The Audi Q8 shares almost all of its structure with the Q7 and has the same safety equipment fitted as standard.  Additional tests have been done where performance may differ slightly between the two vehicles but this rating for the Q8 makes use of many tests done on the Q7, tested earlier this year.

The passenger compartment remained stable in the frontal offset test. Dummy readings indicated good protection of the knees and femurs of both the driver and passenger. Audi showed that a similar level of protection would be provided to occupants of different sizes and to those sitting in different positions. Protection of the chest was marginal for both driver and passenger. In the full-width rigid barrier test, chest protection was again marginal for the rear passenger but other critical body areas were well or adequately protected, for both occupants. In both the side barrier test and the pole impact, protection of all critical body areas was good and the car scored maximum points in these tests. Tests on the front seats and head restraints demonstrated good protection against whiplash injuries in the event of a rear-end collision. A geometric assessment of the front seats also indicated good whiplash protection. The standard-fit autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system performed well in tests of its functionality against other vehicles at the low speeds, typical of city driving, at which many whiplash injuries occur, with collisions avoided in almost all test scenarios.

In both the frontal offset and side barrier tests, protection of both the 6 and 10-year dummies was good for all critical body areas, and the car scored maximum points in this part of the assessment. The front passenger airbag can be disabled to allow a rearward-facing child restraint to be used in that seating position. Clear information is provided to the driver regarding the status of the airbag and the system was rewarded. All restraint types for which the Q8 is designed could be properly installed and accommodated in the car.

Unlike the Q7, the Q8 does not have an 'active', deployable bonnet, so tests were repeated for the Q8. The bonnet provided predominantly good or adequate protection to the head of a struck pedestrian, with areas of poorer performance only at the bonnet edges.  The bumper provided good or adequate protection to pedestrians' legs at all test locations. Protection of the pelvis was mixed, with some areas well and others poorly. The AEB system of the Q7 can detect vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists, as well as other vehicles. In tests of its response to such road users, the system performed well with collisions avoided or mitigated in most test scenarios.

The Q8 has a seatbelt reminder system for all seats. The AEB system performed well in tests of its response to other vehicles at highway speeds. The lane support system helps to avoid inadvertent drifting out of lane by warning the driver and applying a gentle steering correction. The system also intervenes in some other more critical situations. A driver-set speed limiter is available as standard equipment but the speed-limit recognition system is an option on the Q8.