Audi Q8 e-tron Review 2024

The Audi Q8 e-tron is the new name for the old Audi e-tron. It marks a significant mid-life update for the brand's large electric SUV, ensuring it remains in pole position alongside an expanding range of competitors.

While the Audi Q8 e-tron doesn't look overtly different from the old model, the big news is a redesigned battery pack which provides a longer range - meaning you'll be able to travel further between charges. The Q8 e-tron can now cover up to 330 miles between top-ups (depending on which model you buy), while the sleeker Sportback manages an impressive 343 miles. That makes it one of the longest-range electric cars on the market.

In the first instance, the Audi Q8 e-tron is offered in three key variants: the Q8 50 e-tron, 55 e-tron, and the range-topping Audi SQ8 e-tron. We reckon the mid-spec Audi Q8 55 e-tron represents the sweet spot in the range, combining a slightly bigger battery than the entry-level car with slightly punchier acceleration. The sporty Audi SQ8 e-tron is good fun, with impressive performance, but you'll pay a premium - it's nudging £100,000.

On top of this, there are a variety of trim levels to choose from. All are generally well-equipped but, in true Audi form, it's very easy to add many thousands of pounds to the price by speccing a few desirable option packs. Standard specification on the entry-level Audi Q8 e-tron Sport is more than sufficient (even for an expensive electric SUV), though, with 20-inch alloy wheels, air suspension and an array of digital displays as standard.

Audi reckons though that most buyers will plump for the Audi Q8 e-tron in S line trim though, which features extras like 21-inch alloy wheels, adaptive sport air suspension, rear privacy glass and front sports seats not found on the Q8 e-tron in Sport trim. 

There hasn't been a big update to the interior, but nor did it need one. It's one of the plushest interiors in its class, while the cabin's more spacious than many of its competitors. Rear-seat passengers might be a bit more comfortable in a BMW iX, while the Tesla Model X is the only seven-seat SUV of this size, but the Q8 e-tron feels roomier than a Jaguar I-Pace.

Perhaps even more impressive than the upmarket interior is the way the Audi Q8 e-tron isolates you from the outside world. It's very relaxing to drive - you're in for a treat if you haven't driven an electric car before. There's no engine noise, obviously, but it also does a remarkable job of drowning out external noise. A plethora of driver-assistance tech (powered by a multitude of cameras and sensors) makes the driver's life easier, while trick air suspension makes life that little more comfortable for everyone in the car.

The Audi Q8 e-tron might not be that different from its predecessor, but the latest updates give it a competitive edge that it previously lacked. Is it enough to tempt buyers away from the Mercedes EQC, BMW iX or Jaguar I-Pace? Read our full Audi Q8 e-tron review to find out.

The Audi Q8 e-tron is at its best wafting along a motorway or cruising around town in silence. It's one of the most refined cars you can buy, isolating you from the noise and troubles of the outside world, ensuring you arrive at your destination in complete serenity.

What it isn't, despite what its performance figures might indicate, is a sports car. It's quite a heavy SUV, and it certainly feels its weight if you try to hustle it along. Even the sporty Audi SQ8 e-tron doesn't feel as fun to drive as a Jaguar I-Pace of BMW iX3.

It's not without its novelty, though, especially if this is your first experience of driving an electric car. You can get the Audi Q8 e-tron with paddles behind the steering wheel, which allows you to increase or decrease the amount of regenerative braking (essentially how much the electric motors slow the car down when you lift off the accelerator pedal). There's an automatic mode, too, which uses navigation data to slow the car down (when approaching a lower speed limit or a junction, for example).

Another perk of the Audi Q8 e-tron is the impressive ride quality. Air suspension is fitted as standard and, provided you avoid the sportier drive modes, it does an impressive job of soaking up lumps and bumps in the road without feeling too floaty.

The range kicks off with the Audi Q8 50 e-tron, which combines a 95kWh battery pack with two electric motors (one on each axle). It's no slouch, producing 340PS and 664Nm of torque - enough to take it from a standstill to 62mph in 6.0 seconds flat. That's nearly a second quicker than the old Audi e-tron 50.

Our choice, though, would be the Audi Q8 55 e-tron. It uses a bigger 114kWh battery pack which, as well as providing a welcome range boost, also powers a pair of punchier electric motors. As such, it'll accelerate to 62mph in 5.6 seconds.

If you want a properly fast Audi Q8 e-tron, though, you'll need the range-topping SQ8. This uses no fewer than three electric motors (one for each of the rear wheels plus one for the front axle), producing 503PS and 973Nm of torque. It makes light work of building speed, reaching 62mph in just 4.5 seconds.

As you'd expect for an expensive premium SUV, the Audi Q8 e-tron is loaded with sensors and cameras watching everything that's happening in your surroundings. Spec one of a number of option packs for the most advanced driver-assist features - the Tour Pack, for example, features cruise assist with lane assist, emergency assist, turn assist and swerve assist.

The Audi e-tron was awarded five stars for safety when it was crash-tested by Euro NCAP in 2019; a rating that also applies to the newer Audi Q8 e-tron.

A tow bar can be specified as an £850 option on an Audi Q8 e-tron, giving it the ability to tow a braked trailer weighing up to 1800kg. That makes it one of the best electric cars for towing.

Despite its new name, the Audi Q8 e-tron isn't actually based on the combustion-engined Audi Q8. That's good news - it's been designed from the start as an electric car, which means it utilises its (fairly chunky) dimensions very well.

It feels more spacious inside than a Jaguar I-Pace - although, unlike the Tesla Model X, it's strictly a five-seater. An abundance of headroom and legroom in the front means it's far from claustrophobic, while a wide centre console means there's plenty of space between the driver and front-seat passenger.

