2024 Audi Q8 e-tron Review and Test Drive

Audi creates a better e-tron but still falls short of rivals.

Christian Wardlaw | 

Nov 28, 2023 | 14 min read

Christian Wardlaw

Audi has used the e-tron name in the United States to signify electric-only propulsion since 2016. Originally affixed to a plug-in hybrid version of the 2016 A3 Sportback, e-tron became a separate model name in 2019 when Audi's first electric SUV went on sale.

Then things got messy — and confusing.

The e-tron Sportback came out, then the e-tron S and e-tron S Sportback, all versions of the original e-tron. Next up were the e-tron GT and RS e-tron GT performance cars, both totally different from the SUV. When the Q4 e-tron SUVs arrived, Audi started using the e-tron name as a sub-brand.

With the arrival of the 2024 Audi Q8 e-tron and its Sportback and SQ8 derivatives, however, it appears the automaker is on a path to establishing some logic for its growing electric vehicle lineup. But it's not as simple as it seems. The Q8 e-tron is not an electric version of the existing Audi Q8. Instead, it's an updated and upgraded version of the old e-tron with new names. Dimensionally, Audi sizes the Q8 e-tron between the Q5 and Q8 in Audi's lineup, so logic would dictate a Q6 e-tron name, right?

And so, the confusion continues.

I've criticized the e-tron's unimpressive driving range and questionable value equation but the 2024 Q8 e-tron represents more than a name change and a styling refresh. Audi has improved the electric SUV's range, charging capabilities, acceleration, ride, handling, and overall value compared with previous e-tron models.

The results are impressive enough to make the Q8 e-tron worth consideration when cross-shopping it with the growing list of electric luxury SUVs.

Christian Wardlaw

2024 Audi Q8 e-tron Prices Reflect Flagship Status

Audi sells the Q8 e-tron in standard and Sportback body styles, with performance-tuned variants of each wearing SQ8 nomenclature. Available trim levels include Premium, Premium Plus, Prestige, and Launch Edition, and prices range from the mid-$70,000s to the mid-$90,000s, including the destination charge to ship the SUV from the Brussels, Belgium, assembly plant to your local dealership.

As of publication, Audi is advertising an electric vehicle lease bonus of $7,500 to help make the Q8 e-tron more affordable. In addition, you get two years of complimentary DC fast charging at Electrify America stations. For any road trips to places where charging might prove difficult, Audi offers a free weeklong rental of a gas-powered vehicle through the Audi on Demand service. Audi will also roll the cost of buying and installing a home charging station into your lease or loan payment.

These ownership perks address several obstacles consumers may cite for not choosing an electric vehicle.

This Audi Q8 e-tron review covers the standard body style and powertrain. The test vehicle arrived in Prestige trim with extra-cost Madeira Brown paint, a Black Optic package, and rear side-impact airbags, bringing the manufacturer's suggested retail price to $88,990, including the $1,195 destination charge. Audi provided the vehicle for this Q8 e-tron review, and I drove it in Southern California.

Christian Wardlaw

Audi's Design Is Conservative but Appealing

Audi pens the Q8 e-tron to its traditionally conservative design themes, with the option of dressing the SUV up with Launch Edition trim, a Black Optic package, or larger and more expressive wheel designs. My test vehicle had the latter two upgrades and looked terrific, though the brown exterior isn't my favorite. Minor styling changes improve the aerodynamics, and the Q8 e-tron wears a new two-dimensional Audi logo and offers an available illuminated grille.

Inside, the Q8 e-tron Prestige reflects the model's standing as Audi's flagship electric SUV. Digital instrumentation pairs with dual infotainment and control screens for a high-tech appearance in a traditional layout. The touch-sensing screens provide haptic feedback, and a capable voice recognition system helps make the digital displays easier to navigate.

