In the electric vehicle (EV) age, it’s going to be hard to stand out. Even in the internal combustion engine (ICE) age, we’ve all pursued having a car that’s quiet and refined, but with every EV being quiet and refined, a Rolls-Royce suddenly doesn’t have a major selling point versus something as affordable as a BYD. Audi, who was one of the EV pioneers in the luxury segment, is also facing this dilemma. With tons of EV rivals from both affordable and premium segments, how is the 2024 Audi Q8 e-tron going to stand out?
Audi Identity In The EV Age
Well, thankfully, from a styling perspective, there’s no denying that it’s an Audi. The 2024 Audi Q8 e-tron immediately presents itself as a luxury EV from the Ingolstadt brand, with its signature octagonal Singleframe enclosed grille, albeit one that’s surrounded by a darker grey trim piece that creates a nice depth to its front fascia. The sleek adaptive matrix LED headlights also greet you through an intricate animation that never goes out of style, in my opinion. It’s also wearing a nice set of 21-inch multi-spoke wheels that perfectly fit the Q8 e-tron’s demeanor. Finally, the rear end also gets a full-width LED taillight design and a sporty rear bumper with the e-tron logo embossed right on it.
The overall proportions manage to blend elegance with athleticism, but wait a minute, why does this Q8 e-tron look slightly more compact than what we’ve become used to? Well, that’s because the Q8 e-tron is actually what used to be called just the e-tron. Because Audi now makes a whole range of e-tron-branded EVs, the e-tron SUV has now been rebranded as the Q8 e-tron. Despite the Q8 nomenclature, it is not related in any shape or form to the gas-powered Q8.
Elegance In Simplicity
Origins aside, the 2024 Audi Q8 e-tron is impressive from the outside, but what about the interior? Well, design-wise, it doesn’t break any new ground. It looks very conventional and very functional. If you want your luxury car to be a Bauhaus gallery of some sort, the BMW iX might be a better choice, but the Q8 e-tron’s interior is still a nice place to be in. Simple as it is, but it scores high in terms of build quality and ergonomics. All the surfaces and panels have an immaculate build quality, while the pleasant mix of matte textures with silver trims means that this isn’t an interior that’s prone to fingerprints.
Ditto the dual touch screens for the MMI infotainment, which, while I may not be a fan of ditching physical controls, the execution of the dual touch screen is excellent. That’s because the screens have haptic feedback, and depending on the settings, the screen actually needs to be physically pressed down. By doing so, it emits a satisfying click that’s reminiscent of past Audis with their tactile physical controls. I’d still prefer Audi’s trademark tactile physical controls, but the dual-screen layout is the second-best option for me.
Other stuff to highlight in the interior is the power-adjustable steering column on top of the heated and ventilated seats, as well as the nice-sounding Bang & Olufsen premium sound system. Oh, and did I mention that this has one of the best massaging seats at its price point? I usually don’t mention seat massage features because they tend to be executed poorly, but in the Q8 e-tron, there are actual pressure points that do a good job of relaxing you or relieving soreness during a long drive. Finally, there’s multi-color LED ambient lighting that’s far more subtle in execution compared to what we’ve become used to in Mercedes and BMW interiors.
As for space and practicality, the 2024 Audi Q8 e-tron is built on the MLB Evo platform, which is not a bespoke EV architecture. As a result, it suffers from the packaging constraints of being a vehicle based on a platform for ICE cars. Still, for this facelift, Audi managed to eke out a decently-sized front trunk, along with a rear cargo area that measures 569 liters. This is actually less than the previous e-tron SUV, but it’s still within the class average in terms of size. Finally, being a midsize two-row crossover SUV, there’s plenty of space on all two rows, though there’s a tiny transmission tunnel that would not normally exist in a vehicle that’s built on a bespoke EV platform.
Bigger Battery, Bigger Ambitions
Moving on to the driving experience, this is where I was surprised with the 2024 Audi Q8 e-tron. The model we’re driving is the Q8 e-tron 50, which sits below the Q8 e-tron 55. This means that it has a dual-motor all-wheel drive (AWD) setup that produces 335 horsepower and 664 Nm of torque. Through an 89 kWh battery pack, the Q8 e-tron 50 has up to 491 km of WLTP-rated range, while changing speeds are up to 11 kW in AC and 150 kW in DC.
