Audi Q8 2024 review: 60 TFSI e

There is only one variant available for the Q8 60 TFSI e and it’s priced at $152,500 before on-road costs and optional extras. That positions it towards the higher end of the rival line-up but the starting prices for the BMW and Porsche are $149,900 and $154,600, respectively.

The Q8 e is a well-specified SUV and you get lots of premium features, like a panoramic sunroof, heated and electric front seats, Valcona leather upholstery and high-end haptic feedback technology screens like the 10.1-inch touchscreen multimedia system and the 8.6-inch climate control panel. However, at this price point, I am surprised that you miss out on a ventilation function for the front seats.

Other standard technology highlights include wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, built-in satellite navigation, coloured head-up display, digital instrument panel, three-zone climate control and a Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system with a whopping 17 speakers. Hello, in-car concert!

The Q8 60 TFSI e comes in a single variant, priced at $148,375 before factoring in on-road expenses and optional add-ons. (Image: Glen Sullivan)

Adaptive air suspension, HD Matrix LED headlights, keyless entry and start, electric steering wheel adjustments, a handsfree powered tailgate and a bunch of safety features round out the package. 

Our test vehicle is also fitted with the Full Leather package for $8900, which adds Nappa leather trims throughout the car, as well as electric sun blinds on the rear outboard windows. The Waitomo Blue paintwork tacks on an additional $2300, as do the upgraded 22-inch alloy wheels. So, our test model actually swings in at $163,700 before on roads.

Value for money-wise, if you compare only to its rivals, it’s not outrageous but if you compare it to its fuel-based cousins, which are around $15K less, it might be harder to justify. And if you’re looking for an electric alternative, the Q8 e-tron is only a little more expensive.

The Q8 e is a well-specified SUV and you get lots of premium features. (Image: Glen Sullivan)

The cabin feels spacious in both rows for head- and legroom. The wide door apertures and higher ground clearance also make it an easy car to get in and out of.

When it comes to seat comfort, the front seats feel ergonomic with the adjustable lumbar and under-thigh supports. The seats sit low and you sit in them rather than perch on top like some SUV set ups.

The rear seats are comfortable and the back rest supportive, so even adults will be happy on a long journey.

The individual storage is pretty thin up front and the cabin gets messy quickly because of it. You get a shallow shelf as a middle console, glove box and two cupholders but the storage bins in each door are quite big, which is a plus.

The cabin provides ample space in both rows, offering generous headroom and legroom. (Image: Glen Sullivan)

The storage in the back seat is much better with two large net map pockets, two cupholders in the fold-down armrest and large drink bottle holders/storage bins in each door.

The boot is a good size at 505L but the sloped roof does mean you can’t position bulkier items at the front. The loading space is level and if you need to, you can adjust the height of the car via the adaptive air suspension.

The back seat has a 40/20/40 split and the boot features a luggage racking system with adjustable anchors, which opens up storage options.   

Amenities is both rows are what you hope for at this price point with three-zone air-conditioning, two USB-C ports in each row and a total of three 12-volt ports, as well. The front also gets a wireless charging pad.

The rear seats offer comfort with supportive backrests. (Image: Glen Sullivan)

The rear also has reading lights, four directional air vents and its own digital climate control but curiously, the fan control remains manual. The electric sunblinds were a hit for my seven-year old and I like that each door has a control of each blind – perfect for when you’re travelling solo in the back and want to adjust it.

Onto the other technology, the touchscreen multimedia system has haptic feedback, which means it vibrates when you press it - a bit gimmicky for me but the system itself is easy enough to use once you spend some time with it. You also get built-in satellite navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The climate control panel can feel fiddly to use at times but on a whole, the cockpit feels very driver-orientated.

The boot boasts a generous capacity of 505 litres. (Image: Glen Sullivan)

The Q8 60 TFSI e has a 3.0-litre, V6 turbo-petrol plug-in hybrid powertrain for a combined power output of 340kW and 700Nm of torque. You’ll get a happy tummy sucking sensation if you ever have to put your foot down because it can do a 0-100km/h sprint in just 5.4 seconds.

The Q8 e features an eight-speed automatic transmission and is an all-wheel drive. The switch between the petrol and electric engine components is seamless leading to a pleasant driving experience.

The Q8 60 TFSI e has a 3.0-litre, V6 turbo-petrol plug-in hybrid powertrain. (Image: Glen Sullivan)

Being a plug-in hybrid, the Q8 e has a 17.9kWh lithium-ion battery that produces a pure electric driving range of 47km WLTP, although I only ever saw a top range of 43km. You will chew through that range quickly.

The Q8 e has a Type 2 charging port but misses out on the fast DC charging component, so you’re stuck with AC charging. Audi says the charging speed is 2.5 hours but you’ll need a 7.2kW wall-box for that. Expect much longer from a wall socket. You also can’t charge larger appliances as it lacks a standard three-pin household plug port.

The official combined fuel cycle is 2.6L/100km but that’s in a perfect world when the electric battery remains charged at all times. Realistically, my best onboard fuel figure is 4.9L in hybrid mode but when the battery is depleted, my figures hovered around the 9.1L mark.

Overall, not a terrible consumption figure, given how large and powerful the car is but as with most plug-ins, you get the best fuel economy if you charge the battery regularly. For someone who lives regionally and typically does longer trips, it’s not the best combo for me but for an urban dweller, it might be perfect.

The regenerative braking doesn’t feel particularly strong but you do gain percentage when going down a mountain. My average kWh usage sat around 8.7kWh/100km when cruising but hit the mid-to-high 30s when accelerating.

The Q8's official combined fuel cycle is 2.6L/100km. (Image: Glen Sullivan)

The Q8 has a lot of standard safety features, but a highlight is the adaptive cruise control with its lane keeping and stop and go functions – it has the right balance of sensitivity and doesn’t slow down dramatically when approaching cars in front.

Other standard features include daytime-running lights, lane-keeping aid, lane departure alert, blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, collision avoidance assistance, rear cross-traffic alert, safe exit warning, intelligent seat-belt reminders, 360-degree camera system, front and rear parking sensors.

The Q8 PHEV variant is untested by ANCAP and thus unrated but its fuel-based cousins all achieved a maximum five-star rating in 2019. The Q8 e has eight airbags, including side chest airbags for both rows but it’s common to only find these on the front.

For any families out there, you have ISOFIX child seat mounts on the rear outboard seats and three top tethers. You may be able to fit three skinny child seats and there is plenty of room for front passengers when a 0-4 rearward facing child seat installed.

Standard features include a 360-degree camera system. (Image: Glen Sullivan)