Audi Q8 e-tron review 2023: Electric SUV gets a new name and much more range

Audi’s range was expansive enough before it started adding e-tron models, but the arrival of the RS e-tron GT and the Q4 e-tron have seen its ranks swell even further. All of which made the e-tron — the brand’s first electric car — a rather confusing outlier.

So now the e-tron name has been suffixed by ‘Q8’, but that’s not the only change. While Audi’s engineers were busy swapping the badges over, they decided to tweak the styling, interior and technology at the same time.

But will all that put the Q8 e-tron at the top of the premium electric car class or will it all feel a bit old hat alongside more modern alternatives?

Exterior design and rivals

Although the name has changed, the Q8 e-tron sits on exactly the same underpinnings as the e-tron that preceded it, so the differences in design are relatively minor.

Most noticeable is the new grille, which incorporates a flat Audi logo and a new illuminated strip for high-specification examples.

Other more subtle changes include new air dams ahead of the front wheels and new vents that open and close depending on the car’s aerodynamic or cooling needs.

There are new bumpers, too, and even more aerodynamic alloy wheel designs, while the digital door mirrors that marked out high-end versions of the old e-tron are still offered. All of which has allowed Audi to improve the car’s aerodynamic performance and therefore its efficiency.

As before, though, the best way of reducing the drag produced by the Q8 e-tron will be to switch the standard SUV body shape for the more aerodynamic Sportback version. That car, with its fastback-inspired rear end, has a more rakish rear window designed to be more stylish, if less practical.

A few tweaks aside, however, the Q8 e-tron looks much as it did before, and that is sure to play well with customers. The car has a chunky style that makes it look solid and robust, almost as though it’s carved from one ingot of aluminium. Even alongside striking rival designs such as the Jaguar I-Pace and the Mercedes-Benz EQC, the Audi certainly looks the part.

Interior and practicality

While Audi has made a few changes to the Q8 e-tron’s exterior design, the cabin is pretty much identical to that of the old e-tron. Yes, there’s a new steering wheel, but that’s about your lot.

Not that we’re complaining too much, because the cabin still looks and feels modern, with the high-tech ‘Virtual Cockpit’ instrument display and the two touchscreens that dominate the dashboard. And if you go for the camera-based door mirrors, you get two more little screens near the door handles.

Tech aside, the real highlight is the quality. Audi has nailed the art of making interiors feel as good as they look, and every material in the cabin is as upmarket as you expect from a car that starts at around £70,000. But there’s more to quality than just materials, and Audi has also managed to match classy components with rock solid construction and first-rate ergonomics, although we still aren’t quite sold on the strange arm-rest-cum-gear-selector arrangement.

What we are very much sold on, however, is the Q8 e-tron’s practicality. The driver and front passenger get acres of space, so there’s no sense that you’re sitting cheek-by-jowl with your neighbour, and there’s plenty of adjustment in the seats, too. Space is ample for those in the back, as well, with more than enough legroom for adults to sit comfortably and sufficient headroom even in the Sportback version.

But if you’re thinking there’s no penalty for choosing the Sportback, think again, because further back, the sloping roofline makes its presence felt. On paper, the difference in boot capacity isn’t that great — the conventional Q8 e-tron has a massive 569-litre load space and the Sportback cuts that to 528 litres — but that doesn’t tell the whole story.

Where the standard Q8 e-tron will easily take taller and bulkier items, the Sportback’s boot shape means you’re more limited in what you can carry.

That said, the difference is not that noticeable most of the time, and it’s only trips to the recycling centre and family holidays that will betray the Sportback’s compromised practicality. Day in and day out, both cars will be more than spacious enough, especially as the electric powertrain packaging allows space for a 62-litre storage tub under the bonnet, and that space remains whether you choose the standard SUV or the Sportback.

Technology and safety

Naturally, Audi has put the focus on technology in the Q8 e-tron, and the new car is just as tech-laden as its predecessor.

The most obvious features are the two touchscreens, which work together to provide access to most of the car’s functions. The lower screen controls the air conditioning and features such as the hill descent control, while the upper item is a more conventional infotainment system with media and navigation features.

While both screens look sharp and modern, the upper display feels more natural to use while the lower has a strange haptic feedback system that seems somewhat superfluous. It isn’t the end of the world but it does feel a bit odd.

More importantly, though, the system is a bit distracting, forcing you to look away from the road while you search for icons on a screen. Physical switches might be old hat, but they are a better solution.

More impressive is the Virtual Cockpit instrument display, which has been a staple of Audi products for some time, but has somehow managed to avoid the ageing process. It still looks great today, with its configurable ‘dials’ and selection of different views that allow you to see exactly the information you want.

But the tech Audi seems more keen to highlight is the camera-based door mirror system available higher up the Q8 e-tron range. This uses cameras on little stalks to ‘see’ down the flanks of the car, then display that image on a screen in the door. The system works, but it’s nowhere near as intuitive as conventional door mirrors. With proper mirrors, it’s easier to position the car more accurately in parking spaces or on the road, and there’s no lag in the display. It also takes a while to adjust to looking inside the car at the screens rather than outside at the mirrora.