The rear seats feel pretty roomy, too, while the large side windows should help to reduce travel sickness with children. Consider buying a Q8 e-tron with the panoramic sunroof for the ultimate in airiness.

In terms of boot space, the Audi Q8 e-tron can carry up to 569 litres of luggage, plus an extra 62 litres in the 'frunk' (ideal for stowing away charging cables). That's more than a Mercedes EQC or BMW iX, while the rear seats split in a useful 40:20:40 arrangement if you need more space.

There's little to criticise when it comes to interior quality in the Audi Q8 e-tron. Unlike, say, a Tesla, you can tell it's been developed by a premium car manufacturer with decades' experience producing high quality cars. There are soft-touch materials everywhere, while all the buttons feel reassuringly meaty to use. Of course, the more you spend on a Q8 e-tron, the higher quality it'll feel (thanks to premium seat coverings, for example), but even the most affordable models are a step above mainstream competitors.

The Audi Q8 e-tron is suitably tech-heavy for a premium electric SUV but that doesn't come at the expense of user-friendliness. You get an impressively high-resolution central 10.1-inch touchscreen display with a separate screen below just to control the climate functions. Sure, old-fashioned buttons might be a little less distracting to use on the move, but at least you don't have to traipse through various menus just to turn on the heated seats. And there are some physical buttons - for selecting drive modes, for example, or demisting the windscreen.

The conventional dials behind the steering wheel have been replaced by Audi's excellent Virtual Cockpit, which can be configured to prioritise whatever it is you'd like prioritised - we find the map function very useful, providing clear directions at a glance (without having to look over at the central touchscreen).

Tech fans should opt for the Technology Pack, which adds features like a premium B&O sound system, head-up display and 360-degree camera. For the ultimate in high-tech opulence, the pricey Technology Pack Pro builds on that with a light-up front grille, USB-C ports in the rear, four-zone climate control, heated rear seats and, randomly, a panoramic sunroof.

One thing we're still not convinced by are the optional virtual door mirrors (a £1,750 extra). While Audi claims they improve aerodynamic drag and improved visibility, in practice we've not been able to get on with them. You might get used to the lowered positions of the 7-inch screens on the doors over time, but they seem like a solution to a problem that never existed. 

Audi Q8 e-tron prices start from around £67,000, putting it in the same league as a BMW iX or Jaguar I-Pace. It's very easy to start spending a considerable wedge of cash on the e-tron, though, by the time you've added on a few desirable option packs or upgraded to one of the flashier trim levels. As an example, a mid-spec Audi Q8 e-tron S line with the slightly more powerful 55 drivetrain is more than £82,000 - and that's before selecting any options.

The range currently tops out with the Audi SQ8 e-tron, which has a starting price close to £100,000. The good news, if you want to save money, is the old Audi e-tron is fundamentally the same as the Q8 e-tron - and used examples of those are now dropping below £40,000.

The electric range of the Audi Q8 e-tron is one area that's been significantly improved over the old Audi e-tron. The Audi Q8 50 e-tron features a 95kWh battery pack, while the more powerful models have a capacity of 114kWh.

The official range figures vary depending on trim level (while the sleeker Sportback variants can travel slightly further on a charge), but the Audi Q8 50 e-tron can travel up to 281 miles between charges. The Q8 55 e-tron, with its bigger battery, manages up to 330 miles. The sporty Audi SQ8 e-tron has a range of 284 miles.

All Audi Q8 e-tron models can be rapid charged at a rate of up to 150kW. That means you can charge it from 10 to 80 per cent in around half an hour. At home, an 11kW charger will top up the Q8 50 e-tron in around nine hours and 15 minutres. The bigger-battery models take 11 and a half hours.

Standard equipment on the Audi Q8 e-tron Sport includes 20-inch alloy wheels, quattro all-wheel-drive, adaptive air suspension, Audi drive select, matrix LED headlights and dynamic front/rear indicators, LED rear lights, a power-operated tailgate, windscreen with acoustic glazing, keyless go, electrically adjustable and heated front seats with driver memory function, leather seats, two-zone automatic climate control with comfort remote preconditioning, a four-spoke multifunction leather steering wheel, MMI Navigation plus with MMI Touch (including a 10.1-inch touchscreen display and a separate 8.6-inch display to control in-car features), Audi Virtual Cockpit, Audi Sound System (with a six-channel amplifier and 10 loudspeakers), Audi Smartphone interface with wireless functionality, DAB digital radio, Audi Phone Box with wireless charging, cruise control, lane departure warning, Audi pre-sent front, rear-view camera, parking system plus with 360-degree sensors and camera traffic sign recognition.

The Audi Q8 e-tron S Line builds on this with 21-inch alloy wheels, adaptive sport air suspension, S line front and rear bumpers and rear diffuser, rear privacy glass, front sport seats with S embossed logo in valcona leather upholstery, dark matt brushed aluminium inlays and a three-spoke multi-function steering wheel in perforated leather with S logo.

The Audi Q8 e-tron Black Edition features 21-inch gloss black alloy wheels, the Audi beam with e-tron logo, black exterior highlights, a mesh anthracite inlay and a three-spoke flat bottom multifunction leather steering wheel.

The Audi Q8 e-tron Vorsprung features 22-inch alloy wheels, digital matrix lights, virtual door mirrors, power door closure, adaptive windscreen wipers, front super sports seats with S embossed logo in Valcona leather, carbon inlay, heated leather multi-function steering wheel, electric steering column adjustment, extended leather pack, Audi Virtual Cockpit Plus, Technology Pack Pro, Tour Pack, City Assist Pack and Parking Assist Pack.