Compare the2024 Lexus RZVS 2024 Audi Q8 e-tron Sportback

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

With its standard Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, the Lexus RZ is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Audi Q8 e-tron Sportback, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The RZ has a standard Parking Support Brake that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Q8 e-tron Sportback doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The RZ’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 Sportback doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the RZ and the Q8 e-tron Sportback have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, 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 and rear cross-path warning.

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the RZ 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Audi covers the Q8 e-tron Sportback. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Q8 e-tron Sportback ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the RZ’s reliability 20 points higher than the Q8 e-tron Sportback.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in initial quality. With 50 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in long-term dependability. With 33 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Audi is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus first in overall reliability. Audi is ranked 19th.

As tested in Motor Trend the RZ 450e electric motors is faster than the Audi Q8 e-tron Sportback (base engine):

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

For better maneuverability, the RZ’s turning circle is 3.2 feet tighter than the Q8 e-tron Sportback’s (36.8 feet vs. 40 feet).

The Lexus RZ may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1200 to 1500 pounds less than the Audi Q8 e-tron Sportback.

The RZ is 4.3 inches shorter than the Q8 e-tron Sportback, making the RZ easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The RZ uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Q8 e-tron Sportback doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The RZ has .5 inches more front headroom, 1.3 inches more front legroom and .8 inches more rear headroom than the Q8 e-tron Sportback.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the RZ’s rear seats recline. The Q8 e-tron Sportback’s rear seats don’t recline.

The RZ has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Q8 e-tron Sportback with its rear seat up (34.9 vs. 27.2 cubic feet). The RZ has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Q8 e-tron Sportback with its rear seat folded (55.6 vs. 54.5 cubic feet).

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Audi. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With a 32% lower rating, Audi is ranked 8th.

The RZ’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 Sportback’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Lexus RZ has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Q8 e-tron Sportback Premium Plus/Prestige offers wireless charging.

The RZ has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Q8 e-tron Sportback doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The RZ’s optional Advanced Park can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Q8 e-tron Sportback Prestige/Launch Assist’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

The RZ is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Q8 e-tron Sportback doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Lexus RZ, based on reliability, safety and performance.