The Range Rover Sport Autobiography/First Edition has active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The Q8 doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.
The front and rear suspension of the Range Rover Sport uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the Q8, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.
The Range Rover Sport Autobiography/First Edition offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Audi doesn’t offer an active suspension on the Q8.
The Range Rover Sport has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Range Rover Sport’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The Q8 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.
For better maneuverability, the Range Rover Sport w/Rear Wheel Steering’s turning circle is 7.7 feet tighter than the Q8’s (35.9 feet vs. 43.6 feet). The Range Rover Sport’s turning circle is 2.5 feet tighter than the Q8’s (41.1 feet vs. 43.6 feet).
For greater off-road capability the Range Rover Sport SV has a 4 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Q8 (9.8 vs. 5.8 inches), allowing the Range Rover Sport to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Range Rover Sport’s minimum ground clearance is 5.2 inches higher than on the Q8 (11 vs. 5.8 inches).