2025 Audi Q8 vs. Land Rover Defender Exterior Design

The 2025 Audi Q8 and 2025 Land Rover Defender each boast purposeful designs that set them apart. Find LED exterior lighting on either SUV, including daytime running lights. Additionally, roof rails are available on either model for enhanced functionality on the go. When you want to let fresh air into the cabin, the Audi Q8 offers a panoramic power sunroof.

Notable exterior differences include:

• Styling — One major element that sets the Audi Q8 and Land Rover Defender apart is their distinct exterior styling. The Q8 boasts an athletic body with a sloping roofline and a bold Singleframe® grille design, perfect for a head-turning entrance while enjoying the city’s splendors. The Defender showcases a geometric silhouette with practical, adventure-ready elements, making it ideal for more rugged travel.
• Lighting — Sleek, Matrix-design LED headlights, signature daytime running lights, and LED taillights with dynamic turn signals give the Audi Q8 state-of-the-art flair. The Defender sports iconic circular LED lighting, along with unique Alpine lights for an inspiring aesthetic.

2025 Audi Q8 vs. Land Rover Defender Interior Design & Technology

Step into a realm of exquisite design featuring luxurious materials and sophisticated detailing in the 2025 Audi Q8 and 2025 Land Rover Defender. Enjoy exceptional comfort with shared available features like leather seat upholstery, climate-controlled front seats, and heated rear seats. Both models also offer a heated steering wheel, so your hands can stay warm even in the coldest months.

The 2025 Q8 and 2025 Defender feature a blend of cutting-edge technology that enhances ease and connectivity, ensuring confidence on every journey. Utilize a stunning 12.3-inch interactive driver display on either model to access vital driving information. Additionally, an available head-up display projects trip details onto either model’s windshield for maintained focus and easy viewing. When you need to stay charged and in touch, the Q8 and Defender offer a convenient wireless charger. You can also access your favorite apps through Apple CarPlay® and Google™ Android Auto™ integration, but only the Audi Q8 offers wireless smartphone pairing. 

For a more in-depth look at what awaits inside the Audi Q8, visit our Q8 interior overview.

Notable interior differences include:

• Seat Materials — Sink into supple leather or Valcona/cricket leather seat upholstery, depending on your selected Audi Q8 trim. The Land Rover Defender offers a wide selection of seat materials across its lineup, including Resist and Resolve, Windsor leather, Kvadrat™, Ultrafabric™, and semi-aniline leather.
• Comfort and Convenience — Passenger comfort is a priority in the Audi Q8 with exclusive features like massaging front seats and power rear side window sunshades. Both models offer three-zone automatic climate control, but only the Q8 offers controls for a fourth zone. When taking your adventures far and wide, the Defender exclusively offers a front center console refrigerator compartment to keep food and beverages fresh.
• Infotainment and Information Displays — Each model delivers a state-of-the-art infotainment system designed to enhance engagement on the go. The Defender is equipped with a Pivi Pro infotainment system with an 11.4-inch touchscreen. The Q8 offers a cutting-edge MMI® touch response interface with a lower secondary touchscreen.
• Branded Audio — Enhance your drives with a 17- or 23-speaker Bang & Olufsen® 3D Premium Sound system in the 2025 Audi Q8 or a Meridian™ surround sound system in the Defender. The latter model also offers high-tech SUBPAC™ Body and Soul Seat (BASS) front seat technology for an immersive audio experience.

2025 Audi Q8 vs. Land Rover Defender Engine Specs & Fuel Economy

No matter where your escapades take you, the 2025 Audi Q8 and 2025 Land Rover Defender are crafted to deliver impressive power and precision. The Q8 comes standard with a powerful 335-horsepower 55 TFSI® 3.0L turbocharged six-cylinder engine, combined with an eight-speed Tiptronic® automatic transmission. It features advanced quattro® all-wheel drive (AWD) capabilities and an adaptive damping suspension, offering an exhilarating driving experience with quick acceleration and precise control. Additionally, the Audi Q8 offers a comfort adaptive air suspension for a smooth ride tailored to your performance needs.

The 2025 Defender delivers six robust engine options across its versatile lineup. Each engine is matched with an eight-speed automatic transmission and an all-wheel drive (AWD) system. With cutting-edge off-road features like Terrain Response®, electronic air suspension, and a two-speed transfer case, the Defender makes easy work of tackling muddy or sandy terrains.

For more details about the Audi Q8 powertrain and capabilities, visit our comprehensive Q8 engine overview.

See the accompanying chart for a comparison of engine specifications.

2025 Audi Q8 vs. Land Rover Defender Size & Cargo Space

The 2025 Audi Q8 and the 2025 Land Rover Defender are both crafted with ample space and comfort for all who enter. Both base models offer two rows of seating for up to five passengers, and the Defender offers the ability to expand traveler capacity throughout its trim lineup. When looking at standard cargo carrying capabilities for a range of items, the Audi Q8 wins out at 60.7 cubic feet of maximum cargo space compared to 58.3 cubic feet in the Defender 90 model. The Defender 110 offers two- and three-row configurations with up to 78.8 cubic feet of cargo space, and the Defender 130 model comes standard with three-row seating with a maximum cargo capacity of 89 cubic feet.

2025 Audi Q8

2025 Audi Q8 vs. Land Rover Defender Safety Options & Features

Elevate every journey with exceptional peace of mind in the 2025 Audi Q8 and 2025 Land Rover Defender. Both models offer an innovative suite of safety and driver assistance features designed to optimize focus, confidence, and control on the road, such as traffic sign recognition, adaptive cruise control, and lane management. Additionally, both models come standard with a rearview camera and offer an enhanced surround view camera as an upgrade. Exclusively on the Audi Q8, you can find features like an Audi pre sense® system, intersection assist, and a night vision camera. The Defender takes rugged adventures to new heights with available wade sensing and advanced tow assist.