New Audi Q8 review

Introduction

When it comes to car names, it's usually safe to assume that the bigger the number, the bigger the car. There are always exceptions to any rule, though, and the Audi Q8 coupé SUV is one of them.

You see, eight might be the highest number in Audi’s model names, but the Q8 is actually a little smaller than the closely related Audi Q7.

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3.0 TDI V6 S line SUV 5dr Diesel Tiptronic quattro Euro 6 (s/s) (286 ps)

Expected annual mileage	5000
Term months	48
Deposit months	12
Monthly payment	£863.22
Initial payment	£10,358.64

Step-by-step

Leasing works a bit like a long-term rental. You drive it, but you don’t own it.

• Choose your car, pick your terms and apply for lease credit online
• Pay monthly rental payments for your chosen term length
• Drive it, enjoy it, then give it back at the end

What you get

When you lease with Autotrader you get all of this:

• Full manufacturer’s warranty
• Road tax and roadside assistance included
• No admin fees
• Free returns within 30 days*

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£10,359 initial payment, 48 month contract, 5000 miles p/a. Subject to status and conditions.

• Lower total monthly cost than PCP/HP
• No balloon payments
• Road tax included

The Q8's sloping roofline gives it a less boxy silhouette, and that means you get less interior space. In other words, a slight practicality penalty applies if you pick the sleeker of the two big Audis.

It still has plenty to offer, though. For example, there's a choice of two very impressive engines, as well as plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and a couple of performance-focused versions in the shape of the SQ8 and RS Q8, both with turbocharged V8 petrol power. If you're looking for an all-electric car, you'll need our Audi Q8 e-tron review.

So, how well does the Audi Q8 do against the best coupé SUVs? Is it as luxurious as a BMW X6 or Mercedes GLE Coupé? And can it get close to the driver appeal of the Porsche Cayenne Coupé? Read on to find out. And when you've decided what model to get, remember we can help you buy it for the best price at a trusted dealer if you search our New Car Deals pages.

What’s new

- June 2026: General review updates

- December 2023: Facelift brings refreshed exterior design with matrix LED headlights and extra colour
options

- September 2020: 375bhp 55 TFSI e quattro and 455bhp Competition 60 TFSI e quattro plug-in
hybrids launched; latter axed at end of 2021

- February 2019: 55 TFSI gets 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine

- July 2018: Q8 arrives with 282bhp 3.0 TDI diesel engine featuring mild hybrid technology

Overview

If you have a healthy budget and you're in the market for a large coupé SUV, the Audi Q8 is definitely worthy of your consideration. Inside it's classy and spacious and on the road it handles capably and cruises quietly. We'd go for the diesel engine – badged TDI – and entry-level S line trim.

Pros

• Spacious interior
• Fantastic build quality
• Strong range of engines

Cons

• Pricey to buy
• Lack of physical buttons for infotainment system
• Iffy reliability and average warranty

Trims available

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S line

The main reason for upgrading from Sport to S line trim is because it brings bigger alloy wheels (21in rather 20in) and makes the Q8 e-tron look sportier inside and out.

Black Edition

The Black Edition adds grey 22in alloy wheels, black body detailing, four-zone climate control and oak interior inlays. That's on top of what you get with the Q8 S line.

Vorsprung

Stepping up to Vorsprung gets you a 360-degree parking camera, rear-wheel steering, a 17-speaker/ 730-watt Bang & Olufsen premium stereo, power-closing doors, keyless entry, a panoramic sunroof, a heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, a head-up display, electric rear sun blinds, an Alcantara roof lining, extended leather trim, massaging and ventilated front seats, an electrically adjustable steering column, blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control.

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Performance & drive

What it's like to drive, and how quiet it is

How fast is it and which engine is best?

Regardless of whether you’re choosing petrol or diesel power you won’t be disappointed. The 282bhp 3.0-litre V6 diesel in the TDI pulls effortlessly from low revs and always feels as though it has power in reserve. When you put your foot down hard, it will dispatch the benchmark 0-62mph sprint in just 6.1 seconds. It’s a terrific fit for the Q8.

The other option, the TFSI, is a smidge quicker. That’s because its 3.0-litre turbocharged petrol makes more power (335bhp) to fire you from 0-62mph in 5.9 seconds. You have to rev it harder in everyday use, though, because it doesn't have as much low and mid-range oomph as the diesel.