Similarly, with some acclimation, the Q8 e-tron's controls are simple and intuitive. Audi deftly incorporates an electronic transmission shifter into a wrist-rest pedestal on the center console near a physical knob that controls stereo volume and radio tuning. Separately, there are stereo and tuning controls on the steering wheel.

I'm not a fan, however, of the cruise control stalk on the lower left of the steering column, which I find challenging to reference and use while driving. At one point, when attempting to increase my speed, I instead signaled a lane change. Other motorists made room for me to move over, but since that wasn't my intention, their kindness was for naught.

Genuine open-pore wood trim, premium leather, polished metal accents, thick carpets, and dual-pane side window glass convey opulence. Unfortunately, the open center console storage area, where Audi locates the cupholders and phone charger, will likely become a dust, dirt, and crumb collector, detracting from the otherwise luxurious and serene ambiance. A tambour-style door can cover the cupholders and create a tray, but if you put things on it, they can slide off and fall under the passenger's seat or into the smartphone charger.

Christian Wardlaw

Audi's Prestige Trim Offers Maximum Comfort

When you upgrade to Prestige trim, you get 18-way power-adjustable front seats with heating, ventilation, and massage. They're sensationally comfortable, and Audi provides a sliding center armrest that adjusts for height.

Rear passengers also enjoy a supportive seat cushion and a proper backrest angle. The seat is mounted a little low in the SUV, but that's not a big deal since it doesn't compromise comfort. A four-zone automatic climate control system allows everyone to choose a temperature, and the test vehicle had heated outboard rear seat cushions and rear side window shades covering nearly all of the glass.

Christian Wardlaw

Stingy Storage and Cramped Cargo Space

Storage space is generous where you don't need it and stingy where you do. For example, on the lower left side of the dashboard, Audi provides a ridiculously deep hidden storage area. There is also an oversized glove compartment, and the door panel bins offer appreciable room.

The center console design, however, is displeasing. The cupholders and the box under the armrest are too small, and the smartphone charger's design makes it impossible to see if your device is charging. Backseat occupants make do with similarly skimpy storage arrangements.

In the cargo area, you'll find netted storage on either side of the main load floor, plus hooks for bags and evening illumination. In addition, there is a deep well under the floor and a front trunk where the charging cable lives. Audi says the Q8 e-tron holds 28.5 cubic-feet of cargo behind its back seat and a maximum of 56.4 cu-ft with the 40/20/40-split rear seat folded down. That's less than a standard Audi Q8, which makes sense since the Q8 e-tron is a smaller SUV.

Christian Wardlaw

2024 Audi Q8 e-tron Infotainment: Function Over Form

Audi equips the Q8 e-tron with a dual-screen Multi-Media Interface (MMI) infotainment system. It includes:

• 10.1-inch upper display
• 8.6-inch lower display
• Natural voice recognition
• Wireless Apple CarPlay
• Wireless Android Auto
• Premium SiriusXM 360L satellite radio
• Navigation system
• Audi Connect services with complimentary trial subscriptions

Starting with Premium Plus trim, the MMI pairs with a Bang & Olufsen premium sound system, but it lacked the depth I expected when I cranked it up to louder volumes.

When I drove the Audi Q8 e-tron, I'd just wrapped up a weeklong test drive of the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. Using the Audi MMI system, even with its dual-screen design and smaller main screen compared with the VW, was like a breath of fresh air. Logical menus, simple graphics, haptic feedback to touch inputs, a helpful voice recognition system, and properly illuminated controls made using Audi's tech simple and satisfying.

Still, it does lack a particular wow factor compared with what you'll find in a modern BMW or Mercedes-Benz. Also, when the panoramic sunroof shade is open, glare from the sun makes it hard to see what's on the screens.

