If you want a big, luxurious, and premium SUV, the Germans have long cornered the market. Audi’s Q8 is undoubtedly a looker, but does it deliver on the hype? We spent a week behind the wheel to find out if this German giant is more than just a pretty face.
While the high-powered Audi SQ8 and RSQ8 models are the variants that will probably get most car enthusiasts excited, there are plenty of other versions available, including the all-electric e-tron in standard SUV and Sportback guises. Then we have the version that we tested, dubbed the Q8 60 TFSI e quattro S line. It has a convoluted name, and there’s plenty of trickery going on beneath the skin too, as it is a plug-in hybrid.
Prices in Australia start AU$148,375 (about US$100,000 at current exchange rates) excluding on-road fees. Our test car featured optional Waitomo Blue Metallic paint for AU$2,000 (~US$1,350), 22-inch wheels costing AU$2,300 (~US$1,548), and the AU$8,900 (~US$6,000) full leather package.
Quick Facts
Sleek and well-appointed
As I’m sure many readers will agree, the Q8 is quite a good-looking SUV. Often viewed as a cut-price Lamborghini Urus due to their shared components, the Q8 strikes a perfect balance of aggression with its sharp lines while remaining friendly and approachable. The same cannot be said about some SUVs from one of its rivals, starting with a B and ending with a W.
The cabin is a delightful place to spend time. Soft-touch leather abounds, complemented by suede-like material on the door panels.
Dominating much of the cabin is a piano black finish, stretching across the dashboard and around the shifter. It looks great and appears more durable than some other piano black plastics, but it remains prone to scratches and fingerprints. Additionally, when the sun catches it, it can become very glary.
Photo Credits: Brad Anderson/Carscoops
Positioned ahead of the steering wheel is Audi’s familiar 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit, which is highly configurable and allows for various display options. The dashboard features a 10.1-inch display, while directly below it is an 8.6-inch display dedicated to climate control.
While I usually prefer physical buttons and switches for climate control, this screen is superb. It offers strong acoustic and haptic feedback, so when you tap the screen, it almost feels like you’re pressing a real button. The graphics make everything easy to understand, and overall, it feels much more premium than the plastic buttons and tiny screen found on the e-tron GT we recently tested.
This screen also allows you to select between the various hybrid drive modes, but more on that latter.
Elsewhere, the Q8 60 TFSI e quattro S line comes standard with a panoramic glass sunroof, heated front seats, ambient lighting, a head-up display, a 17-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system, and illuminated door sill trims.
Photo Credits: Brad Anderson/Carscoops
The driving position is excellent, and the leather on the seats is exceptionally soft. The seats remain comfortable on long trips while also providing enough support to keep you secure when cornering. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, both of which work seamlessly, are welcome inclusions.
Read: Audi Wants To Kill The Q8 E-Tron, May Shut Brussels Plant
Despite the Q8’s sloping roofline, space in the second row is ample, with enough headroom for even tall adults. There’s also a climate control panel in the second row, but curiously, it only allows for temperature adjustment, not fan speed. This proved annoying during my time with the car, as I couldn’t figure out how to independently adjust the fan speed at the rear. It always synced with the front fan speed, and even on the lowest setting up front, the rear vents blew vigorously, forcing me to close them to reduce the noise. Rear fan speed adjustment is available on more expensive versions.
Beyond that annoyance, I had no other complaints with the cabin. The complex ambient lighting system, which allows you to display two colors simultaneously, was a neat feature. The luggage space in the rear is a solid 505 liters (17.8 cubic feet), although the floor sits quite high.
Effortless performance at the expense of efficiency?
As mentioned, the Q8 60 TFSI e quattro S line is a plug-in hybrid. It rocks a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 petrol engine working alongside an electric motor and a 17.9 kWh battery pack. This setup produces a combined 340 kW (456 hp) and 700 Nm (516 lb-ft) of torque and, in theory, provides the perfect mix between efficiency and performance.
One of the headline figures of the plug-in hybrid Q8 is the claimed fuel consumption of just 2.6-liters / 100 km (90.4 U.S. mpg). That’s seriously impressive, albeit a little deceiving. You see, this Q8 can travel up to 59 km (36.6 miles) on EV power alone, but that fuel consumption figure is only relevant for the first 100 km (62 miles) as the SUV can intelligently switch between electric and combustion power. Once the battery is drained, the 3.0-liter turbo V6 is the only source of power.
Around town, I primarily drove in Auto Hybrid mode, letting the Q8 intelligently switch between the electric motor and the V6. After a couple of days, and without plugging it in to recharge, the battery was completely depleted, so I switched it into Battery Charge mode, allowing the V6 to slowly recharge the battery as you drive. The Q8 60 TFSI e quattro S line also includes EV and Battery Hold driving modes.
While we had the Audi, we had the chance to test the fuel consumption on a 1,500 km (932 mile) road trip. As the company claims, it was very efficient over the first 100 km (62 miles) with the battery fully charged. When switched into the Battery Hold mode to keep the battery topped up, we averaged 9.6 l/100 km (24.5 U.S. mpg) during highway driving or just over 10 l/100 km (23.5 U.S. mpg) in Battery Charge mode.
While that’s decent, it’s the same as we averaged in the GV80 along the same roads a couple of months ago, and it has 0.5 liters of extra capacity and one more turbo.
If you can plug in the Q8, it will support AC charging at speeds of up to 7.4 kW, allowing the battery to be fully charged in 2.5 hours. It does not support DC charging. Like other PHEVs, the Q8 will be best suited to those who can keep it plugged in overnight and make the most of having a full battery in the morning.
Audi quotes a 0-100 km/h (62 mph) time of 5.4 seconds, and the Q8 60 TFSi e quattro feels as quick as that. It launches off the line viciously, regardless of road and weather conditions, although it would be nice if the engine sounded a little better. Mated to the V6 is an eight-speed automatic transmission that’s quick to change through the gears and remains smooth at all speeds.
Adaptive air suspension comes standard and offers five different ride heights. Unlike some other cars with adaptive air suspension, the ride height of the Q8 can be adjusted at highway speeds. There are plenty of driving modes too, including Offroad, Allroad, Efficiency, Comfort, Auto, Dynamic, and an Individual mode. When I was in the mood for some sporty driving, I switched it to Dynamic and the ride height lowered and became stiffer, the steering got heavier, and the V6 sounded much nicer.
Despite the Q8’s size and 2,585 kg (5,698 lbs) heft, it handles surprisingly well, helped by the fact our test car had a set of meaty Continental SportContact 6 tires. It can be prone to catching ruts and cambers on the road due to the width of the tires, but tire noise has been kept to a minimum, and it rides over bumps well.
I spent quite a bit of time driving the Q8 at night, and the LED Matrix headlights were superb, illuminating the roads for hundreds of meters. With the high beams turned on, they seamlessly adjusted to oncoming traffic. Key driver assistance systems, such as adaptive cruise control with Stop & Go and active lane assist, also worked brilliantly.
Those interested in towing with the Q8 60 TFSI e quattro will be pleased to know it can pull an impressive 3,500 kg (7,716 lbs).
Verdict
After a week with the Audi Q8, driving it through the city, suburbs, and on seven-hour highway stints, I was quite impressed. The powertrain is solid, and when the battery is charged, it’s a pleasure to travel on electric power alone. However, once the battery is depleted, the V6 can be relatively thirsty.
The Q8 undoubtedly delivers in terms of luxury and comfort, making it a compelling choice for those seeking a spacious, opulent cruiser that can also run silently at times.
