This all-electric Audi SUV can float effortlessly into multiple disciplines and never seem out of place or behind the pack
August 19, 2023 at 12:33
The 2024 model year for the Q8 e-tron marks a shift for Audi. In the past, this same model was simply known as the e-tron but as the automaker continues to skew toward a fully-electric lineup, differentiating one from the others is vital. So for 2024, this is now the Q8 e-tron and it’s meant to be the brand’s clear flagship electric SUV in the same way that the ICE Q8 achieves that purpose on the gas-burning side of the business.
Rather than simply add to the name, Audi has also seen fit to refresh the model with a lot of improvements at the same time. It now features a larger battery pack than it did in the past, the range is higher too as is the maximum charging speed. The suspension and steering are different and the exterior benefits from a few neat nips and tucks here and there to keep things fresh.
Are all of those changes enough to keep the Audi Q8 e-tron relevant in a field that’s swelling with more and more electrified options? Is it even worthy of being the flagship EV for such a storied brand? We got our hands on one for a few days and took it far up into the mountains of Colorado to find out.
Audi sells the Q8 e-tron in four trim levels including Premium, Premium Plus, Prestige, and Launch Edition. MSRP starts at $74,400 but can shoot up into the low $90,000s pretty easily. All use the same powertrain, comprising a 117 kWh battery pack and dual-motor all-wheel drive system with 402 hp (299 kW). For a deeper dive into each of the trim levels along with pricing see our explainer here. Our test vehicle is a Launch Edition version with optional Daytona Gray paint and a Flint gray interior.
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Powering Up
As mentioned, every Q8 e-tron uses the same basic battery and motor package including a 117 kWh battery and two electric motors, one on each axle. They combine for a maximum of 402 horsepower (299 kW) and 490 lb-ft (663 Nm) of torque when in full use. In most driving situations though they rein things into a slightly more manageable 355 hp (264 kW) and 414 lb-ft (560 Nm) of torque.
In previous years, the e-tron could only charge at 150 kWh speeds. This year, the Q8 e-tron gets a bump to 170 kWh, which means that it can go, in an optimal situation, from 10% state of charge to 80% in just 31 minutes. The trouble, of course, could be with finding a public station that charges at that speed. We suspect most buyers will charge at home but Audi has some clever solutions to improve that experience too.
It comes with a 9.6 kW onboard charger which lets it charge on a 240v household outlet in 13 hours. An optional 19.2 kW onboard charger cuts that time to just 6.5 hours. Audi also offers a charging port on each side of the e-tron specifically so that buyers who charge at home can park on either side without having to consider it. Keep in mind though that the DC fast-charge port is only on the driver’s side of the car.
Generally speaking, when using a charger that actually worked, we found the transaction to be easy and quick. The Q8 e-tron has an EPA-estimated 285 miles (459 km) of range and our experience was right in line with that. In fact, when rolling down mountains, it picked up enough charge that over the course of one 30-mile journey we’d lost just 7 miles (11 km) of range.
Sleek Interior Styling
Audi has long been creating cabins that are clearly crafted for optimal ergonomics. The Q8 e-tron continues that trend with a very driver-centric layout featuring stacked infotainment and climate control screens along with a fully-digital gauge cluster and a bright easy-to-read heads-up display.
In practice, that infotainment system is smooth, fast, and mostly intuitive. Some controls, like that of the seat bolstering, are somewhat buried in the system though so we wish there were a few more simple straightforward physical controls instead. The dash is angular, futuristic, and attractive without being overly luxurious or dripping in excess.
The center console itself consists of a large center elbow rest along with a hand rest and a protruding trapezoidal gear lever. Between the two is a storage space where one can place two drinks, a mobile device, and a few other things. Audi included a small clip where one’s phone goes to keep it snuggly pressed against the wireless charging pad. That’s a nice touch.
Read: We’re Driving The 2024 Audi Q8 e-tron What Do You Want To Know?