Christian Wardlaw

Audi Virtual Cockpit Plus Remains Impressive

Audi is no longer the only game in town regarding its 12.3-inch Audi Virtual Cockpit Plus digital instrumentation. Nevertheless, the system remains impressive thanks to ease of use, clarity of data, and nearly full-screen navigation employing Google Earth imagery. In addition to the digital gauges, my Prestige test vehicle had a head-up display showing navigation directions, the posted speed limit, my travel speed, and the status of the advanced driving-assistance systems (ADAS).

The test model also featured a surround-view camera system with a Virtual 360 view. Using a fingertip on the display, you can spin the Q8 e-tron and see what's surrounding the SUV in all directions. The camera system and parking sensors made it easy to maneuver the Audi.

Prestige trim also comes with Intelligent Park Assist. It provides semi-autonomous assistance for parking the Q8 e-tron in parallel and perpendicular spaces.

Christian Wardlaw

2024 Audi Q8 e-tron Safety Features Need Refinement

Audi equips the Q8 e-tron with plenty of standard safety features. They include:

• Pre Sense Basic, which prepares the interior and occupants for a collision
• Pre Sense Front: forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Lane-departure warning
• Adaptive Cruise Assist with Lane Guidance

While selecting my settings within the MMI display, I found a predictive braking function, Turn Assist, which prevents unsafe left turns across traffic, and Swerve Assist, an evasive steering assistance system. Prestige trim adds Intersection Assist, a front cross-traffic alert system.

During the evaluation drive, I set the ADAS to Maximum combined with the Standard driving program. However, I turned off the predictive speed control in curves because it was too intrusive. Unfortunately, as it turned out, so was the A8 e-tron's Adaptive Cruise Assist with Lane Guidance technology.

Adaptive Cruise Assist is a Level 2 semi-autonomous driving aid that requires drivers to keep their hands on the steering wheel. I used it on the Pacific Coast Highway between Malibu and Oxnard in Southern California, rural two-lane roads laced across Ventura County, and the 101 freeway southbound across Camarillo and climbing the Conejo Grade.

As with most other Level 2, hands-on driving technologies, Adaptive Cruise Assist can struggle in curves and issue false warnings. Audi's technology, however, makes significant errors.

For example, powerline shadows on a two-lane road caused the Audi to momentarily veer right as though it planned to depart the pavement and plop the SUV into a lettuce patch. On the U.S. 101 freeway's Conejo Grade, with a 7% incline, Adaptive Cruise Assist failed to negotiate a curve. I had to quickly correct before sideswiping a truck in the adjacent lane.

I know it's not designed to steer for you, but unless you hold the wheel with a light grip, you feel like you're constantly wrestling with the steering assist.

At one point on the 101 freeway, I signaled and changed from the right to the middle lane to pass slower vehicles. Just as I completed the maneuver, the Q8 e-tron decided to brake even though there weren't any vehicles in front of the SUV. I had to take control and accelerate, undoubtedly leaving confused motorists in my wake.

I did not enjoy using Adaptive Cruise Assist. Different settings may produce more subtle inputs from the tech, but I was too frazzled to remember that I could change them and try again. If I owned this Audi, I would rarely use this technology.

Safety Ratings Show the Q8 e-tron Is Safe in a Collision

If despite your best efforts and the best intentions of the tech, a collision occurs, know that the Q8 e-tron earns high marks for safety. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gives this Audi a five-star overall rating, and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety calls it a Top Safety Pick+ for 2023.

Christian Wardlaw

New Battery Increases the Q8 e-tron's Range and Reduces Charging Time

Audi equips the Q8 e-tron with a dual-motor e-Quattro drive system. It has an improved rear electric motor and a new 114-kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery with a 23% increase in energy storage capacity, and the official range estimate is 285 miles, with an efficiency rating of 41 kWh per 100 miles (2.4 miles per kWh).

In addition, DC fast-charging compatibility rises from 150 to 170 kW, reducing the time it takes to recharge from 10% to 80% to 31 minutes. Audi includes two years of complimentary unlimited fast charging at Electrify America stations, and the Q8 e-tron has Plug & Charge capability, allowing you to pull up to a station, plug in, and start charging without using a credit card or an app.

