Audi Q8 e-tron vs BMW X5
A detailed look at how two of Australia's most popular SUVs compare on price, running costs, safety, and everyday livability.
Audi Q8 e-tron scores higher, 71 vs 68
Prices are RRP before on-road costs unless stated otherwise. Always confirm with the manufacturer or dealer before purchasing.
Data checked: specs 28 Aug 2026, price 24 Jun 2026
BMW X5
26 of 27 standard · no option data · 1 no dataFrom
$137,600
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Diesel
- Engine
- Diesel
- Power
- 219kW
- Economy
- 7.8 L/100kmWLTP test cycle, not directly comparable with ADR 81/02 figures
- Safety
- No data
- Boot (seats up)
- 650L
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
$140,600RRP
- cannot be matched: Matrix LED Headlights, Premium Audio, Ventilated Front Seats and 1 more not offered
$137,600RRP
- with the Audi Q8 e-tron's standard kit: $137,600 (nothing to add)
Printed option prices only. A pack is counted once and makes the figure a floor when it carries no printed price. Nothing is inferred from the other car.
Price and cost per week
Audi Q8 e-tron 50 e-tron SUV
$140,600
RRP when new; no longer sold new in Australia
No published drive-away price on our record.
BMW X5 xDrive30d
$137,600
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 24 June 2026
No published drive-away price on our record.
About $613 a week in repayments ($137,600 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
The BMW X5 starts $3,000 lower on RRP.
On-road costs (stamp duty, registration, CTP and dealer delivery) depend on your state and the dealer; ask for a written drive-away price before you sign.
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Ways to buy
For the BMW X5.
Finance
≈$613/wk(≈$2,657/mo)
Estimate on the BMW X5 at $137,600 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Paid from pre-tax salary with the running costs inside the lease. What it comes to depends on your salary and the term.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the BMW X5Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Safety Rundown
We hold no ANCAP data for the BMW X5. With no pair of ratings to compare, the active-safety features in the spec table above are the fairer comparison.
Driver assistance, as the manufacturer lists it
Driver assistance, system by system. We can confirm 10 of 10 key systems on the Audi Q8 e-tron and 7 on the BMW X5.
Swipe across. Tap a feature to see what it does and each car's source.
StandardOptional: printed price, +pack or NCO (no-cost)No, not offeredNo dataCounts beside each car use the same colours; ? is no option data.
From each manufacturer's Australian equipment list. No data means that car's document does not say. The drawings are our own illustrations of how each kind of system works.
Recalls on our record
Audi Q8 e-tron
- REC-006599 · published 28 Apr 2026Due to a manufacturing defect, the mounting bolts connecting the brake pedal rod and the brake servo may not have been tightened to the sufficient torque and could become loose.Year range on the notice: 2018 - 2024
BMW X5
- REC-006553 · published 4 Mar 2026Due to a manufacturing defect, the Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) cooler may develop an internal coolant leak.Year range on the notice: 2010 - 2022
- REC-006539 · published 17 Feb 2026Due to a manufacturing defect, the starter motor solenoid switch can experience increased wear that could cause an internal short circuit.Year range on the notice: 2020 - 2023
- REC-006090 · published 2 Oct 2024Due to a manufacturing defect, a component of the brake booster system may have been incorrectly welded and could break.Year range on the notice: 2022 - 2024
- 8 more on the model page.
A recall covers the builds its notice lists, not every car of a model. Check your VIN at vehiclerecalls.gov.au.
Charging times
How long each takes to charge, from a household power point to a DC fast charger, estimated from battery size and the car's own maximum charge rates.
How long to charge
95kWh usablePublic DC
50kW charger · 0–80%
Ultra-rapid DC
up to 170kW · 0–80%
Estimates from usable battery size and the car's max charge rates (22kW AC, 170kW DC). Real times vary with temperature, starting charge, charger output and the charging curve.
Feature Showdown
The Audi Q8 e-tron features a 10.1-inch touchscreen, while the BMW X5 gets a 14.9-inch display and 12.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.
The Audi Q8 e-tron stands out with Bang & Olufsen audio — features our data doesn't list for the BMW X5. The BMW X5 counters with panoramic roof, ventilated seats and Harman Kardon audio. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.