Now, the reason I was surprised with the driving experience is because of how the electric drivetrain behaves. I’ve come to get used to driving EVs with instant torque, but in the Q8 e-tron, that’s not entirely the case. Rather than instant gratification, there’s a surging sensation when you step on the throttle, similar to an internal combustion engine (ICE). It’s surprisingly even more linear in sensation versus the Lexus RZ 450e I drove last year. Don’t get me wrong, it still has an instantaneous response, but the Q8 e-tron doesn’t deliver everything that you asked for in a snap.
As a result, this is the most ICE-like in terms of the throttle experience. Combined with the air suspension that does such a good job of ironing out bumps, the supreme levels of chassis stiffness that quells road imperfections before they even reach you, along with the copious amount of sound insulation, the Q8 e-tron is the most comfortable and relaxing EV I’ve driven. It’s a cliché at this point to say that EVs are quiet, but the way it all comes together in the Q8 e-tron is unlike what even the BMW iX or Lexus RZ offers.
Being a midsize luxury EV, range is going to be a major concern. The 2024 Audi Q8 e-tron has bigger batteries for all variants, with the Q8 e-tron 50 now nearly at the 500-km mark. However, with an energy consumption of 4.87 km/kWh, it’s not the most efficient out there. Still, with its 89 kWh battery size, its real-world range is around the 430-450 km, depending of course on your driving habits and how much you use the regenerative braking.
Speaking of regenerative braking, the 2024 Audi Q8 e-tron can vary its regenerative braking intensity through the paddle shifters. However, the Q8 e-tron doesn’t have the one-pedal drive mode that we’ve become used to with many EVs. It’s not a deal breaker in our opinion, but it’s just a nuance that’s worth mentioning if you are into the one-pedal drive mode with today’s EVs.
Relaxed Athleticism
So there’s no doubt that the 2024 Audi Q8 e-tron is great on a straight line and even on badly-paved roads, but what about the twisties? Thanks to the quattro dual-motor AWD system, there’s loads of grip, and with the vehicle placed in Dynamic mode, the throttle response is now instantaneous. The air suspension lowers and stiffens the ride a bit to counteract body roll, while the steering weighs up a bit for better control. So yes, when in Dynamic mode, there’s good body control and the Q8 e-tron feels more athletic in this mode.
What’s missing from the equation, however, is a sense of feedback from the steering wheel. The BMW iX is more emotional and offers a better driver connection through its steering that provides more road feel and driver connection. What the Audi Q8 e-tron is meant to do is isolate you from the outside world in relaxation and comfort. It can be athletic and capable through the twisties, but its character caters more to those who want a relaxed yet capable luxury EV. In the end, isolation and relaxation are what matter the most to luxury car buyers.
Finally, as for advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), the 2024 Audi Q8 e-tron range comes with the Audi Pre Sense suite of ADAS, which bundles automatic emergency braking and lane departure warning. This comes on top of the Parking Aid Plus with a 360-degree camera system. Unfortunately, if you want stuff like adaptive cruise control, lane centering, or even blind spot warning, that’s hidden in an optional package.
Core Competency
For a mid-cycle facelift, what used to be simply known as the Audi e-tron has also been given a new name and a newfound purpose in the EV segment. Brands often try to make their cars possess too many traits that they sometimes skew themselves away from their core target demographic, and this is where the 2024 Audi Q8 e-tron shines through. It isn’t trying hard to be something it isn’t, and by focusing on its core competency as a relaxed yet capable luxury EV, it stands out by simply doing what a luxury car should do best–to isolate you from the outside world. At the same time, the Q8 e-tron is imbued with a degree of athleticism and capability that Audi’s legendary quattro AWD system has been known for.
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Pricing and Rating
Exterior Design: 8/10
Interior Design: 8/10
Space and Practicality: 8/10
Features: 9/10
Safety and Driver Assistance Tech: 8/10
Acceleration: 8/10
Handling: 8/10
Comfort: 10/10
Energy Efficiency: 8/10
Value For Money: 8/10
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