Audi's competes strongly in the trendy coupe part of the large SUV sector with this Q8. Jonathan Crouch drives the revised version.

Ten Second Review

The Audi Q8 is one of those large coupe-style SUVs, part of a genre pioneered by BMW a decade ago with their X6 and subsequently copied by Mercedes. Audi's considered solution for fashion-orientated folk browsing in this segment is Q7-based and very Vorsprung durch technic. Especially in this updated form.

Background

In this century's second decade, the Volkswagen Group's MLB Evo platform spawned lots of luxury SUVs. First, we had the Audi Q7, then the Bentley Bentayga, the Porsche Cayenne, the Volkswagen Touareg and the Lamborghini Urus. Finally, in 2018, we came back full circle to another Audi, a derivative of the Q7, this swoopier Q8, first launched in 2018. The Q8 was Audi's entry into the large sector SUV-coupe market, started in the Noughties by the BMW X6, which was then followed by the Mercedes GLE Coupe. The latest versions of both of those two rivals have received facelifts in recent years, so the Q8 has had one too, a car that these days sells alongside a completely separate EV model, the unrelated Q8 e-tron. Here though, we're looking at the combustion Q8, which continues to roll of the VW Group's Slovakian Bratislava production line (alongside the Q7, the Cayenne and the Touareg) and shares the same wheelbase and cabin width as its large Audi stablemate. The driveway demeanour though, is very different here, the emphasis on fashion, rather than family. It's pointless asking whether we really need this kind of car. People want them. Audi's made one. Is it any good? Let's find out.

Driving Experience

The intended emphasis with this Q8 is far more on comfort and luxury than it is on lithe handling. Which is why Audi uses the full-length version of the Volkswagen Group's MLB-Evo architecture for this car, rather than the slightly shorter, more agile design of this chassis fitted to a rival Porsche Cayenne. As you'd expect, it's the same platform as features in the Q7, though here, the Ingolstadt engineers have fitted it out with shorter springs and larger wheels - which is unfortunate because both detract from the supple ride that ought to have been this Q8's calling card, fitted out as it is with standard air springs for the aluminium five-link front and rear suspension. To be frank, we've tried passively-suspended luxury-segment SUVs that have handled poor surfaces better. We'd hoped that the brand might have addressed this issue as part of this facelift, but as previously, unless you stretch to the six-figure sums required for the fastest SQ8 and RS Q8 versions, the drive dynamics of the mainstream models fall into that no-man's land between comfort and sportiness. Yes, as before, at speed through the turns you get excellent traction and decent body control. But this Audi's still much happier when you're not throwing it about. Or when you're towing; it can tug along up to 3,500kgs and 'off piste', the air suspension can raise the car as much as 254mm off the deck. Given that the brand is no longer developing combustion engines, it's no surprise to find that there are no changes to the two conventional powerplants that lie beneath the bonnet of this revised Q8. They're both 3.0-litre V6s, a 55 TFSI petrol unit with 340PS and the 50 TDI diesel with 286PS that we tried. As before, both models are fitted with the brand's 48V mild hybrid system with its belt-driven starter motor. And drive via an 8-speed Tiptronic auto. Plus of course there's standard quattro 4WD, which divides torque front-to-rear in a 40:60-split. When required, it transfers the majority of power to the axle with the better traction. The mainstream alternative is the 394PS petrol Plug-in Hybrid 55 TFSI e model, now improved with a larger 25.9kWh battery which improves EV driving range substantially to 51 miles. Your two other Q8 model options both use a sonorous but thirsty 4.0-litre petrol V8, which offers 507PS in the SQ7 and a prodigious 600PS or 640PS in the RS Q8. These variants get the All wheel steering (also available with top 'Vorsprung' trim on an ordinary Q8). And can also be fitted with a 'sport differential' and electromechanical active roll stabilisation.