Naturally, Audi has supplemented all these features with a host of safety systems, including matrix LED light technology that’s standard across the range. The matrix lights can sense a car coming the other way and blot out that section of the main beam, preventing dazzle while other sections still provide maximum illumination.

Add in cruise control, parking sensors and a reversing camera — all of which are included as standard — as well as all the usual safety gizmos, and the Q8 e-tron comes pretty well stocked.

Performance, range and charging times

Once again, the Q8 e-tron is available with a choice of three different powertrains, although all have been updated to improve range. That means the basic ‘50’ models now come with two electric motors that together provide 335bhp and all-wheel drive, while there’s a new battery pack with 89kWh of usable capacity.

The result is a car that does 0-62mph in six seconds flat and offers a range of up to 281 miles on a single charge. Opt for the more aerodynamic Sportback and that figure rises to 290 miles.

For many customers, however, the powertrain of choice will be the mid-range ‘55’ version, which uses its two motors to produce 402bhp and comes with a battery offering 106kWh of usable capacity. That extends the range considerably, with the SUV offering up to 330 miles on a single charge while the more aerodynamic Sportback manages up to 343 miles.

Of course, that’s all according to the official economy test, and real-world range is likely to be less impressive, especially in cold weather, but we still expect owners to manage around 250 miles without really trying.

But as well as offering extra range, the 55 has another advantage over the 50. With 170kW charging, as opposed to the 150kW system in the 50 version, the 55 can charge from 10-80 per cent in just over half an hour — the equivalent of almost 75 miles of official range every 10 minutes at maximum charging speed. As ever, that depends on the driver finding a charger with sufficient power, and the number of other cars sucking on that location’s electrical supply, but it’s still a useful option.

It’s a system that’s also fitted to the range-topping SQ8 e-tron, which specialises in straight-line performance. Available solely in conjunction with the top two trim levels, the SQ8 e-tron powertrain uses three electric motors to produce 496bhp, which means it’ll get from 0-62mph in 4.5 seconds.

Naturally, though, the extra power has an adverse effect on efficiency, and the SQ8 e-tron won’t achieve the same range as the less powerful 55, despite having the same 106kWh battery capacity. Depending on which trim level you choose, the SQ8 e-tron will cover up to either 279 or 284 miles on a charge, with the Sportback upping those figures to 290 or 295 miles.

Ride and handling

As well as fiddling with the batteries and the aerodynamic efficiency, Audi also claims to have tweaked the Q8 e-tron’s driving dynamics to make it more involving and more enjoyable to drive. To that end, there’s a new variable-ratio steering system and a revised rear axle that offers electric torque vectoring (sending power to each wheel individually) to help the car cling to the inside of corners.

The differences are pretty minor, though, and customers are unlikely to feel a huge amount of difference on the road. Yes, the steering is now quite heavy but it doesn’t have any more feel than before and you quickly become accustomed to the weight. And that’s a metaphor for the entire car, which feels big and heavy in pretty much every situation.

Although Audi would like to make the Q8 e-tron out as a performance vehicle, particularly in S form, there isn’t really much sportiness on display from the mid-range models. Admittedly, the clever air suspension and the low centre of gravity keep body roll to a minimum, and the Q8 e-tron certainly makes brisk progress, but it’s no match for a Porsche Cayenne when it comes to handling and engagement.

Where it really impresses, however, is on the comfort front. Despite the 2.5-tonne weight it has to deal with, the suspension soaks up imperfections in the road admirably, with only a few of the more jagged potholes making their presence felt. It’s supple around town, but at high speeds it seems to waft down the road effortlessly. And while it may not feel especially sporty, that it manages to offer such comfort while still feeling stable and secure is an achievement to be lauded.

Less surprising is the Q8 e-tron’s refinement, which is another carry-over from the old car. Of course, we expect electric cars to offer little in the way of powertrain noise, but the Audi also manages to isolate its occupants from most other sounds. There’s a bit of wind and road noise, which is to be expected from such a big car, but it’s easily as hushed as its rivals.

Pricing and on-sale date

Q8 e-tron prices start at £67,800, which pays for the basic 50 Sport model in conventional SUV shape. That’s a lot of money, admittedly, but it’s more than £5,000 cheaper than the entry-level Mercedes EQC and a couple of grand cheaper than the basic Jaguar I-Pace.

And you get plenty for your cash, including 20in alloy wheels, two-zone climate control and leather upholstery. Buyers get all the touchscreens and the digital instrument display, too, not to mention parking sensors and a rear-view camera.

Moving up the range adds extra visual updates and features such as the digital door mirrors, as well as the more powerful motors and the bigger battery. And for those who want the Sportback models, take the price of the equivalent SUV and add £2,500.

With all that, plus a bulging options list, it’s very easy to take the Q8 e-tron’s price tag well over the £100,000 mark.

Verdict: Audi Q8 e-tron review

The Q8 e-tron manages to build on all the things that made the old e-tron a success, but it has improved greatly in key areas such as range. The result is a car that’s difficult to fault by any objective measure, and one that stacks up well alongside its rivals.

If there is a fault, it’s that the Q8 e-tron is almost too competent to tug at your heart strings. Its lack of character makes it can be a difficult car with which to bond.

Not that the vast majority of customers will mind, of course, because the Audi will undoubtedly slot into their lives with consummate ease.

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