Compare the2025 Audi SQ8VS 2025 Lexus GX

The SQ8’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The GX doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the SQ8 and GX have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The SQ8 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The GX’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Audi SQ8 achieved a “Acceptable” rating - the second highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Lexus GX has not been tested.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The SQ8 has Car-to-X Services, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The GX doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the SQ8 Prestige helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The GX doesn’t offer a night vision system.

For better protection of the passenger compartment, the SQ8 uses safety cell construction with a three-dimensional high-strength frame that surrounds the passenger compartment. It provides extra impact protection and a sturdy mounting location for door hardware and side impact beams. The GX uses a body-on-frame design, which has no frame members above the floor of the vehicle.

Both the SQ8 and the GX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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 and driver alert monitors.

The SQ8’s corrosion warranty is 6 years longer than the GX’s (12 vs. 6 years).

There are over 25 percent more Audi dealers than there are Lexus dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the SQ8’s warranty.

The SQ8’s 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 151 more horsepower (500 vs. 349) and 89 lbs.-ft. more torque (568 vs. 479) than the GX’s 3.4 turbo V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Audi SQ8 is faster than the Lexus GX:

Regenerative brakes improve the SQ8’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The GX doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the SQ8’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The GX doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The SQ8 has 1.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the GX (22.5 vs. 21.1 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the SQ8’s brake rotors are larger than those on the GX:

The SQ8 stops shorter than the GX:

For better traction, the SQ8 has larger tires than the GX (285/40R22 vs. 265/55R20).

The SQ8’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the GX Overtrail’s standard 70 series tires. The SQ8’s optional tires have a lower 35 series profile than the GX’s optional 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the SQ8 has standard 22-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the GX Overtrail. The SQ8’s optional 23-inch wheels are larger than the 22-inch wheels optional on the GX.

The front and rear suspension of the SQ8 uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the GX, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The SQ8 offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Lexus doesn’t offer an active suspension on the GX.

The SQ8 has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The SQ8’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The GX doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the SQ8’s wheelbase is 5.7 inches longer than on the GX (117.9 inches vs. 112.2 inches).

The SQ8 Prestige handles at .92 G’s, while the GX Overtrail+ pulls only .71 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The SQ8 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 4.9 seconds quicker than the GX Luxury+ (24 seconds @ .82 average G’s vs. 28.9 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

The Audi SQ8 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 to 500 pounds less than the Lexus GX.

The SQ8 is 8.2 inches shorter in height than the GX, making the SQ8 much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

Unibody construction lowers the SQ8’s center of gravity significantly without reducing ground clearance. This contributes to better on the road handling and better off-road performance and stability. In addition, unibody construction makes the chassis stiffer, improving handling and reducing squeaks and rattles. The GX doesn’t use unibody construction, but a body-on-frame design.

The design of the Audi SQ8 amounts to more than styling. The SQ8 has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .37 Cd. That is lower than the GX (.399). A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the SQ8 get better fuel mileage.

The SQ8 has a much larger cargo volume than the GX with its rear seat up (30.5 vs. 10.3 cubic feet).

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the GX, the SQ8 Prestige has a passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The SQ8’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. An easy entry system costs extra on the GX.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the SQ8 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The GX doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

Laser headlights, optional on the SQ8, produce their light by firing blue lasers through phosphorus, a process that uses one-half the power of the GX’s LED headlights. Laser headlights can have double the range of LEDs with a much smaller surface area.

A manual rear sunshade and power rear side window sunshades are optional in the SQ8 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The GX doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

The SQ8 has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the GX.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Audi SQ8 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the GX.

The SQ8 Prestige’s Park Assist Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Park Assist Plus will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The GX doesn’t offer an automated parking system.