Design and Build

The visual changes made here are subtle but effective - a restyled front grille with revised air intakes and standard-fit LED headlamps (with optional Matrix beams) which now have a revised daytime running light signature. The rear LED tail light design has been updated and trim pieces like the door surrounds, the underside guard and the rear diffuser are finished in contrasting colours to designate the various trim levels. Otherwise, it's as you were. Audi's understandably keen to point out the differences between this Q8 and the more conservative, family-oriented Q7 model it's mechanically based upon. Its coupe-style roof line makes it appear much lower than that sister model and it's 66mm shorter and 27mm wider. Plus there's a more distinctive front end, a shorter rear overhang and a mighty set wheels, which now vary between 20 and 23-inches in size. Thanks to the frameless doors, the coupe-type roof line stretches low across the vehicle body visually, ending in a long roof spoiler. The roof line arches slightly towards the flat sloping, strong D-pillars, which are supported by wide, muscular contours. Inside, this improved model isn't much different, so as before there's the now familiar dashboard black-panel look common to all current like Audis, with twin stacked centre screens, a Virtual Cockpit instrument display and main controls that almost dissolve into the fascia's large, black surface when switched off. The brand has now widened the range of apps available on the MMI infotainment system to include third party providers like Spotify and Amazon Music. Of course, this coupe-style model doesn't provide the Q7's third row of seating, but Audi insists that there's ample room for five people, pointing out that the interior space exceeds that of the direct competitors in almost all relevant dimensions. The luggage compartment holds 605-litres, which increases to 1,755-litres with the rear backrests folded down. Two golf bags can easily fit in diagonally. Think in terms of a 100-litre boot space reduction with the TFSI e PHEV model.

Market and Model

In the mainstream Q8 range, there are three trim levels - 'S line', 'Black Edition' and 'Vorsprung'. Pricing starts at around £73,000 for either the 50 TDI 3.0-litre diesel variant or the 55 TFSI petrol model. That's very competitive with this model's two main rivals, the BMW X6 and the Mercedes GLE Coupe. Pricing starts at around £94,000 for the SQ8 and around £113,000 for the RS Q8. Standard equipment across the Q8 range is, as you'd imagine, is very comprehensive. Like all top Audis, this one gets the brand's 'MMI navigation plus' infotainment system, which uses the latest LTE Advanced standard for data transfer. The navigation system offers intelligent destination suggestions based on previous journeys. Luxury is of the highest order but many owners will want to embellish the standard kit list with niceties like the optional 23-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system. As is usual nowadays, there's autonomous driving tech too, most of it included in the optional 'Tour assist' package which gives you adaptive cruise assist (a feature that provides longitudinal and lateral control in all speed ranges) and 'efficiency assist' (which uses sat nav data to automatically adjust your Q8's speed to the current speed limit and automatically reduces your speed before corners, during turning and on roundabouts to lower fuel consumption. Plus there's 'Emergency assist' which takes control of the car if you're taken ill and safely stops it automatically.

Cost of Ownership

The Q8's primary 50 TDI 3.0-litre diesel engine uses mild hybrid technology, integrating a lithium-ion battery and a belt alternator starter into a 48-volt primary electrical system for greater efficiency. The rechargeable battery is located underneath the luggage compartment floor and stores 10 Ah of electrical capacity. That allows this Audi to coast between 34 and 99mph with the engine switched off; when you brush the throttle, the belt alternator starter restarts the engine quickly and during deceleration can recover up to 12kW of energy. The start-stop range starts as low as 13mph. Let's get to the WLTP figures. For the 50 TDI variant, the combined fuel figure is up to 34.9mpg and the CO2 reading is up to 213g/km. The alternative 55 TFSI petrol variant manages up to 25.4mpg (combined) and up to 235g/km of CO2. If you want to do better, consider the 55 TFSI e Plug-in hybrid variant, which now has a 25.9kWh battery with a 51 mile EV range. As for the 4.0-litre petrol performance models, the SQ8 returns up to 23mpg and 289g/km; while the RS Q8 can only manage up to 21.9mpg and 292g/km. What else? Well all versions of the Q8 cost £570 a year in VED road tax for year's two to five of ownership. And all sit in the highest possible Benefit-in-Kind taxation bracket. On to residuals. A typical Q8 50 TDI S line model would, after three years and 60,000 miles be worth 46.7% of its original value, though you'd lose a bit of that with top-spec 'Vorsprung' trim. As usual with Audi models, there's a choice of either a 'Fixed' or a 'Flexible' servicing regime, the choice between the two depending on the extent of your likely annual mileage. As for insurance groupings, well all Q8s are rated at a top-of-the-shop group 50, which seems unreasonable when a mechanically identical Q7 rates from group 44.

