2021 Audi Q8 Reviews

The Audi Q8 60 TFSIe quattro S line has had a mid-life upgrade which sees tweaks to its design, technology and features. But do those upgrades make this large plug-in hybrid SUV one to look out for?

Audi’s rival to swoopy ‘coupe’ SUV veterans like the BMW X6 has been given a refresh and it's already on sale in Australia.It’s the more style-focused sibling to the Q7, forgoing the third row of seats, and is available with a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant for even more differentiation.Given the opportunity to sample the updated large SUV coupe at its Australian launch, we’re checking in with the near seven-year old model to see if its updates can keep it competitive with rivals.

Audi has launched another Q8 cousin in the form of the plug-in hybrid 60 TFSI e. If you're wanting to go a little greener, is it your best option?

As Audi's first electric vehicle, the e-tron EV SUV proved to be a likeable and capable alternative to the Mercedes EQC, with a luxurious and roomy interior, benign road manners and strong, silent performance. But that was years ago. Now, a facelift has arrived, bearing a new name - Q8 e-tron - as well as a fresh face and some changes underneath to keep it competitive. Does the Audi still cut it?

The Audi Q8 50 TDI is that most rare of beasts. Stylish and spacious. Powerful and practical. It appears to cover all bases and then some. So is there a downside? We put it to the family test to find out.

The Audi Q8 isn't cut from the same swoopy cloth as its direct rivals - the BMW X6 and Mercedes GLE Coupe - but that's a good thing. Because on first impressions, it's better than both of those cars.

The Audi Q8 2019 range will kick off in Australia in January 2019 with the petrol-powered 55 TFSI model.The list pricing for the Q8 petrol is $128,900 before on-road costs - the same as the 50 TDI diesel version, which is identically equipped. That pricing means the Q8 55 TFSI undercuts the closest BMW X6 (50i - $153,619) and Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe (AMG 43 - $145,830) by $24,719 and $16,930 respectively. That’s good news in anyone’s book. The 55 TFSI model is powered by a 3.0-litre petrol V6 engine producing 250kW of power and 500Nm of torque. It uses an eight-speed automatic transmission with all-wheel drive, and is backed by a 48-volt mild hybrid system that helps it save a little bit of fuel by allowing coasting at high speeds and engine shut off when decelerating. Claimed consumption is rated at 9.2L/100km. Standard gear includes 21-inch alloy wheels, the S line exterior styling pack, adaptive suspension with damper control, adaptive cruise control with lane change assist, a 360-degree camera with kerb view (so you don’t mark those huge rims, obviously!), Valcona leather upholstery, front seats with electric adjustment plus heating and ventilation, a leather-trimmed steering wheel with paddle shifters, LED headlights (with auto-high beam) and daytime running lights, three-zone climate control, a head-up display, Audi’s 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit instrument cluster, and Audi’s new MMI touch response control screen with 10.1- and 8.6-inch screens for media and car controls.There’s the expected connectivity of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus you get sat nav GPS, DAB digital radio and a 10-speaker sound system.Safety is covered with auto emergency braking (AEB) up to 250km/h, forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist (including steering assist up to 60km/h), lane keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a forward cross-traffic alert system known as ‘Intersection Assist’. Plus, there’s a 360-degree surround-view camera system with AI graphic interface and adjustable view system, front and rear parking sensors, and semi-autonomous park assist.Of course there’s also the expected array of airbags (dual front, front-side, rear-side, full-length curtain) and the rear seat has dual ISOFIX and three top tether baby seat attachment points.

The diesel option for buyers interested in the Audi Q8 2019 range is the 50 TDI model, which is due on sale before the middle of 2019.The 50 TDI is priced and specified identically to the 55 TFSI petrol, with a list price of $128,900 before on-road costs. In terms of its direct rivals, there’s a more affordable X6 (xDrive30d - $119,900) and GLE Coupe (350d - $126,330) to choose from.The 50 TDI version of the Q8 is powered by a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 engine producing 210kW of power and 620Nm of torque. It employs an eight-speed auto transmission, and has quattro all-wheel drive. This model, like the petrol, has a 48-volt mild-hybrid system that helps it save a little bit of fuel by allowing coasting at high speeds and engine shut off when decelerating. Claimed consumption is rated at 6.7L/100km. Standard equipment includes 21-inch alloy wheels, the S line exterior styling pack, adaptive suspension with damper control, adaptive cruise control with lane change assist, a 360-degree camera with kerb view (so you don’t mark those huge rims, obviously!), Valcona leather upholstery, front seats with electric adjustment plus heating and ventilation, a leather-trimmed steering wheel with paddle shifters, LED headlights (with auto high beam) and daytime running lights, three-zone climate control, a head-up display, Audi’s 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit instrument cluster, and the new MMI touch response control screen with 10.1- and 8.6-inch screens for media and car controls.There’s the expected connectivity of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus you get sat nav GPS, DAB digital radio and a 10-speaker sound system.Safety is covered with auto emergency braking (AEB) up to 250km/h, forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist (including steering assist up to 60km/h), lane keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a forward cross-traffic alert system known as ‘Intersection Assist’. Plus there’s a 360-degree surround-view camera system with AI graphic interface and adjustable view system, front and rear parking sensors, and semi-autonomous park assist for those who are nervous about marking the huge rims. Of course there’s also the expected array of airbags (dual front, front-side, rear-side, full-length curtain) and the rear seat has dual ISOFIX and three top tether baby seat attachment points.