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While other luxury German brands have coupe-inspired SUVs that look like two different cars cut and pasted together, the Audi Q8 takes a different approach to its design appeal.
The large five-seat SUV – which launched in Australia in 2018 - may be based on its practical Q7 sibling, but it adds sporty style, a muscular body design and driver-focused dynamics. Given its size, it’s still very practical, too.
The Audi Q8 starts at $140,090 for the Q8 50 E-Tron, ranging through to $166,090 for the Q8 55 E-Tron.
The Q8's interior is finished with premium and sturdy materials, with a mix of screens and buttons to control functions.
While the large SUV is spacous inside, the layout means everything is within reach for driver and passengers though there aren't many significant storage spaces aside from cupholders and door cards.
The Audi Q8 has a standard five-seat configuration, with electrically adjustable front seats and a bench second row.
Audi says the Q8's boot has a claimed 605 litres of capacity, or 1755 litres with the second row folded down.
Each variant of Audi Q8 has a different powertrain, there's a diesel, petrol, and plug-in hybrid in the range.
The 50 TDI has a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 driving all four wheels with its 210kW and 600Nm via an eight-speed automatic.
The 55 TFSI has a similar drivetrain, but runs on petrol and boasts more power at 250kW, but less torque with 500Nm.
Both the 50 and 55 feature 48-volt mild-hybrid tech to bring fuel use down.
Then there’s the Q8 60 TFSIe, which also has a 3.0-litre turbo V6, but it’s aided by an electric motor for an output of 360kW and 700Nm.
Even though the Q7 is larger than the Q8 and shares much of the same technology, Audi justifies a considerably price hike on the Q8 due to its more sport-focused powertrain options which boost performance. The Q8 is available in V6, V8 or full-electric guises, with the choice of petrol, diesel, hybrid and battery electric powertrains. The Q7 is only offered in petrol or diesel, the majority of which are in V6 guises with one V8 option. The top-spec SQ8 shares much of its underpinnings with the Lamborghini Urus.
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The Audi Q8 has five seats in a 2:3 configuration. Customers looking for a seven-seat option should look at larger Audi Q7.
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The screens in the Audi Q8 consist of a main 10.1-inch touchscreen, the 12.3-inch driver display and an 8.6-inch touchscreen.
There's heated leather seats up front, adjustable leather seats in the rear, three-zone climate control, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a wireless phone charger.
Depending on variant, the Audi Q8 can hit 100km/h in as little as 5.0 seconds. That's with the most powerful available, the Q8 60 TFSIe, which uses plug-in hybrid power.
Below that there's a petrol-powered 55 TFSI which has a claimed 0-100km/h time of 5.9 seconds. Both these versions are limited to 250km/h.
Finally, a diesel-powered 50 TDI variant is able to hit 100km/h in a claimed 6.1 seconds and on to a top of 241km/h.
The Q8 50 TDI has a claimed 7.1L/100km fuel consumption figure, while the 55 TFSI is a little thirstier at 9.2 litres per 100km. They have 75- and 85-litre fuel tanks respectively, so should be able to reach about 100km and 900km in that order.
Real-world factors will lower the distances you’re able to cover.
It should be noted that the 60 TFSIe has a much lower claimed fuel use thanks to its 25.9kWh battery doing some of the work, but its 1.8L/100km claimed consumption figure is unrealistic for any significant drive. Once its 74km EV range is depleted, fuel use will rise significantly and drain the tank much more quickly.