Audi Q8 Sportback 55 e-tron 2024 Review

The 2024 Audi Q8 Sportback 55 e-tron is priced at $166,600 plus on-road costs, so a $170K-plus purchase price is what most potential buyers will be looking at without any discounts from the dealer.

By comparison, its regular-shaped ‘wagon’ SUV sibling, the Audi Q8 55 e-tron, costs $12,000 less at $154,600 plus ORCs.

Factoring in a $700 price rise that kicked in on February 1, the pricing for the two battery-electric luxury family SUVs represents an increase of $8525 and $9525 respectively on their pre-facelifted predecessors, which ain’t chump change.

Audi says the extra cash-splash is ameliorated by the inclusion of a mega 114kWh gross (106kWh net) battery upgrade, more equipment and upgraded suspension – all of which we’ll cover in this review.

Despite the lofty pricing, the Audi Q8 55 e-tron is currently Audi Australia’s most affordable EV. And until the sub-$90,000 Audi Q4 e-tron arrives mid-2024, that will continue to be the case – a stark indication of how far Audi lags behind rivals like BMW and Mercedes-Benz in terms of its EV portfolio.

Rivals for the Audi Q8 e-tron include the BMW iX (from $130,900), Lexus RZ 450e (from $121,675) and Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV (from $126,675), all of which are significantly more affordable.

Like all Audi vehicles sold in Australia, the German brand’s Belgian-built flagship electric SUV is backed by a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, while the battery is covered for eight years/160,000km.

If you hate taking your vehicle to get serviced the Q8 e-tron will half raise an eyebrow with service intervals double the length of most combustion-engine cars, set at two years or 30,000km, whichever comes first.

Furthermore, all Audi e-tron models like this one come with a six-year Chargefox subscription, allowing access to loads of public fast-chargers nationally, along with six years’ free scheduled servicing and roadside assistance.

Compared to the pre-facelifted Audi e-tron 55, whose global launch took place back in 2018, there’s not a lot of new stuff inside the 2024 Audi Q8 Sportback 55 e-tron cabin, which is a bit disappointing.

But it’s far from spartan. The powered and heated (but not cooled) Valcona leather ‘sport’ front seats are big, supportive and comfy and front seat occupants are greeted by six high-definition digital displays, four of them touch-screens – including for the optional $3500 virtual mirrors fitted to our test model.

A power-adjustable leather-clad steering wheel festooned with buttons and dials is part of the package, along with soft synthetic leather coverings for the dashboard and doors with matte brushed aluminium inlays and silver headlining covering the ceiling.

Other standard features include a fairly potent 10-speaker, 180W audio system with a subwoofer and digital radio tuner, four USB ports and plush-pile floor mats.

There’s air suspension with variable adaptive dampers, while the more expensive Sportback versions of the Q8 e-tron add quad-zone climate control instead of dual-zone, plus upgraded LED interior mood lighting with 30 selectable colours and six colour profiles.

Like all self-respecting German luxury cars, the options list is alarmingly extensive… and expensive. On top of the show-stopping $3500 digital mirrors (which are questionable), you’ll fork over an extra $1750 for a 16-speaker Bang and Olufsen audio system, $3400 for a panoramic glass sunroof and $1050 for tinted windows.

Buyers can add $3300 for adaptive Matrix LED headlights, $1900 for an exterior black pack, $1600 for bigger 22-inch alloy wheels and $2300 for all eight exterior paint colours except for Magnet Grey.

The 2024 Audi Q8 Sportback 55 e-tron has a five-star ANCAP safety rating dating back to 2019, so it hasn’t been assessed against the much stricter testing protocols now in place.

But this is an Audi and they are, generally speaking, very safe vehicles.

Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality, a traffic jam assistant and lane guidance assist are part of the driver assist safety package, as is autonomous emergency braking (AEB) that detects vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians, a blind spot warning system and rear cross traffic alert, which alerts you of approaching vehicles when backing out of a tight car park.

Six airbags are included as standard, which doesn’t include increasingly common protection between the two front occupants.

When it comes to jaw-dropping luxo tech, few brands do it better – or make technology easier to use – than Audi. Case in point, the 2024 Audi Q8 Sportback 55 e-tron’s 12.3-inch virtual cockpit (digital instrument cluster, by any other name), which is still one of the most powerful, versatile and easy-to-use systems available today.

Google Earth maps overlay? Check. Different layouts for road speed and battery charge? Check. Easy-to-read data at a glance? Check.

It’s joined by a crisp and clear head-up display (HUD), twin OLED touch-screens in the doors for the virtual mirrors plus a pair of large touch-screens in the middle of the dashboard. These comprise the top-most infotainment screen – a 10.1-inch unit that looks good and has an intuitive interface – and an 8.6-inch lower screen for temperature controls, with haptic feedback.

A 360-degree parking camera system with kerb view and the Audi parking system plus with front and rear sensors make parking the big electric rig a little less daunting.

Then there’s the virtual mirrors that look super-cool with their ultra-modern optics but take more than a week to get used to, it seems. Training the eyes and coaching muscle memory to not look out the window at a wing mirror and instead slightly below the belt line at a small screen is – for me – virtually impossible in seven days.

They do work exceptionally well in low light conditions and also when it’s raining, but after almost cleaning up a Hyundai Getz after three days behind the wheel it’s one optional feature I’d certainly go without.

The 2024 Audi Q8 Sportback 55 e-tron has two asynchronous electric motors that generate a combined 300kW and 664Nm of torque.

Drive is sent to all four wheels through a single-speed transmission, delivering a 5.6sec acceleration time from 0-100km/h – in boost mode. When driving regularly it completes the same sprint in 6.5sec.

