Audi Q8 Review 2023
The Audi Q8 is a luxury SUV with a sporty edge. Coming with coupe-like looks, the Q8 has the versatility of an SUV with the elegance of a coupe, making it a great choice for families who want a bit of style.
Rivals to the Q8 include the BMW X6, Range Rover Velar, Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe, and Porsche Cayenne Coupe.
Our Audi Q8 review covers:
- Elegant exterior with large front grille and coupe-like styling
- Luxurious interior that's built to last
- 605-litre boot
- Two petrol and one diesel engine available
- Three trims: S Line, Black Edition, Vorsprung
Pros:
- Interior built to last
- Powerful engines
- Loads of technology
Cons:
- Expensive to run
- No seven-seat option
- Infotainment system can be fiddly to use
The Audi Q8 has aggressive exterior styling that makes for an impressive road presence. If it's behind you on the road, the first thing you'll see is its huge octagonal grille. Then as it passes, you'll see its large 21-inch alloy wheels and coupe-like roof. It's a thing of beauty.
There's enough room in the Q8 for five passengers. Up front, there's plenty of space for two six-footers to get comfortable, while in the rear, there's a generous amount of headroom even with the sloping roof. The middle rear seat is more suited towards children, but regardless, the Q8's practicality is on par with the X6 and GLE Coupe.
Boot space comes in at 605 litres for the Q8, which is bigger than the Range Rover Velar but smaller than the GLE Coupe. Because of the sloping rear roof, you'll struggle to fit large items, but you can increase boot space by folding the rear seats in a 40/20/40 arrangement.
The interior of the Q8 looks and feels brilliant. All the surfaces are nice to touch and feature a range of premium materials, while the dashboard and cabin feel built to last. It certainly has the edge on the Velar while being on par with the luxurious X6.
The Q8 is packed full of technology. For the infotainment system, you get a dual screen set-up; there's a 10.1-inch screen high on the dash that covers the sat-nav, radio, and smartphone mirroring, while the lower 8.6-inch screen covers climate control. Unfortunately, there's no rotary controller to control the screens, meaning it can be fiddly to use while driving.
There's also a 12.3-inch virtual cockpit with a full colour instrument cluster displaying all the relevant information in crisp graphics. Upgrade to the Vorsprung trim, and you get a head-up display projected onto the windscreen.
Three trim levels are available for the Q8: S Line, Black Edition, and Vorsprung.
S Line has 21-inch five-spoke alloy wheels, matrix LED headlights, privacy glass, a three-spoke leather steering wheel, LED interior lighting, two-zone automatic climate control, Valcona leather upholstery, electrically adjustable and heated front seats, cruise control, lane departure warning, a rearview camera, keyless go, and Audi pre-sense front.
Black Edition has 22-inch five-twin-spoke alloy wheels, a black exterior styling package, door mirrors in Anthracite black, a polished oak interior with a grey finish, and a three-spoke flat-bottomed leather multi-function Sport steering wheel.
Vorsprung completes the trims with 22-inch five-v-spoke aluminium alloy wheels, a panoramic glass sunroof, front Super Sport seats in Valcona leather with massage function, an extended leather package, a multi-coloured extended LED interior lighting pack, a head-up display, Audi virtual cockpit plus, a Bang & Olufsen premium sound system, a 360-degree camera, and remote park assist plus.
The two standard engines in the Q8 are a pair of turbocharged 3.0-litre engines, the 50 TDI diesel and the 55 TFSI petrol. Both are paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and Quattro all-wheel drive.
Both units have plenty of poke and will be good enough for most casual drivers, cruising along smoothly and quietly at both low and high speeds. The petrol unit is slightly more powerful, completing 0-62mph in 5.6 seconds rather than 6.1 seconds. However, this is countered by fuel efficiency, with the diesel returning 32 - 34mpg compared to the petrol's 25 - 26mpg.
If you want total power, there's a performance-based SQ8 engine available. It comes with up to 507PS, generates 770Nm of torque, and achieves 0-62mph in just 4.1 seconds!
Whatever engine you go for, the Q8 is a good SUV to drive. Despite its size, the Q8 is nimble around town thanks to its light steering, meaning you should be able to deal with whatever urban situation you're in.
The Q8 jumps up to motorway speeds frighteningly quick, and the air suspension does a good job of keeping things controlled when cruising.
On a country road, the Q8 comes into its own. Body control feels good when cornering at speed, and the Quattro four-wheel drive set-up gives you confidence even if the road surface is a bit slippery.
Prices for the new Audi Q8 start from £73,825.00 OTR* or to lease from £846.05 per month.
Looking to get behind the wheel of the Audi Q8? Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is one of the UK's largest car leasing brokers and offers a range of leasing deals to suit your every need.
Leasing may be cheaper than an outright purchase, thanks to a low initial deposit and fixed monthly rentals.
*' On the road' price correct at time of publication and includes one year's road fund license, DVLA first registration fee and number plate fee. Prices are subject to change; always check with your nearest retailer.