Not everything in the cabin is a total smash hit though. The same center console section, for example, features these long plastic bars that run from the center control stack back to the rear climate control console. They don’t seem to serve a purpose but they do provide a bit of a natural obstacle from getting into the center storage area. It seems as though the plastic runners could be for resting one’s arm but the elbow pad does a far better job for that task. Some of the storage is really cool though.
Just beneath and to the left of the steering wheel there’s a storage cubby that’s almost egregiously deep. We mean that in a good way too. It’s large enough to stow a small umbrella or whatever other things you might carry that are similarly sized. It’s so unusual and somewhat forgettable that that’s exactly what happened. I actually lost my wallet for about 20 minutes only to realize that I’d safely tucked it in there hours beforehand.
The rear seats aren’t as fancy as the rest of the cabin though and could do with a bit more bolstering in our eyes. The 40/20/40 split-folding feature is nice though and even allows for lowering just the middle section. Whether or not Audi intended on it, that seems to harken back to the days of cars like the A4 that had a ski-bag that could pass into the cabin from the trunk through the same space.
The trunk offers 28.5 cubic feet of storage which expands to 57 with the seat backs folded down. That action can be accomplished from the rear cargo area but returning them to their upright position requires going back up to the sides of the Audi. While that cargo area isn’t as big as one might find on some rivals, it was more than big enough for a couple of road bikes, some gear, and even a third passenger.
Where We’re Going We Don’t Need Oxygen
This might be a flagship but not every statistic makes it seem that way. For example, Audi says it’ll take 5.3 seconds for this SUV to go from 0-60 mph (96 km/h). That’s not exactly quick for an EV but it feels plenty fast in person. While straight-line speed is where the e-tron, like most EVs, makes its most obvious impression, it’s in the bends where enthusiastic drivers will love it most.
Audi added a quicker steering rack and revised some of the suspension components on the front of the Q8 e-tron and it’s obvious. This large and somewhat heavy SUV corners incredibly well given those aforementioned attributes. The electrified Quattro system brilliantly enables the car to pivot without losing front-end grip and the result is an almost chuckable 5,798-pound SUV.
The steering is somewhat heavy but in a pleasant way that provides outstanding feedback. Moreover, the nose of the Q8 e-tron goes exactly where one tells it to, even when that’s a corner that seems simply too tight for it. The brakes and accelerator feel almost identically linear. Each offers clear communication about what it’s doing and each is easy to modulate.
The mountains of Colorado were a great place to test as well because while a combustion-powered car might have struggled in the thin air, the Q8 e-tron had no such issue. It dealt with the steep grades and the tight bends of the roads between Copper Mountain and Fraser before gaining back many miles of range on the way down into Denver. The Continental CrossContact tires were quiet and confidence-inspiring regardless of surface conditions.
In fact, in most driving situations, the Q8 e-tron is simply a composed everyday SUV. There are no less than seven different drive modes and each is more distinct than in years past. Audi’s driver aids allow for full-speed stop-and-go cruise control which was as handy as it was subtle. While some adaptive cruise systems might give away that a real human isn’t at the helm, this one is buttery smooth. When properly equipped, the Q8 e-tron can tow up to 4,000 pounds.
Battling Giants
The Q8 e-tron isn’t a big fish in a small pond the way it was when it debuted as simply the e-tron. Now, it has competition from Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Cadillac, and Genesis, and of course, Tesla isn’t going anywhere.
The 2024 Audi Q8 e-tron isn’t the fastest, the biggest, the most luxurious, or the best value in its class but it might just be the coolest. It is very athletic and it’s more than posh and spacious enough for most. On top of that, it offers a sincerely attractive mix of both conventional Audi design and future-proof touches that help it stand out. It’s kind of like the cool protagonist you see in some media forms.
They might not be a perfect expert or master at any one aspect of life but the way they effortlessly float between disciplines makes them all the more attractive. That’s the Q8 e-tron. An SUV that can do almost anything you need it to do all while having a sweet spot for Mother Earth at the same time.