Interior trim differs: the Audi Q8 e-tron gets leather upholstery while the BMW X5 offers sensatec synthetic leather. Climate control is 4-zone in the Audi Q8 e-tron and 2-zone in the BMW X5.
Equipment few rivals have, on either carShowHide
Drivetrain
The Audi Q8 e-tron uses a Electric producing 250kW and 664Nm of torque, sent through a two-stage planetary gearbox with single gear to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 7 seconds.
The BMW X5 responds with a Diesel making 219kW and 670Nm, paired to a auto driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 6.1 seconds.
The Audi Q8 e-tron has the clear power advantage at 250kW vs 219kW. In the 0-100 sprint (manufacturer-claimed), the BMW X5 is 0.9s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Space & Comfort
The Audi Q8 e-tron measures 4,915mm long on a 2,928mm wheelbase, 20mm shorter than the BMW X5 at 4,935mm (2,975mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the BMW X5 generally means more rear legroom.
Boot space is 569L in the Audi Q8 e-tron and 650L in the BMW X5, giving the BMW X5 a 81L advantage.
For towing, the BMW X5 leads with a 3,500kg braked capacity vs 1,800kg. That 1,700kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.
Neither U-turns in one sweep on a 7 m local street (both need a three-point turn); the Audi Q8 e-tron's turning circle is 0.2 m tighter, 12.5 m against 12.7 m kerb to kerb. The street estimate is indicative, worked from the published turning circles.
Cost to own
We do not hold a like-for-like fuel or energy figure for both cars, so we do not cost them against each other.
Warranty: 5 years / Unlimited (Audi Q8 e-tron) and 5 years / Unlimited (BMW X5).
Where each one leads
The Audi Q8 e-tron: more power (250kW against 219kW).
The BMW X5: the lower starting price ($137,600 against $140,600), the bigger boot with the seats up (650L against 569L) and the higher braked towing limit (3,500kg against 1,800kg).
The Verdict
Audi Q8 e-tron scores higher, 71 vs 68
The Audi Q8 e-tron scores 71 to the BMW X5's 68 on the CarSorted Score, and leads 1 of the 5 spec rows that separate them. The biggest gaps: safety (Audi Q8 e-tron ahead by 27 points), practicality (BMW X5 ahead by 18 points), technology (BMW X5 ahead by 12 points). Boot space with the seats up: 569L in the Audi Q8 e-tron, 650L in the BMW X5.
Ways to buy
For the BMW X5.
Finance
≈$613/wk(≈$2,657/mo)
Estimate on the BMW X5 at $137,600 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Paid from pre-tax salary with the running costs inside the lease. What it comes to depends on your salary and the term.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the BMW X5Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Common questions
Which is cheapest, Audi Q8 e-tron and BMW X5?
The BMW X5 is the cheapest at $137,600 before on-road costs. That undercuts the Audi Q8 e-tron by $3,000.
What are the ANCAP safety ratings?
Audi Q8 e-tron holds a 5-star ANCAP rating (tested 2019). We hold no ANCAP data for BMW X5, so there is nothing to compare on crash performance. Compare the active-safety features above instead.
Which has the most boot space?
The BMW X5 has the largest boot at 650L with the seats up.
Which can tow the most?
The BMW X5 has the highest braked towing capacity at 3,500kg.
Which is the most powerful?
The Audi Q8 e-tron makes the most power at 250kW. The BMW X5 is quickest to 100km/h in 6.1s.
Track the Audi Q8 e-tron & BMW X5
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How to read this page. Prices, specifications, ANCAP ratings, warranty, the CarSorted Score and the verdict come from our records for the grades shown, sourced from the manufacturers' Australian documents, and change when those records change; the date each was last checked is printed under the headline. Prices are recommended retail prices before on-road costs unless marked drive-away. A plug-in hybrid's fuel figure is labelled with its basis: with a full battery (the certified combined figure) or as a hybrid (battery depleted). Charging and running costs are estimates on the stated assumptions. Always confirm price and specification with the manufacturer or dealer before you buy. CarSorted does not accept payment for recommendations.
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