Compare the2026 Acura RDXVS 2025 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 RDX 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.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The RDX offers optional Low Speed Autonomous Emergency Braking 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.

Both the RDX 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, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Acura RDX is safer than the Audi Q8 e-tron Sportback:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Acura RDX is safer than the Audi Q8 e-tron Sportback:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Acura’s powertrain warranty covers the RDX 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 RDX’s reliability 34 points higher than the Q8 e-tron Sportback.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the RDX first among compact premium suvs in their 2025 Initial Quality Study. The Q8 e-tron Sportback isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Acura vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 71 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Acura higher than Audi.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Acura vehicles are more reliable than Audi With 24 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Acura higher than Audi.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Acura vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Acura 2 places higher in reliability than Audi.

The RDX has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Q8 e-tron Sportback doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For better maneuverability, the RDX’s turning circle is 1.1 feet tighter than the Q8 e-tron Sportback’s (38.9 feet vs. 40 feet).

The Acura RDX may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1750 to 1800 pounds less than the Audi Q8 e-tron Sportback.

The RDX is 6.1 inches shorter than the Q8 e-tron Sportback, making the RDX easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The RDX 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 RDX has 1.5 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more front legroom, 1.1 inches more front shoulder room and .4 inches more rear headroom than the Q8 e-tron Sportback.

The RDX has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Q8 e-tron Sportback with its rear seat up (31.1 vs. 27.2 cubic feet). The RDX has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Q8 e-tron Sportback with its rear seat folded (79.8 vs. 54.5 cubic feet).

The RDX’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Q8 e-tron Sportback’s (1500 vs. 0 pounds).

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Acura service is better than Audi. J.D. Power ranks Acura 6th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 15% lower rating, Audi is ranked 18th.

The RDX’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 improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the RDX has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Q8 e-tron Sportback only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The Acura RDX has won recognition from these important consumer publications:

The Acura RDX outsold the Audi Q8 e-tron by almost five to one during 2024.