Compare the2025 Mazda CX-70VS 2025 Audi Q8

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 CX-70 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Q8 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Mazda CX-70 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Q8 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

With its standard Smart Brake Support, the Mazda CX-70 is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Audi Q8, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

Both the CX-70 and the Q8 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, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the CX-70 is much safer than the Q8:

The Mazda CX-70 has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Q8 is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.

Mazda’s powertrain warranty covers the CX-70 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Audi covers the Q8. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Q8 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 77 percent more Mazda dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the CX-70’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 10 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mazda higher than Audi.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda above average in long-term dependability. With 5 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’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda 1 place higher in reliability than Audi.

The CX-70 Turbo S’ standard 3.3 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 5 more horsepower (340 vs. 335) than the Q8’s 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the CX-70 PHEV running on electricity gets better mileage than the Q8 (53 city/61 hwy MPGe vs. 17 city/23 hwy).

On the EPA test cycle the CX-70 running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Q8:

The CX-70 PHEV can travel with zero emissions for 26 miles. The Q8 can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Mazda CX-70 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended on CX-70 PHEV for maximum performance). The Q8 requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mazda CX-70 higher (5 to 6 out of 10) than the Audi Q8 (4). This means the CX-70 produces up to 12.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Q8 every 15,000 miles.

The CX-70 stops much shorter than the Q8:

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-70’s wheelbase is 4.9 inches longer than on the Q8 (122.8 inches vs. 117.9 inches).

For better maneuverability, the CX-70’s turning circle is 5.5 feet tighter than the Q8’s (38.1 feet vs. 43.6 feet).

For greater off-road capability the CX-70 has a 2.2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Q8 (8 vs. 5.8 inches), allowing the CX-70 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The CX-70 Turbo S/PHEV’s minimum ground clearance is 2.3 inches higher than on the Q8 (8.1 vs. 5.8 inches).

The CX-70 has 2.6 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more front legroom and 1.2 inches more rear headroom than the Q8.

The CX-70 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Q8 with its rear seat up (39.6 vs. 30.5 cubic feet). The CX-70 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Q8 with its rear seat folded (75.3 vs. 60.7 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the CX-70 easier. The CX-70’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 31.2 inches, while the Q8’s liftover is 33.7 inches.

The CX-70’s cargo area is larger than the Q8’s in almost every dimension:

Pressing a button automatically lowers the CX-70’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Q8 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Standard Trailer Stability Assist on the CX-70 uses the Dynamic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Q8 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the CX-70 has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Q8 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The Q8’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The CX-70 Turbo S’ standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mazda CX-70 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Q8.

The CX-70 Premium Plus has a 115-volt a/c outlet in the cargo area, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Q8 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Mazda CX-70 outsold the Audi Q8/SQ8/RS Q8 by 10% during 2024.