We’re yet to sample the plug-in hybrid version of the Q8, but we have experienced it in the Audi Q7 and found it smooth and able to manage the transition between petrol and battery power very well indeed. It’s fractionally quicker than the pure-petrol model, but its 51-mile PHEV range is impressive for such a big car – although the plug-in Mercedes GLE can travel farther.

There are also two even quicker versions – see our Audi SQ8 review and Audi RS Q8 review to read about those.

Is it agile and is the ride comfortable?

The Q8's handling is very reassuring. It suffers from minimal body lean through corners, while Audi’s standard “quattro” four-wheel drive ensures there's no shortage of traction. The sharp steering has a reassuring heftiness to it, and on the Vorsprung trim you get all-wheel steering. That means the rear wheels turn a little to give you a tighter turning circle in town and greater stability at high speed.

As confidence-inspiring as it is, the Q8 doesn’t feel that much fun. The BMW X6 is a bit livelier to drive, and if you’ve got the money, the Porsche Cayenne Coupé is the SUV to buy for handling thrills and spills. The smaller, cheaper Porsche Macan is a hoot, too.

Adaptive air suspension is standard and the smallest wheels that are available are 21in. As a result, even in the slackest suspension setting, there's a firmer edge to the Q8’s low-speed ride than you get in a Q7 with smaller diameter alloys. That said, it’s still not uncomfortable by any means, and it's more cosseting than the X6 and GLE Coupé (they thump harder over potholes).

Is it quiet and how easy is it to drive smoothly?

The petrol and diesel engines in the regular Q8 have a very skilful stop-start system that fires them up smoothly. Predictably, the TDI is the noisiest engine under load and delivers a few vibrations through the steering wheel at times, but once you’re up to speed it’s barely audible – the petrol-powered TFSI is silkier overall.

In fact, the Q8 is generally very quiet. There’s not much to disturb your peace, with very little wind noise at 70mph, and road noise is better contained than it is in the Mercedes GLE Coupé. Just avoid the massive wheel options to maximise the tranquillity.

Our only significant complaint concerns the eight-speed automatic gearbox. It can be painfully slow to kick down, and if you go to overtake, for example, it hesitates for a second or so before delivering some go. It's frustrating, and even selecting Sport mode does little to improve things. Manual mode, using the paddles behind the steering wheel, is more obedient, thankfully.

Interior

The interior layout, fit and finish

What does the interior look like and is it well made?

Audi’s interiors aren’t always what they were in terms of material quality, but there’s little to complain about with the Q8. It feels very good quality and aside from there being too many functions controlled by the touchscreen, is very easy to use.

The surfaces which are in your eyeline, or are regularly touched, look and feel high quality, and befit its luxury SUV pricing. 

We must give a special shout-out to the traditional gearshifter, which, in a world of switches and paddles, is very, very easy to use.

Is the driving position comfortable and is it easy to see out?

Electrically adjustable front sports seats with adjustable lumbar support and an extendable seat base provide good long-distance comfort, while the steering wheel offers a huge range of movement to help you find the ideal driving position. Vorsprung trim adds a massaging function to the driver’s seat.

Visibility all around is excellent – even out of the back, despite the sloping roofline – and is helped further by a rear-view camera (360-degree camera on Vorsprung) along with all-round parking sensors. Matrix LED headlights are standard throughout the range, and allow you to leave the main beams on without dazzling other road users.

The Mercedes GLE Coupé and the Range Rover Velar interiors look very jazzy next to the Q8’s, but in terms of construction integrity and material quality, the Q8 has the edge – even if the Porsche Cayenne is better still.

All the surfaces are plush-feeling (there are some iffy plastics dotted around the Velar) and screwed together very well (there are some wobbly bits in the GLE). Indeed, it's right up there with the excellent interior of the X6.

Is the dashboard and infotainment system easy to use?

Every Audi Q8 comes with a dual-touchscreen infotainment system layout. The lower 8.6in touchscreen in the Q8 mostly operates the climate control functions.

The downside is that you have to look away from the road to change any of the settings – proper physical buttons and dials (like the ones you find in a BMW X6) are safer and easier to use on the move. However, at least the climate controls are clearly labelled and permanently visible in the Q8, with haptic feedback to make it obvious when you’ve pressed the screen.

