2019 Audi Q8 Road Test and Review

2019 Audi Q8 Orange Parked Desert Front Quarter ・ Photo by Audi

Simply offering a robust lineup of SUVs isn’t enough for car brands these days. With so many crossovers on America’s roadways, luxury buyers are desperate for different. The answer, it would seem, is the hybridization of coupe design language and traditional SUV style. Slant-roofed utility vehicles are nothing new – BMW’s X6 has been on sale since 2008 – but only recently has the niche exploded with competitors, including the Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe and upcoming coupe-like version of the Porsche Cayenne. With the introduction of the Q8, Audi is hoping to pick up style-conscious consumers who may not need the Q7’s third-row seat or additional cargo space.

Unlike its competitors, Audi isn’t keen to call the Q8 a coupe, instead referring to the model as a “sporty SUV.” However it’s marketed, the 2019 Audi Q8 is a bold design backed up by cutting edge technology. Read on for our complete thoughts on Audi’s new flagship.

Filling In the SUV Gaps

The Q8 is Audi’s most slope-roofed SUV yet, taking its place atop the brand’s crossover range. We know that more even-numbered, similarly styled Q-models are on the way, including a compact Q4 and compact/mid-size Q6. A subcompact Q2 crossover is presently sold outside the U.S. as well.

Before long, the Q8 may be supplanted by a three-row SUV flagship (presumably wearing the Q9 badge) that will take on BMW’s new X7 and Mercedes-Benz’s redesigned GLS-Class. Though the Q7 does accommodate seven passengers, its interior dimensions are tighter than those of its German competitors.

Photo by Audi

Exterior Styling

Though it shares its platform with the Audi Q7, the Q8 has a look all its own. Three inches shorter, an inch lower, and an inch wider than the Q7, the new flagship has sporty proportions to match its rivals. The SUV’s dimensions – especially its width – are emphasized by a massive front grille and a continuous LED light bar across the rear.

When designing the Q8, Audi drew inspiration from the 1980s Sport Quattro rally car. The Q8’s boxy fender flares, blacked-out tailgate strip, and rear glass angle are derived from classic Quattro. Influenced greatly by exterior paint color and contrasting trim (body color matching, gloss black, or dark gray), the Q8’s bold nose will either be appreciated or derided. The Q8 also features a “welcome” sequence from the Matrix LED headlights and taillights. It’s hard not to feel like a hero when your car gives you a daily light show. Other exterior cues include available 21- and 22-inch wheel designs and integrated trapezoidal exhausts.

Photo by Audi

Interior Comfort

Audi’s cabin design is pure business-class, with sleek surfaces, an organized layout, and formal comforts. Piano black trim abounds on the dashboard and console, which typically guarantees a finger-smudged mess. However, with only a few touch points coated in gloss black, the aesthetic remains clean. Elsewhere, genuine wood grain, brushed metal borders, high-quality leather, and microfiber suede bring a traditional luxury contrast to the screen-dominated aesthetic.

Without the Q7’s third row, Audi was able to free up an extra inch and a half of rear legroom, meaning full-size adults have plenty of space to stretch out. Headroom is slightly compromised compared to the Q7, but not to the same extent as coupe-branded rivals. Cargo capacity is also best in class at 31 cubic feet behind the second row and 62 cubic feet with the 60/40 rear seat folded. Q8s equipped with the optional air suspension system can raise or lower the rear to make loading and unloading easier.

Photo by Newspress USA

Powertrain

For now, the Q8 is powered exclusively by a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 rated at 335 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission is tasked with getting power to all four wheels. Audi claims a 0-60 mph sprint of 5.6 seconds and a top speed of 130 mph, which isn’t too shabby considering the Q8’s 5,000-pound mass. To reduce any delay in power delivery, Audi positions its turbocharger between the banks of its V6, thus shortening the distance forced air must travel to the combustion chambers. 

Fuel economy isn’t a strength of the Q8 (or any of its rivals); drivers can expect 17 mpg in the city, 22 mpg on the highway, and 19 mpg combined. Before the end of 2019, we anticipate Audi will unveil an SQ8 with over 400 hp to contend with hotter versions of the X6 and GLE Coupe. 

Photo by Audi

Driving Dynamics

The danger of merging vehicle segments is compromised driving dynamics; in the pursuit of performance, is the Q8 too harsh to use on long trips? Conversely, do efforts to make the Q8 practical come at the expense of agility? Fortunately, Audi employs a few tricks to properly balance sport and sophistication in its new flagship. The Quattro all-wheel drive system intuitively splits torque between axles to improve cornering momentum (the default ratio is 40/60 front to rear). Standard steel springs can be swapped with an air suspension system that absorbs road harshness and a four-wheel steering system that keeps the vehicle stable at speed. Dual-pane glass suppresses wind and tire noise.