Neither of those times are particularly rapid for an EV and in the real world the Q8 Sportback 55 e-tron feels even slower than those figures suggest. Compared to almost any EV costing more than $70,000, it feels a bit lethargic, which is disappointing.

You could wait for the Audi SQ8 e-tron, which gets a triple-motor array instead of a dual-motor set-up, but you’ll have to stump up more cash – $180,600 for the Sportback version, or $173,600 for the wagon.

Audi has upgraded the rear axle e-motor with two extra coils – now 14 – but this hasn’t changed power or torque, rather efficiency, insists Audi.

According to the manufacturer’s data, the 2024 Audi Q8 Sportback 55 e-tron can travel 454km (WLTP) on a full charge. That’s good rather than great but is an improvement over its predecessor’s 436km range.

The vast majority of the circa-$9000 price rise for the latest Q8 e-tron pays for a larger lithium-ion battery from Samsung, now at 114kWh (up from 95kWh), which is where most of the range gains are made.

Changes to the exterior design that improve aerodynamic efficiency are claimed to contribute slightly as well.

So, with the 114kWh battery and a 454km range, the result is an average energy consumption of 25.6kWh/100km, and during our testing we managed to achieve results close to that claim – though it should be noted it didn’t involve much freeway driving.

There are two charge ports at the rear sides of the vehicle – AC/DC (Thunderstruck!) driver’s side, AC-only on the passenger’s side.

Charging times vary depending on how much battery charge is left and what sort of charger you’re using but the battery’s maximum charging bandwidth is 170kW (best described as average) due to its 400-volt architecture.

Newer Audi EVs like the e-tron GT feature an 800-volt electrical system which allows up to 350kW charging capacity.

Using an ultra-fast charger, the Q8 e-tron will recharge in 31 minutes (from 10-80 per cent), says Audi. Using a measly 2.2kW standard power point you’d find at home, charging takes more than a day.

Three charge cables are supplied, a 4.5-metre-long Type 2 charging cable for public fast-chargers, along with a standard 230-volt 32-amp single-phase plug for regular household power points and a CEE Industrial plug.

Audi’s chassis boffins have made lots of changes to the 2024 Audi Q8 Sportback 55 e-tron’s suspension, which changes how it drives in a positive way.

It’s a more satisfying vehicle to drive than its predecessor thanks to sharper, quicker steering and recalibrated adaptive air suspension that’s standard across the range.

We wouldn’t go as far as to say it’s an ultra-engaging SUV to drive, but the changes wrought on the air suspension and adaptive dampers reduce body roll through corners and give it more bounce in its step when faced with demanding corners. There’s less roll and pitch through the body when you’re going at it hammer and tong and the stiffer bushes also help here.

The big German SUV feels more direct and responsive around town, when commuting and navigating heavy traffic, which helps mask its hefty 2520kg kerb weight.

Despite this (and the big 21-inch rims shod with sporty 265/45 tyres), it’s also quite settled over crummy roads, the adaptive air suspension and active dampers delivering good ride comfort.

Refinement levels are exceptionally good – the Q8 e-tron is quiet and smooth and sophisticated in almost every respect. Whether listening to music or podcasts, making phone calls or chatting with other passengers, it’s all very centred and peaceful.

The answer to this seemingly simple question is ‘maybe’. In this guise, with its sporty road-biased tyres, the 2024 Audi Q8 Sportback 55 e-tron is capable of bombing along gravel roads, but anything more than that could be problematic.

However, there is an Audi Q8 e-tron ‘Dakar’ model that’s fitted with General Grabber AT3 tyres and has a 31mm boost in ground clearance, to 206mm, although it hasn’t been confirmed for Australia.

Audi insists the interiors of all its cars are “where passion and quality meet precision and innovation”, and while this phrase was clearly dreamt up by an overpaid marketing agency, it almost rings true for the 2024 Audi Q8 Sportback 55 e-tron.

It’d certainly want to given the price of this silent-but-violent beast…

The first time you set foot in the Q8 e-tron is an experience to savour, as you’re surrounded by digital screens, cossetted in Valcona leather and the ergonomics are excellent – everything is placed exactly where you’d expect it.

Material quality is first-rate, from the plastics, dashboard accents and LED mood lighting, to the supple leather on the sport seats and the stylised gear shifter.

It’s true that Audi hasn’t changed a huge amount in the cabin, but all the major touchpoints are charmingly tactile in different ways, from the arm rests to the indicator stalk, and operating the vehicle is generally compelling.

Measuring 4.9 metres long, the Q8 e-tron is very spacious for all occupants and so roomy we’re puzzled as to why there’s not an ‘occasional’ third seating row in the boot.

Speaking of which, cargo space in the boot is ample (569 litres), with enough room for golf bags, a pram, beach gear, heaps of luggage or even surf boards with one of the rear seats folded down.

Unless you have great affection for Audi designs or are a rusted-on Audi lifer, then you should certainly consider other options alongside the 2024 Audi Q8 Sportback 55 e-tron.

To Audi’s credit, it’s a well-engineered vehicle, presents beautifully and will make owners feel special. That and the fact it’s a significant improvement on the slow-selling and poorly-named ‘Audi e-tron’ SUV it effectively replaces.

But the EV world is changing so rapidly and the options available to buyers – especially in this segment – are growing rapidly.

Hopefully, the upcoming Q4 e-tron will feel more like a class leader than this somewhat overpriced luxury EV.

2024 Audi Q8 Sportback 55 e-tron at a glance:
Price: $166,600 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Powertrain: Two asynchronous electric motors
Output: 300kW/664Nm
Transmission: Single-speed transmission
Battery: 114kWh lithium-ion (106kWh net)
Range: 454km (WLTP)
Energy consumption: 25.6kWh/100km (ADR)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2019)