A Q8 YOU MIGHT RATE (some text hidden) SECTIONED_new_audiq8e-tron_2023

By Jonathan Crouch

Audi's e-tron large SUV has been rejuvenated in Q8 e-tron form. Jonathan Crouch drives it.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 61

Audi delivers a much more credible offering to customers in the sector for full-battery large SUVs with this Q8 e-tron. It looks more sophisticated than its predecessor - and is, with greater range, a new charging system and an eco-trimmed cabin. Most customers will want the sleeker Sportback version, but here we look at this car in more practical SUV form.

Backgroundword count: 181

Audi doesn't like its products falling behind the technological curve but it's very first EV, the large e-tron SUV, quickly did following its introduction in 2018. Heavy weight, clunky looks and batteries that weren't large enough or dense enough all counted against the e-tron and its slightly sleeker showroom stablemate, the e-tron Sportback. More than a facelift was needed. More than a facelift is what we've got in the shape of this car, the Q8 e-tron. The fundamentals here are the same as those of the old e-tron SUV. And you can still have a swoopier Sportback version, though it's the standard SUV body shape we focus on here. The advanced tri-motor powertrain that featured on top of the range e-tron S models in the previous line-up has been carried over as well - to a meaner-looking SQ8 flagship model. More significant is that the twin electric motor quattro variants further down the range offer a much greater driving distance between charges of their much bigger batteries. Plus there are slight styling and trim changes too. Let's take a closer look.

Driving Experienceword count: 324

The reason why not enough people bought the e-tron in its original form wasn't hard to fathom; driving range. The base '50' version could only take you 212 miles, less than some EV superminis. Forget all that now: the offending 71kWh battery of that old car has been junked in favour of the much gutsier 95kWh one of the base Q8 50 e-tron model that takes the car (a still not exemplary) 281 miles. If you want to do better, the pricier Q8 55 e-tron variant your dealer will prefer to persuade you into has a huge 114kWh battery capable of 330 miles between charges, which is much more like it. Both models still have a motor on each axle, hence the quattro four-wheel drive system designation. The rear one though, has been improved, now with 14 coils instead of the previous 12, which pushes power up to 340PS in the Q8 50 e-tron, 27PS more than before. The Q8 55 e-tron has the same 664Nm torque figure, but serves up 408PS. If you want more, you'll be steered towards the top tri-motor SQ8 model, basically the old e-tron S, which means you get an extra motor at the back. With that, there's 503PS and an enormous 973Nm of torque, powering the car to a top speed of 130mph. Across the range, sprightly performance depends on selection of a 'Dynamic' drive mode that rather decimates the quoted range figures; to get closer to those, you'll need to keep more regularly in the drive select system's 'Auto', 'Comfort' or 'Efficiency' settings. Air suspension is standard with all Q8 e-tron variants and the ride height can be adjusted, with the 'Efficiency' mode lowering it by 27mm and 'Off-road' mode (yes, there is one) raising the car by 52mm. The steering's still Q5-derived, while much of the suspension uses Q7 bits. As with other electric cars, the low centre of gravity should help in reducing body roll.

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