Why the Luxurious Audi Q8 e-tron 55 Quattro is so Scrumptious

Audi, luxurious? That’s hardly a surprise is it.

Sure, the Volkswagen Group has a couple of the tastiest super-luxury brands on the market. Bentley, Porsche, Lamborghini, and a stake in Bugatti Rimac, give the German carmaker lots of street cred in the leafier suburbs, but Audi also has form for making fast sports cars that handle like kittens-on-carpet. Q8 takes up the parking spot left by A8 as the passenger car segment sinks gracefully into the sunset. Poor A8, it doesn’t stand a chance. Limos are so last decade.

Q8 e-tron 55 Quattro (previously known as e-tron 55) has the full works.

The tastefully curated cabin is positively stuffed full of wonderous gizmos wrapped in beautifully tailored leather. The handsome exterior already has a sloped rear end, but buyers can take that even further with the Sportback coupé SUV.

Our test Car

The Magnet Grey Q8 e-tron, looks strangely unadorned, in a quiet, understated way. It will appeal to the besuited spy slipping into a cocktail party unnoticed.

There are a couple of great features in the form of dual charging outlets located just ahead of the front doors. Operated by pressing the e-tron badge, the doors swing open to reveal an AC socket on one side, or a full AC/DC fast charger socket on the other. Just make sure you have the right side for DC fast charging as those hoses weigh a ton.

Headlights are LED, but the sensational full Matrix LED experience is a $3,300 option.

The electric boot hatch has a close/lock button on its lower edge, and a swipe to open/close function when your hands are full of shopping. Boot space (569L) is modest (until the seats are put down) to accommodate a trick spare tyre. The airless space saver collapses around the rim only to spring to full size when pumped up. It a brilliant application of a complex idea made simple, and everyone should be using it.

The 62L frunk is the perfect spot for (included) charging cables and other motoring flotsam.

ABOVE: 2024 Audi Q8 e-tron 55 Quattro

Our test Car

The Magnet Grey Q8 e-tron, looks strangely unadorned, in a quiet, understated way. It will appeal to the besuited spy slipping into a cocktail party unnoticed.

Headlights are LED, but the sensational full Matrix LED experience is a $3,300 option.

The 62L frunk is the perfect spot for (included) charging cables and other motoring flotsam.

The cabin

The cabin is delightful experience.

While even the cheapest Audi looks the business, the further up the range you get, the more luxurious the ambience becomes. Space is generous, making good use of the 2,928mm wheelbase. The subtle ambient lighting is soothing, made even more Zen by a superb audio system.

The 10 speakers with 180w of oomph make the sound warm and rich, and is controlled through the 10.1” haptic touch screen. There is a further 8.6” haptic touch screen for dual zone climate control, a 12.3” configurable driver display, and a head-up display projecting driving data onto the windscreen.

The gear lever is a small billet of metal resting in a wrist rest on the centre console, with it and all other controls having that quality feel.

Seating, front and back, feels properly cushioned. Although front seats have heating, there is no ventilation (cooling) or massage.

Every soft surface feels cloudlike, and the metal highlights have the look of a fine mid-century club lounge. Excluding the magnificent GT e-tron, Q8 is the top Audi, and it feels like it.

Along with seat cooling and massage for the front seats and heating for the outer rear seats, I’d like a 3^rd zone of climate for the clients in the back.

Luckily the electronic rearview side mirrors are not standard. No matter the brand, it is a daft idea and nowhere near as good as a rear mirror. The centre rearview mirror is much better as a switchable mirror/LCD screen, something our car didn’t have. For this kind of money I’d have hoped for a couple of little extras, gratis.

Q8 e-tron has moved into a space once occupied by A8 as buyers continue to prefer SUV transport.

The Drive:

Once upon a time, Quattro AWD was the cutting edge of rally technology. The original QUATTRO used a 5-cylinder petrol engine paired to a nifty differential system that shunted power between all 4 wheels. In full 4×4 vehicles, there is something even more complex offering high/low range gears, but EVs need no such frippery. E-quattro simply bolts a motor to each axel with a battery inbetween with fancy computers to make it all work.

The 114kwh battery hauls the 2530kg Q8 e-tron for up to 454km, but the 170kw maximum is a little less than the 350kw maximum charging found in other brands. On the bright side, Audi buyers get 6 years of free Chargefox, making roadtrips cheaper. It is worth noting that most EV owners charge at home even if free fast charging is on offer. AC charging is slower but extends the life of a battery.

Drive modes include a Dynamic option that earns Q8 e-tron a 0-100km time of 5.6 seconds in boost mode. The 300kw/664Nm power figure gives big SUV more than enough reserve, with 110kph being Australia’s top speed limit.

Handling is equally genteel.

Air suspension adds a final layer of finesse and is able to adjust as the loads change. However, fast corners expose the limits of a big SUV with a big heavy battery. Q8 e-tron is a queen on the highway, but more of a princess in corners. Handle her with kindness, and if you want that GT cornering experience, the GT e-tron (review next week) should be the box to tick.

Steering is neutral but the brakes need a fair old push. There is regenerative braking adjusted by the steering wheel paddles, but even on the hardest setting does not provide one-pedal driving.

Automated Parking operates the gears, steering, and brakes and is simple to operate. You press the button and the car does the rest, but manoeuvres take the costly wagon far too close to obstacles for my tastes. I have no doubt that it works, but previous scrapes with fully automatic parking has left me with a sour taste. A $5,000 alloy having a dust-up with wayward guttering gets expensive, fast.

Charging and App:

The bigger the battery, the longer it takes to charge, even when using a 170kw outlet.

The My Audi App gives the owner a lot of scope for control. The air conditioning can be left on even when the car is parked. Remote access will monitor charging, reveal vehicle status and location, and can interact with Audi’s customer interface portal.

The reach of the app’s ability will increase as Audi develops more “added value” features, not all of which will be free.

The 6-year Chargefox subscription provides free DC fast charging, and there is 7 AC ability for home use.

Safety and driver aids:

There is a full suite of safety and driver aids including active safety, active cruise and lane control, and the automated parking assistant.

Conclusion:

Q8 has wonderfully muscular ICE companions, but nothing matches the smooth and silent EV experience. There is plenty of comfortable space and a lot of gadgets to play with.

Q8 e-tron is a fully equipped luxury transport that doesn’t quite have the glitz of the Bentley and Porsche stable mates. Some might argue that the point is moot.

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