the X5 with a five year/unlimited km warranty and offers several service plans to suit different budgets and requirements.

For example, the 'Service Inclusive Basic' package covers all scheduled services over five years/80,000km for a total of $3450, or an average of $690 per year.

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