As a result of these methods, the Q8 is a remarkably adaptive SUV. In traffic or at a leisurely pace, the vehicle gives up little to its A8 sibling in terms of ride comfort. Driven more enthusiastically, the Q8 grips and accelerates in a way contradictory to its weight and size. We’ll stop short of calling the SUV a “driver’s car,” but its light steering is precise, its body motions are controlled, its brakes are more than competent, and its transmission is swift.

Photo by Audi

Convenience and Safety Technologies

The star of the Q8 show is its technology, which leads the luxury segment by packaging sophisticated features in an intuitive module. Other brands like Land Rover have introduced three-screen dashboards, but apart from looking pretty, these systems are either slow or overly complicated. Audi’s latest MMI infotainment, by contrast, is vivid, fast, and easy to use.

A pair of haptic feedback monitors with customizable menus control most functions. The 10.3-inch upper display houses navigation, music, and vehicle settings. The 8.6-inch lower screen commands the HVAC system, seating configurations, handwriting, and numerous menu shortcuts. The logical menu structure and the haptic response reduce distraction and driver frustration. If you can work a smartphone, you’ll be able to easily manipulate Audi’s MMI. Also part of the system is wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, HERE-powered maps, natural language processing for voice commands, and wireless phone charging. The Virtual Cockpit digital gauge cluster also gets an update with sharper graphics and faster processing. Active safety features include adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist, active lane-keeping assist, parking assist, front and rear cross-traffic alerts, blind-spot monitoring, and Audi PreSense front and rear.

Photo by Newspress USA

Pricing and Packages

The 2019 Audi Q8 starts at $68,395 including a $995 destination charge for the base Premium trim. Standard features include 20-inch wheels, MMI navigation plus with touch response and Virtual Cockpit, natural wood inlays, a panoramic sunroof, and a backup camera. Our Prestige-packaged test vehicle came loaded with niceties like heated and ventilated front seats, four-zone climate control, heated rear seats, a leather upper dashboard, a Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system, a panoramic sunroof, dual-pane glass, Valcona leather seats, and soft-close doors. Stepping up to the Premium Plus trim ($72,395) adds 21-inch wheels on wider tires, a 360-degree camera, wireless phone charging, side assist, a rear cross-traffic alert, and PreSense rear.

Atop the Q8 range is the Prestige trim ($77,545) that features Matrix LED lights, a head-up display, the driver assistance package, a leather dashboard, and haptic feedback controls. Standalone packages include the cold weather package ($600) with heated rear seats and a heated steering wheel, the adaptive chassis package ($2,750), and the luxury package ($5,950) with an Alcantara headliner, dual-pane glass, massaging seats, passenger-seat memory, and Valcona leather.

Photo by Audi

Highs and Lows

Highs: - Class-leading convenience features - Plenty of power - Excellent passenger and cargo space - Superb ride quality

Lows: - Can’t hide its weight and size on the road - Polarizing styling

Photo by Audi

Competition

Close rivals to the Audi Q8 include the BMW X6 xDrive35i ($66,245) and the Mercedes-AMG GLE43 Coupe ($70,575). BMW’s “sport activity coupe” produces 300 hp and 300 lb-ft of torque from a turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine. All-wheel drive gets the 4,700-pound SUV to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds. Though down on power compared to the Q8 and GLE43, the lighter X6 achieves an EPA combined fuel economy rating that's 1 mpg better.

The Mercedes-AMG GLE43 Coupe may cost more than its rivals, but it develops the most power – 362 hp and 384 lb-ft – from its twin-turbocharged V6. The sprint to 60 mph and fuel economy ties the Q8 at 5.6 seconds and 19 combined mpg.

Photo by BMW

Our Take

The new crossover-coupe fad is not rooted in practicality – a traditional, boxier SUV will always be able to carry more people and more cargo – but it does push automakers to design more striking bodies for their high riders. In our opinion, Audi chose the right time to enter the segment and the right blend of form and function to appeal to the widest selection of luxury buyers.

The Q8 doesn’t compromise utility as much as its rivals, though its style and driving experience are more than a match for the base-engine variants of the BMW X6 and the Mercedes-AMG GLE Coupe. Given the Q8’s stellar performance baseline, we can’t wait for the forthcoming SQ8 model to turn up the dial on fun.

Photo by Audi