mReview: Audi Q8 e-tron 55 & Q8 Sportback e-tron 55 – All Business

Audi has introduced the new Q8 e-tron in two styles – a conventional SUV and a more stylised Sportback variant. We look at both of them to see how they get along in the highly competitive luxury EV segment.

The Q8 e-tron is the first to be tied to Audi’s new model naming convention. Moving forward, all the even-numbered cars will be EVs (Q4, Q8, A4, etc) while the odd-numbered models will be internal-combustion and hybrid cars. 

The question to ask though, is not how the e-tron Q8s fare against their fellow Audis, but instead how they stack up in the extremely popular electric SUV segment. The Q8 is the top-rung model in the Audi lineup and comes in three variants: the “entry-level” e-tron 50, the mid-tier e-tron 55, and the splash-the-cash SQ8 e-tron. 

Both Q8s we’re looking at today are in the e-tron 55 spec, which means they’re both fitted with a 106kWh battery and an electric motor on each axle for a combined output of 402hp and 664Nm of torque. All that juice means that despite the hefty 2,510 kg kerbweight, the Q8 in 55 trim is still able to complete the century sprint in just 5.6 seconds.

It’s a good thing that the brakes are effective then. Audi claims that in 90% of all braking situations, the car’s physical disc brakes are never used, and the deceleration comes mostly from regenerative braking instead. There are paddles on the back of the steering wheel to adjust the level of regen you’d like, from no regen at all for gliding along, to heavy regen to slow the car at up to 0.3g of deceleration. 

Audi has also done its level best to allay any range anxieties by making the Q8s as aerodynamically streamlined as possible for maximum efficiency. Both body styles have seen a reduction in the drag coefficient over the outgoing Audi e-tron with a new Cd of 0.24 for the Q8 Sportback and 0.27 for the standard Q8. 

Sportback version of Q8 e-tron is designed to look sportier.

Audi has accomplished this through new wheel spoilers, air curtains, and active aerodynamics to channel air through and around various areas of the car and underbody to reduce turbulent air and therefore drag. The Q8 also rides on air suspension which can change the ride height by up to 76mm and lowers itself automatically at higher speeds for reduced drag. 

The exterior styling of the Q8s varies little between body styles, the main difference of course being the sloping roofline of the Sportback versus the conventional boxy SUV looks of the normal Q8. The Q8 e-tron is also the first car to carry the new flattened Audi logo, as well as having the model name stamped on the doors. All Q8s also get light bars front and rear to complement the Digital Matrix LED headlights. The e-tron 55 variant also receives 21-inch rims while the e-tron 50 only gets 20-inchers. 

Some parts of the Q8 interior use recycled materials in their construction.

The interior quality is as you’d expect from a high-end Audi, i.e. put together excellently and chock full of tech. All Q8s come with two touchscreen displays in the centre console, an upper 10.1-inch, and a lower 8.5-inch. The top screen handles the bulk of the car’s infotainment operations while the lower screen is reserved for vehicle functions like the air-con controls and drive modes. 

As is the case in most Audi models, the driver also gets a digital gauge cluster with the Audi virtual cockpit. This is still one of the best digital clusters in terms of operation and layout, and I have no complaints at all about its inclusion on the Q8. The driver also gets a heads-up display for easy viewing of information like speed and navigation directions.

Ambient lighting with 6 predefined colour profiles and 30 individual colour choices.

The problem I have then with the Q8 e-tron is honestly the epitome of a first-world problem. To me, the Q8 e-tron just comes off a little boring. There’s just nothing that excites me about this car. Despite the updates that Audi has given the Q8 e-tron, it still has a fairly uninspiring exterior and an equally dreary interior.  

Now don’t for a second think that means I think the Q8 is bad, far from it. In fact, the Q8 e-tron is an incredibly capable and well-put-together machine. But that’s my issue with it, it’s just a machine. There’s no personality in the way it drives. It’s quiet, refined, comfortable, and everything just works. Everything is where you expect it to be, there are neither quirks nor foibles to be found anywhere. 

The drive itself is quick but sedate. There’s a clinical feel to the way it accelerates and decelerates, and you can tell by the way Audi promoted the car as was written above. Every feature is plus 20% this or minus 47% that. It’s a car made by numbers and a car made to make up the numbers.

All I could think about when driving these cars was how much it felt like I was driving a business decision. There was no passion that I could pick up on and no personal connection I could make, and it’s palpable that this car was not made with heart or fun in mind.

Q8 Sportback sacrifices some trunk space for that sleeker, coupe-style profile.

I don’t believe that Audi doesn’t know how to make fun cars. They made the R8 and the RS3, both of which are plenty rowdy. They’ve also made the SQ8 e-tron, a high-performance souped-up version of this car, and I’m looking forward to seeing if the added power can add some much-needed seasoning to the Q8 e-tron recipe. 

If what you’re searching for is a little soul or a touch of life in your car choice, then perhaps you’d be better off in greener pastures. But if all you’re looking for is a practical and modern SUV that is highly proficient in doing anything you’ll be able to throw at it, then the Q8 e-tron is a very safe bet and a recommendation I have no trouble making. 

Read More: mReview: Toyota bZ4X - Probably The Best Car You Can't Buy

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