Use a 240-volt/40-amp 9.6-kW home charging station, and the Q8 e-tron fully recharges in 13 hours. In addition, while Audi hides the charging port behind a door on the left front fender, you can add one on the right side for improved flexibility.

Audi improves other aspects of the Q8 e-tron for 2024. The automaker claims there is more significant differentiation between the driving modes, which include Offroad, Allroad, Efficiency, Comfort, Auto, Dynamic, and Individual. In addition, the automaker improves the electric SUV's ride and handling with revised steering with quicker response and better road feel, modifies the suspension, increases torsional rigidity, adds a standard adaptive air suspension that you can manually raise or lower, and recalibrates the stability control system.

Christian Wardlaw

Quiet, Smooth, and Supple Driving Dynamics

Overall, the improvements help to make the Q8 e-tron more competitive and more convincing as a flagship model. However, in my experience, the drive system's numbers are optimistic.

The test vehicle arrived with a nearly full battery and an indicated range of 254 miles. After driving 51 miles with the Q8 e-tron in Efficiency mode, the predicted range had dropped to 175 miles. That's when I departed on my evaluation drive, having switched the Audi into its Auto driving mode.

Returning home after 70.4 miles of travel at an indicated energy consumption rate of 2.3 miles per kWh, the trip computer told me I had 91 miles of remaining range. In total, during the entirety of my time with the Q8 e-tron, I'd driven the Audi 121.4 miles at 2.2 miles per kWh, just short of the EPA estimate. However, the range had fallen by 163 miles. That represents a big difference between expectation and reality.

If the Q8 e-tron fails to impress in terms of efficiency, it successfully serves the acceleration, ride, and handling qualities you expect from a luxury SUV.

Christian Wardlaw

According to Audi, the electric motors provide a maximum 402 horsepower and can accelerate the Q8 e-tron from zero to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds. That's slower than some of its rivals, but the Audi will satisfy most drivers as it gets up to speed.

Under normal conditions, the SUV relies primarily on its rear-axle motor, but when traction conditions or a switch into Dynamic mode dictate greater use of the front-axle motor, it automatically springs into action. I used Dynamic mode when driving on local mountain roads, and it makes a difference in how the SUV feels and behaves.

With a single exception, the Q8 e-tron exhibits a refined fluidity and sophistication regarding nearly every driving dynamic. This SUV feels plush, isolated, quiet, smooth, and luxurious. With its relatively flat and stable cornering attitude, impressive tire grip, and excellent steering, it's also enjoyable to hustle on a back road.

The regenerative braking system is the outlier. The Q8 e-tron doesn't have a one-pedal driving function, but by using the paddles on the steering wheel, you can adjust regeneration to two more aggressive settings on a case-by-case basis.

The problem is bringing the Q8 e-tron to a smooth stop. In slow-speed situations, the Audi exhibits inconsistent pedal feel and response. At higher speeds, the pedal can feel numb and leaden. It's a challenge, and a one-pedal driving function would help solve it.

Christian Wardlaw

The Audi Q8 e-tron Is Not New, but It Is Improved

Though Audi has substantially enhanced the e-tron in its transformation into the new Q8 e-tron, I see this electric SUV as a midpack player in its segment.

The best things about it include appealing design, high interior quality, impressive comfort, a quiet interior, refined ride and handling traits, and excellent ownership benefits. Unfortunately, the optimistic range indicator, aggravating driver-assistance behavior, poor brake-pedal feel and response, and cramped cargo space detract from the Q8 e-tron's appeal.

Not only that, but the competition in this segment has exploded since the e-tron became one of the first models available. The list of alternatives now includes the BMW iX, Cadillac Lyriq, Genesis Electrified GV70, Jaguar I-Pace, Lexus RZ, Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV, Tesla Model X, and VinFast VF 8.