Audi Q8 2020 review: 50 TDI

Sporting a distinctive coupe design, the Q8 is hard to miss. The big gaping grille in black gloss, bookended by LED headlights, and taillight bar at the rear look cool and help accentuate its size. Slightly shorter and wider than its Q7 sibling, but with a coupe-style sloping rear end, the Q8 packs a seriously muscular look. 

Sporting a distinctive coupe design, the Q8 is hard to miss.

Our test car came with the optional 22-inch alloys, which sit snug within the Audi's sizeable wheel arches. The Q8 has a hefty but well-proportioned waistline highlighted by subtle feature lines that run down each side, and unique pillar-less doors which are also a design highlight. It's a good looking hulk of a car that's sure to turn heads.

The Q8’s black leather interior, combined with the premium materials used across the dash and doors, complement the slick-looking twin-screen centre dash. It’s a properly polished set up that delivers on the luxury promise.

The large dimensions of the Q8 translate into a generous amount of space for the family front and rear.

Head and legroom back there is excellent and could easily accommodate three six-foot adults.

The seats are comfortable and supportive with acres of space in the back for the kids. Head and legroom back there is excellent and could easily accommodate three six-foot adults without too much fuss.

Boot space is generous, with 606 litres of space available with the seats pushed all the way back. With the rear seats (split 40:20:40) folded down this expands to a considerable 1755 litres - good for a couple of kid's bikes or three scooters plus picnic gear.

Boot space is generous, with 606 litres of space available.

Storage is plentiful with bottle-sized door pockets all around, two cupholders between the front seats and two in a flip-down armrest in the back, and a centre console storage bin that also houses a wireless phone charger.

My kids in the back seat had access to rear air vents with dual-zone climate controls.

The Q8 comes with host of parking aids including 360-degree surround-view camera system with AI graphic interface, front and rear parking sensors, with semi-autonomous park assist also on hand to help manoeuvre into tight spots. They proved particularly helpful ensuring the 22-inch rims kept a safe distance from the kerb.

My kids in the back seat had access to rear air vents with dual-zone climate controls as well as two USB points and a 12-volt power outlet.

The Q8 was awarded the maximum five stars by ANCAP in February 2019, and with a comprehensive list of safety features, it’s not hard to see why.  

There’s auto emergency braking (AEB) up to 250km/h, forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist, lane keeping assist, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a forward cross-traffic alert system known as ‘Intersection Assist’. 

The Q8 was awarded the maximum five stars by ANCAP in February 2019.

Additionally, there are front and rear airbags including dual front, front-side, rear-side, and full-length curtain. For parents with capsule or booster seats there are two ISOFIX and three top-tether baby seat attachment points.

The Q8 50 TDI pricing starts at $129,900, however you get plenty of standard kit for your money. 

Four your money you get the S line exterior styling pack, 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, a head-up display, Audi’s 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit instrument cluster, and the MMI touch response control screen with 10.1- and 8.6-inch screens.

The Q8 50 TDI pricing starts at $129,900, however you get plenty of standard kit for your money.

Our test car came with a number of additional extras, including Glacier White metallic paint ($2,300), roof rails in black ($900), high gloss black exterior package ($1,850) and the Premium plus pack ($12,100) – this includes 22-inch alloys, adaptive air suspension, privacy glass for rear windows, HD matrix LED headlights, four-zone climate control, 17-speaker Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system and LED interior lighting package.

The final price as tested came to a thumping $147,050.