Audi Q8

The Audi Q8 has an expressive design that consists of a new singleframe grille and features from the original Audi Quattro. At the front-end, the SUV gets a brawny new grille that has chrome inserts. It comes with HD Matrix LED Headlamps with integrated DRLs that amplifies the sporty and rugged look of the vehicle. The single-piece grille is accompanied by sharp-looking signature headlamps at each end. The grille is separated by the chrome bezel. The lower section of the front end has black cladding and a skid plate that has a black finishing. The vehicle gets black bezels around the fog lamps along with highly contoured air inlets right below it that give it a rugged and sporty look.

The Audi Q8 also gets an elegantly sloping roofline which terminates in gently inclined D-pillars This makes it look aesthetically appealing from the side profile. The crossover compact SUV also has structural reinforcements for better pedestrian safety. The SUV gets flared wheel arches along with chrome elements around the windows. It has an edgy design and comes with muscular lines and creases that run across the sides.

At the rear, the vehicle gets LED tail lights that run across the width of the vehicle. The light strip connects the units at the rear and has a section with a piano black finish that houses the Audi emblem in chrome. The Q8 lettering is in chrome too. The lower section of the rear end has black cladding with reflectors that add to the stylish character of the SUV. The Audi Q8 measures 4,986mm in length, 1,995mm in width and 1,705mm in height. It has a wheelbase of 2,995mm.

In terms of safety features, the Audi Q8 comes with crumple zones which are the key points on the structure of the vehicle that absorb impact in the scenario of a collision. In addition to this, there is an emergency SOS call function that connects the emergency helpline number for immediate assistance in case of an accident.

The SUV also comes equipped with ABS with EBD and rear parking sensors. The Q8 is also offered with safety features such as 8 airbags, a tyre pressure monitor, lane departure warning, electronic stability control, 18inch ECE disc brakes, seat belt reminder, and much more.

The new flagship SUV, the Q8, has also secured the maximum possible safety rating of 5 stars in the Euro NCAP tests that concluded in 2019. The Q8 performed extremely well in the adult occupancy category securing 93 percent (scoring 35.3 out of 38 points) and the child occupancy category, getting 87 percent rating (43 of 49 points).

Like the exterior of the vehicle, the interior of the Audi Q8 has a stylish look. The dashboard houses the dual MMI touchscreens. The vehicle totally has three screens. The first screen has Audi’s virtual cockpit dials whereas the other two screens are dual MMI touchscreens. The top one has basic functions that control navigation, media, phone, car settings and the like, while the lower one has functions related to the climate control system, seat adjustments and a few other driver-oriented features.

The cabin of the SUV gets a plush soft-touch leather interior. The seats are well cushioned and are comfortable. The driver seat is height-adjustable and has seat heating, ventilation and massage functions. The multi-spoke steering comes with audio controls for the driver’s convenience. In addition to this, there is a four-zone climate control system. Also, the cabin is built with practicality in mind as it has lots of storage spaces.

The Q8 also gets an anti-pinch electric panoramic sunroof that makes the cabin feel airy and refreshing. For entertainment, the vehicle has an incredible-sounding 1,920W Bang & Olufsen system. Also, due to the lack of third-row seating, the Q8 presents a massive boot space of 600 litres, however, the loading lip is quite tall, so taking your luggage in and out from the boot would be time-consuming and a tough task.

Like the exterior of the vehicle, the interior of the Audi Q8 has a stylish look. The dashboard houses the dual MMI touchscreens. The vehicle totally has three screens. The first screen has Audi’s virtual cockpit dials whereas the other two screens are dual MMI touchscreens. The top one has basic functions that control navigation, media, phone, car settings and the like, while the lower one has functions related to the climate control system, seat adjustments and a few other driver-oriented features.

The cabin of the SUV gets a plush soft-touch leather interior. The seats are well cushioned and are comfortable. The driver seat is height-adjustable and has seat heating, ventilation and massage functions. The multi-spoke steering comes with audio controls for the driver’s convenience. In addition to this, there is a four-zone climate control system. Also, the cabin is built with practicality in mind as it has lots of storage spaces.

The Q8 also gets an anti-pinch electric panoramic sunroof that makes the cabin feel airy and refreshing. For entertainment, the vehicle has an incredible-sounding 1,920W Bang & Olufsen system. Also, due to the lack of third-row seating, the Q8 presents a massive boot space of 600 litres, however, the loading lip is quite tall, so taking your luggage in and out from the boot would be time-consuming and a tough task.

The Audi Q8 gets a BS6-compliant 3.0-litre turbo-petrol V6 engine with a 48V mild-hybrid system that churns out 340 PS and 500 Nm of torque. Thanks to the 48V mild-hybrid system, the vehicle is now more powerful and returns good fuel efficiency figures. As for the transmission, the petrol motor comes paired with an 8-speed automatic gearbox that is slick.  

In terms of performance, the Audi Q8 is an all-rounder. It performs extremely well on highways as well as in city driving conditions. The 500 Nm of torque the engine produces definitely comes in handy while performing tough manoeuvers on an off-road trail. The engine feels refined even at higher RPMs. As a matter of fact, the Q8 only provides a distant mechanical churn as the RPMs increase.

The automatic transmission is quick to respond when you need a sudden surge of power. It shifts to lower gears quickly and provides the grunt that is needed to overtake high-speed traffic.  The straight-line performance of the vehicle is decent considering the fact that it is a 2.1-tonne machine. The vehicle is also built to withstand the stress encountered while driving off-road thanks to its robust chassis

The suspension setup of the Audi Q8 is on the softer side and it does not get too stiff in the dynamic mode as well. Audi has managed to provide a well-balanced suspension setup that is neither floaty nor stiff.  It comes equipped with adaptive air suspension at the front as well as rear that easily evens out the small bumps on the road when the vehicle is moving at low speeds. At higher speeds, the Q8 feels planted on the road surface and hence, it presents good high-speed stability. 

The engine is good in terms of refinement and the NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness) levels are under control as expected from Audi. The noise from the engine bay does not seep into the cabin even while the motor is running idle. Surprisingly, even though the vehicle weighs over 2-tonne and is bulky in design, the body roll is minimal. The steering is light and provides decent feedback. At higher speeds, the SUV does not lower the confidence of the driver as the steering provides good feedback.