Audi Q8 e-tron vs BMW iX

The Audi Q8 e-tron starts from $140,600 before on-road costs, while the BMW iX opens at $142,900. That makes the Audi Q8 e-tron the more affordable entry point by $2,300.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $154,660 and $157,190 respectively.

Both models qualify for Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) exemption, which is a significant advantage for salary-sacrificed novated leases. Depending on your tax bracket, this can save $5,000-$15,000+ per year compared to an equivalent ICE vehicle.

Both the Audi Q8 e-tron and BMW iX hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 91% for the Audi Q8 e-tron and 91% for the BMW iX.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. Both models are evenly matched with 8 out of 10 key ADAS systems.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 8 in the Audi Q8 e-tron and 6 in the BMW iX.

The Audi Q8 e-tron features a 10.1-inch touchscreen, while the BMW iX gets a 14.9-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Audi Q8 e-tron stands out with Bang & Olufsen audio that you will not find on the BMW iX. The BMW iX counters with harman/kardon audio. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The Audi Q8 e-tron uses a Electric producing 250kW and 664Nm of torque, sent through a single speed to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 6 seconds.

The BMW iX responds with a Electric making 300kW and 700Nm, paired to a auto driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 4.6 seconds.

The BMW iX has the clear power advantage at 300kW vs 250kW. In the real-world sprint, the BMW iX is 1.4s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

Battery: 95kWh (Audi Q8 e-tron) vs 94.8kWh (BMW iX), giving WLTP ranges of 491km and 578km. DC fast charging peaks at 170kW (Audi Q8 e-tron) vs 200kW (BMW iX).

The Audi Q8 e-tron measures 4,915mm long on a 2,928mm wheelbase, 38mm shorter than the BMW iX at 4,953mm (3,000mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the BMW iX generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 569L in the Audi Q8 e-tron and 500L in the BMW iX, giving the Audi Q8 e-tron a 69L advantage.

For towing, the BMW iX leads with a 2,500kg braked capacity vs 1,800kg. That 700kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Running cost data is not yet available for both models. We will update when figures are confirmed.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (Audi Q8 e-tron) vs 5 years / 999,999km (BMW iX). Both match on warranty length.