Above the climate control panel is a larger 10.1in infotainment touchscreen, which includes sat-nav plus Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring. Again, it’s not as good as the arrangement in the X6, which not only has the touchscreen but also a rotary iDrive controller that lets the driver skim through lists and make selections with just a fleeting glance.

Audi’s Virtual Cockpit digital instrument screen is great. It's fitted as standard and displays lots of information right in front of the driver. It's highly customisable, very easy to read and supplemented by a head-up display if you go for Vorsprung trim. That's not a necessity, though.

Passenger & boot space

How it copes with people and clutter

How much space does it have for people?

The Audi Q8 has masses of front-seat space – as much as any rival, from the BMW X6 to the Mercedes GLE Coupé. That goes for head and leg room as well as the width you get to enjoy.

It’s just as good when it comes to storage space, with oodles of trays and cubbies, a large glovebox and sizable door bins. You won’t struggle with your cappuccinos because there are a couple of cup holders as well.

What about the rear seats? Well, normally a sloping roofline does spice up a car’s looks but spells disaster for anyone tall sitting in the rear. Not here, though – the Q8’s rear bench has more head room than most coupé SUV rivals.

You certainly won’t feel hemmed in and really the only compromise is that it’s not as spacious in the back as the Audi Q7. Rear leg room remains as generous as it is in the Q7, but you have to do without the Q7’s two extra fold-out rear seats in the boot.

How much room does it have for luggage?

The Q8’s boot is smaller than the Q7’s, but with 605 litres, there’s easily enough room for the family holiday clobber. In fact, you can increase it to 680 litres if you slide the rear seats forward, but even without doing that, we were able to fit eight carry-on suitcases below the tonneau cover – more than the BMW X6 managed but slightly shy of the Mercedes GLE Coupé.

When you need more space, you can fold down the seat backrests using levers by the tailgate. They're split 40/20/40 to give you plenty of options to mix passengers and luggage.

Buying & owning

Everyday costs, plus how reliable and safe it is

How much does it cost and what equipment do you get?

The Audi Q8 is a pricey car, but then it’s a large, sporty, luxurious coupé SUV. Any equivalent BMW X6 will be just as expensive, and a Mercedes GLE Coupé even more so. The Range Rover Velar is cheaper, but that’s because it comes with smaller engines and lesser trim levels, which naturally lower the list price.

The Q8 is also vastly more expensive than the similar (and more practical) Audi Q7.

Coupé SUVs are popular, with many people looking to pick one up second-hand. As a result, the Q8’s resale values match the X6’s and GLE Coupé’s, although the Velar retains a slightly bigger chunk of its list price.

Thanks to the Q8’s competitive resale values, its PCP finance costs are also in line with its rivals’. Those do fluctuate with manufacturer incentives though, so always check our New Car Deals pages for the latest prices.

In terms of trims, we’d stick with the entry-level S line. It includes 21in alloy wheels, a powered tailgate, privacy glass, power-folding door mirrors, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, leather seat trim and two-zone climate control. And there's more: air suspension, electric front seats, matrix LED lights, front and rear parking sensors, plus a rear-view camera.

Black Edition does very little more to impress, other than adding some styling enhancements. Vorsprung is incredibly well kitted out, adding nappa leather, electric sun blinds, keyless entry and massaging seats – which is all fantastic, but it’s just too expensive.

Is it reliable, and how long is the warranty?

As for reliability, Audi finished a not-so-impressive joint 22nd place out of 30 manufacturers on our 2025 survey into the most reliable car brands. That was better than Land Rover, equal to Mercedes, but BMW placed far higher.

The Q8 wasn’t included in our list of most reliable cars, but according to readers the closely-related Q7 is the least dependable seven-seater and luxury car, with a rating of 78.6% and 47% fault rate.

Every Q8 comes with a three-year or 60,000-mile warranty, which is pretty average.

How safe is it, and is it easy to steal?

The Q8 also comes with an impressive array of active safety features, including automatic emergency braking (AEB) and lane-keeping assistance. The Vorsprung trim adds blind-spot monitoring and every version has a full five-star crash safety rating from Euro NCAP.

Buy it if

You want those coupé looks, but don’t want to make too many sacrifices in space

You want something to eat up miles quietly

You enjoy interiors that look and feel upmarket

Don’t buy it if

You do a lot of stop-start driving, because the gearbox is hesitant

You crave the simplicity of car functions; that second touchscreen is cluttered

You want peerless reliability or a long warranty

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