Verdict
The Audi Q8 e-tron Sportback costs RM4,190 more at RM474,990, but its 114 kWh battery, 600 km EV range and RM545 annual road tax make the stronger case for a Malaysian buyer able to charge at home or work. Its two motors produce 402 hp and 664 Nm, although the BMW X5 is still 0.2 seconds quicker to 100 km/h at 5.4 seconds. The X5 answers with a larger 650-litre boot, panoramic sunroof and more cabin tech, but its annual road tax is RM1,637.
Q8 e-tron Sportback
Pick the Audi Q8 e-tron Sportback if you can use its 600 km electric range and 22 kW AC or 170 kW DC charging, and want RM1,092 lower annual road tax.
X5
Pick the BMW X5 if you need the 650-litre boot, 40:20:40 rear seats, panoramic sliding sunroof and a slightly quicker 5.4-second century sprint.
Key differences
- Price: Audi Q8 e-tron Sportback RM474,990; BMW X5 RM470,800.
- Road tax per year: Audi RM545; BMW RM1,637.
- Powertrain: Audi has two electric motors with 402 hp and 664 Nm; BMW has a 2,998 cc petrol hybrid/REV powertrain with 308 hp and 540 Nm.
- 0-100 km/h: Audi 5.6 seconds; BMW 5.4 seconds.
- Boot space: Audi 528 litres; BMW 650 litres.
- Dimensions: Audi is 4,915 mm long and 1,937 mm wide; BMW is 4,935 mm long and 2,004 mm wide.
Q8 e-tron Sportback
- 114 kWh battery with a quoted 600 km EV range.
- 22 kW AC and 170 kW DC charging capability.
- RM545 annual road tax and an eight-year/160,000 km battery warranty.
- 528-litre boot is 122 litres smaller than the BMW's.
- At 5.6 seconds, it is 0.2 seconds slower from 0-100 km/h.
- No panoramic sunroof, head-up display or auto parking.
X5
- 650-litre boot and 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats.
- 5.4-second 0-100 km/h time and 250 km/h top speed.
- Panoramic sliding sunroof, head-up display and 17-speaker 525W Harman Kardon audio.
- RM1,637 annual road tax is RM1,092 higher than the Audi's.
- It costs RM4,190 less, but does not provide the Audi's 600 km EV range or 22 kW AC/170 kW DC charging.
- No front-passenger ISOFIX mounting point; the Audi has ISOFIX on the front passenger seat and two outer rear seats.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM474,990 | RM470,800✓ |
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Segment | C-Segment | Executive |
| Assembly | CBU | CKD |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM545✓ | RM1,637 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 400V architecture | 24-valve DOHC, Turbochaged with Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing and Lift |
| Capacity | — | 2,998 cc |
| Horsepower | — | 308 hp |
| Torque | — | 540 Nm |
| Fuel | Electric | Petrol Hybrid/REV |
| Bore | — | 82 mm |
| Compression Ratio | — | 11 |
| Number of Motors | 2 | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | 402 hp | — |
| Motor Torque | 664 Nm | — |
| Battery Capacity | 114 kWh | — |
| EV Range | 600 km | — |
| Charging Rate (AC) | 22 kW | — |
| Charging Rate (DC) | 170 kW | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Single Ratio Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 2-speed automatic transmission | Eight-speed Steptronic |
| Gears | 2 | 8 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Audi AG | ZF |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 5.6 seconds | 5.4 seconds✓ |
| Top Speed | — | 250 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,915 mm | 4,935 mm |
| Width | 1,937 mm | 2,004 mm |
| Height | 1,619 mm | 1,765 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,928 mm | 2,975 mm |
| Weight | — | 2,240 kg |
| Fuel Tank | — | 83 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 528 litres | 650 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 255/45R21 | 275/40R21 |
| Rear Tyre | 255/45R21 | 315/35R21 |
| Spare Tyre | Space Saver | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit |
| Factory Tyres | Bridgestone Alenza 001 | Continental PremiumContact 6 SSR Run-flats |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Germany (CBU) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | Multi-link with Air Suspension | Double Wishbones with Air Suspension |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link with Air Suspension | Multi-link with Air Suspension |
| Front Wheels | 21" Aero Alloy Wheels | 21" Style 915M Light Alloy Wheels |
| Rear Wheels | 21" Aero Alloy Wheels | 21" Style 915M Light Alloy Wheels |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | — | Air Suspension with Adaptive Dampers |
| Crash Safety Ratings | ||
| EuroNCAP | 5 stars | — |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain | Driver and Passenger, Driver Knee, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Electric for rear doors | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on front passenger seat and two outer rear passenger seats | Available for 2 Outer Rear Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes, Audi pre sense front | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | For All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projectors with Auto High Beam | Adaptive LED headlights with Auto High Beam |
| Taillamps | Full LED with Dynamic Light Design and Sequential Indicators | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Memory Function | Driver and Passenger Powered Seats |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split Fold | 40:20:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Sunroof | — | Panoramic Sliding Sunroof |
| Power Sockets | 1x 12V Front, 1x front wireless charger, 2x USB-C rear, 1x 12V socket rear | 1 Front, 1 USB-A, 1 USB-C Front, 4 USB-C Rear |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | Manual Rear Door Window Shades | Powered Sunroof Shade, Manual Rear Window Shades |
| Audio | 10.1" MMI Navigation plus with MMI touch, Audi connect, Audi smartphone interface and Audi sound system | 14.9" Touchscreen BMW Live Cockpit Professional with Voice Control, Wireless Apple CarPlay, Wireless Android Auto and 17-speaker Harman Kardon Sound System (525W) |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up & Down with Anti-pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button Start | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | — | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | — | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activated | Contactless Opening, Powered Boot |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor |
| Auto Parking | — | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | — | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | — | Unlimited |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 2 years | 2 years |
| Warranty Extended | — | 5 years |
| Warranty Notes | 8-year/160,000 km Battery Warranty | — |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
Used Q8 e-tron Sportback & X5 for sale
Q8 e-tron Sportback vs X5 FAQ
Is the Audi Q8 e-tron Sportback or BMW X5 better?
The Audi suits drivers with dependable charging, thanks to its 600 km EV range and RM545 road tax. Choose the BMW if carrying capacity and equipment matter more: it has a 650-litre boot, sunroof, head-up display and auto parking.
What is the price difference?
The Audi Q8 e-tron Sportback is RM474,990 and the BMW X5 is RM470,800, so the Audi costs RM4,190 more.
Which is cheaper to tax annually?
The Audi Q8 e-tron Sportback costs RM545 a year in road tax, versus RM1,637 for the BMW X5. The Audi saves RM1,092 annually.