Summary

You can see why Audi felt it had to build this car, though it's a little hard to understand why it took the brand until 2018 to bring it to market. Despite this delay, the original Q8 never brought anything radically new to the fashionable formula undergirded this sort of car and of course, this updated version doesn't either. Even so, the Q8 does still manage to bring buyers seduced by this class-conscious category something a bit different. Turn up to a business meeting in an X6 or a Mercedes GLE Coupe and some might dismiss you as a showy extrovert. Arrive in a Q8 and the impact would be a touch more subtle. For some, that will be important, particularly as this Audi is - in its own way - just as stylish and avant garde as its two main Teutonic arch-rivals. If you want one of these, then probably nothing else will do. Which is exactly as it should be when it comes to this class of car.

Body Glass

Electric front+rear windows

Privacy glass - dark tinted rear and rear side windows from B-pillar backwards

Rear wiper

Heat insulating glass in windshield

Rain and light sensors

Brakes

Electronic Stability Control (ESC) including ABS, ASR and EDL

Hill hold assist

Electromechanical parking brake

Hill descent control

Traction control

Carpets/Rugs

Front/rear floor mats

Chassis/Suspension

Adaptive sport air suspension

Communication

Audi connect safety and service (e-call)

Natural voice recognition

Audi application store

Audi phone box light with wireless charging

Audi smartphone interface includes wireless Apple carplay/Android Auto

Audi connect with Amazon Alexa Integration

Bluetooth

Driver Aids

Audi drive select

Electro-mechanical Power Assisted Steering

Audi parking system plus includes 360 degree display with front and rear sensors

Rear view camera

Driver Convenience

Operating buttons in black, glass look with haptic feedback

Automatic start/stop system

Power operated tailgate

Driver Information

10.1" and 8.6" Dual colour touchscreens

Audi virtual cockpit - 12.3" high resolution LCD display with fully customisable instrument cluster

MMI navigation plus with MMI touch

Low washer fluid indicator

On board computer

Service interval indicator

Driving Mirrors

Auto dimming frameless rear view mirror

Electrically folding auto dimming/adjustable/heated door mirrors with memory function, LED side indicators and kerb view function for passenger side

Embellishment Trims

Polished oak trim with grey finish inlay

Engine

Diesel particulate filter

48V Mild hybrid technology

Entertainment

Audi sound system with 6 channel amplifier, 180 watt amplifying capacity and 10 loudspeakers including subwoofer

DAB Digital radio

Aux-in socket

Audi music interface with 2 USB ports with charge and data functions

Exterior Body Features

Platinum grey front spoiler lip and diffuser insert with honeycomb grille in black

Rear side wing doors

Black exhaust tailpipes

Loading edge protection in stainless steel

Black single frame mask

Singleframe grille surround in matte platinum grey

Exterior Lights

LED signature daytime running lights

3rd brake light

Audi beam

Matrix LED headlights with dynamic front and rear indicators

Coming/leaving home lighting function

LED rear light plus

Headlight washers

Heating/Cooling/Ventilation

2 zone automatic climate control

Interior Features

Comfort front centre armrest

Rear centre armrest with 2 cupholders

Luggage compartment sill protection in stainless steel

Stainless steel pedals

Black cloth headlining

Interior Lights

LED interior ambient lighting

Packs

Black styling pack plus - Q8

Safety

3 point seatbelts on all seats

Warning triangle and first aid kit

Driver and front passenger, front side and curtain airbags

Front passenger airbag deactivation

Convenience key with safelock

Audi pre sense front

Predictive pedestrian protection

Tyre pressure loss indicator

Seatbelt monitoring

Seats

Heated front seats

Seat cushion displaceable by 100mm in the ratio 60:40

Single front passenger seat

3 bench rear seats in 2nd row

ISOFIX child seat mounting for front passenger seat and 2 outer rear seats with top tether child seat mounting for all 3 rear seats

4-way lumbar support for front seats

Driver seat memory function

40:20:40 split folding rear bench seat

Electrically adjustable front seats

Front head restraints

Rear headrests

Security

Electronically operated child lock

Keyless go with remote central locking

Anti-theft wheel bolts and wheel loosening detection

Anti theft alarm with tow away protection

Immobiliser

Transmission

Quattro all wheel drive with self locking centre differential

Vanity Mirrors

Sunvisors with illuminated vanity mirrors

Wheels - Spare

Tyre repair kit

Tool kit

Emissions - ICE

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb - TEH: 225

Standard Euro Emissions: EURO 6

HC: N

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb: 220

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb - TEL: 219

Engine and Drive Train

Number of Valves: 24

Cylinders: 6

Gears: 8 SPEED

Transmission: SEMI-AUTO

Compression Ratio: 16.0:1

Engine Layout: NORTH SOUTH

Catalytic Convertor: No

Engine Code: 4MT0N2

Fuel Delivery: COMMON RAIL

Camshaft: DOHC

Cylinder Layout: V6

CC: 2967

Cylinders - Stroke (mm): 91.4

Cylinders - Bore (mm): 83

Fuel Consumption - ICE

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Comb: 8.4

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Comb - TEH: 8.6

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Comb - TEL: 8.4

WLTP - MPG - Comb: 33.6

WLTP - MPG - Comb - TEL: 33.6

EC Directive 1999/100/EC Applies: 0

WLTP - MPG - Comb - TEH: 32.8

General

Badge Power: 286

Did at least one aspect of this vehicle's safety give cause for concern?: 0

Special Edition: 0

Special Order: 0

Based On ID: N

Insurance Group 1 - 50 Effective January 07: 50E

Alternative Fuel Qualifying: 0

Badge Engine CC: 3.0

Vehicle Homologation Class: M1

AdBlue: No

Generation Mark: 1

Coin Series: Black Edition

Coin Description: TDI Quattro

Manufacturers Corrosion Perforation Guarantee - Years: 12

Manufacturers Paintwork Guarantee - Years: 3

Standard manufacturers warranty - Mileage: 60000

Standard manufacturers warranty - Years: 3

Performance

0 to 60 mph (secs): 0

Engine Torque - MKG: 61.2

Top Speed: 150

0 to 62 mph (secs): 6.1

Engine Power - PS: No

Engine Power - BHP: 286

Engine Power - KW: 210

Engine Power - RPM: 3500

Engine Torque - LBS.FT: 443

Engine Torque - NM: 600

Engine Torque - RPM: 1750

Test Cycles

Emissions Test Cycle: WLTP

RDE Certification Level: RDE 2

Tyres

Tyre Size Spare: TYRE REPAIR KIT

Tyre Size Front: 285/40 R22

Space Saver?: 0

Alloys?: No

Wheel Style: 10 Y SPOKE

Wheel Type: 22" ALLOY

Tyre Size Rear: 285/40 R22

Vehicle Dimensions

Width (including mirrors): 2190

Height: 1678

Wheelbase: 2998

Height (including roof rails): 1705

Length: 4992

Weight and Capacities

Gross Vehicle Weight: 2900

Minimum Kerbweight: 2160

Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres): 75

Max. Towing Weight - Braked: 3500

Max. Towing Weight - Unbraked: 750

Max. Loading Weight: 740

Turning Circle - Kerb to Kerb: 13.3

Luggage Capacity (Seats Down): 1755

Luggage Capacity (Seats Up): 680

No. of Seats: 5

Driving Mirrors

Body colour door mirrors

Carbon exterior door mirrors

Exterior Body Features

Black roof rails

Pearlescent paint

Electric panoramic glass sunroof

Special metallic paint

Exclusive paint identifier

Metallic paint

Audi exclusive paint

Interior Features

Dinamica/leather upholstery with front sports seats S embossed logo

3 spoke heated leather multi-function sport steering including paddle shift

Packs

City assist pack - Q8

Tour pack when bought with City assist pack - Q8

Tour pack - Q8

Paint - Metallic

Metallic - Mythos black

Metallic - Glacier white

Metallic - Satellite silver

Metallic - Waitomo blue

Metallic - Chili red

Paint - Pearlescent

Pearl - Daytona grey

Paint - Solid

Solid - Pure white

Paint - Special

Audi Exclusive - Custom

Special metallic - Sakhir gold

Special metallic - Ascari blue

Service/Warranty

Audi warranty - 4 years or 75000 miles

Audi warranty - 5 years or 90000 miles

Towing

Trailer Assist including electrically folding ball hitch

Trim - Leather

Valcona leather - Black with grey stitching + front sports seats S embossed logo

Trim - Part Leather

Dinamica/leather - Black with grey stitching + front sports seats S embossed logo

Wheels - Alloy

22" x 10.0J 5 double spoke module style audi sport alloy wheels with matt structure grey inserts

23" x 10.0J 10 spoke trapezoidal style audi sport alloy wheels in black