Bruce Newton•22 Mar 2021

REVIEW

Audi RS Q8 2021 Review

Audi enters the super-SUV arena with the simply awesome and very expensive RS Q8

Review Type

Road Test

Does the world need another super-SUV? Arguably not. But the Audi RS Q8 is all about what people want rather than need. And who wouldn’t want style, pace and comfort wrapped up in a beautifully-built and stonkingly-fast package. Sounds good, hey? You just need to find $200K to afford it.

The most extreme Audi SUV ever

The 2021 Audi RS Q8 is one of a burgeoning number of super-SUVs that offer astonishing performance at an astonishing price.

At $208,500 plus on-road costs, the RS Q8 is actually among the cheapest of them.

There’s the $218,900 BMW X6 M Competition that is an obvious competitor and the new $225,500 Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S Coupe that is just entering showrooms.

There’s also a slew of Porsche Cayenne models priced either side of the RS Q8, various Maserati Levante variants and more than one Range Rover to choose from.

Developed by Audi Sport, which is Audi’s AMG equivalent, the RS Q8 is the company’s most extreme SUV yet. It takes the standard Q8 five-door, five-seat ‘coupe’ SUV and dials the wick up very high.

It features the same 441kW/800Nm 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 as the new Audi RS 6 Avant and RS 7 Sportback that also debuted in the past few months.

All that power and torque is fed to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission and a permanent quattro four-wheel drive system, while a heap of chassis trickery helps ensure the high, wide and heavy SUV stays on the road. More on all that later.

In terms of comfort equipment the 2021 Audi RS Q8 comes with soft-closing doors, a power tailgate with gesture control, a two-section sunroof, Valcona leather-powered, heated, massaging and ventilated front sports seats with memory, and heated rear seats.

There’s also powered rear side blinds, a 17-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio, four-zone climate control, a power roller cover for the boot and trimmings in matte aluminium and Nappa leather.

The infotainment and climate control systems are managed via high-resolution 10.1- and 8.6-inch screens. Wireless charging, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, four USBs and navigation and online services such as weather and traffic are all part of the package.

These and various other functions can be displayed prominently in the driver-tuneable 12-inch virtual cockpit.

The RS rolls on 23-inch alloy wheels – the largest ever offered standard by the German luxury brand in this country. Despite this nominally being an off-roader there is no spare tyre, just a repair kit.

The RS Q8 is protected by a short three-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty. Service intervals are every 15,000km or 12 months, which is par for the course. A five-year service plan costs $4060.

Unrated safety

While the standard Audi Q8 receives a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating based on 2019 protocols, the 2021 Audi RS Q8 is not covered within this result.

But it’s hard to believe the RS would be a step down in safety performance.

Driver assist systems include autonomous emergency braking (AEB) that works at up to 85km/h for pedestrians and cyclists and 250km/h for vehicles, collision avoidance assist (which provides extra steering torque in an evasive manoeuvre), adaptive cruise control, active lane assist, blind spot warning, 360-degree cameras, park assist, cross traffic assist, intersection warning assist, exit warning and turn assist.

The RS Q8 also comes with a head-up display and excellent Matrix LED headlights.

A combination of front, side and curtain airbags protect passengers in both rows.

So much tech

At its core, the 2021 Audi RS Q8 is based on the same MLB Evo architecture as the donor Q8 and rivals from within the Volkswagen Group including the Porsche Cayenne and much higher priced Lamborghini Urus and Bentley Bentayga.

The RS Q8’s engine is a new unit replacing the 90-degree V8 that’s been around since 2011. Developed with Porsche, it has a slightly larger capacity (3996cc v 3993cc) and a different bore and stroke. Its base 441kW and 800Nm outputs pretty much match the ‘performance’ version of the old engine. So there’s more to come, obviously!

All-aluminium, it employs direct injection, double overhead cams, four valves per cylinder and two twin-scroll turbochargers located inside the vee that pump up to 1.4 bar of pressure.

Audi claims the RS Q8 can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 3.8sec. It’s believable. It has a top speed as high as 305km/h (that’s a $19,500 option). Standard top speed is 250km/h. We didn’t test that out.

A 48-volt mild-hybrid system allows coasting, aids idle-stop and saves up to 0.8 litres of fuel per 100km. The engine also features cylinder-on-demand to conserve fuel.

The fuel consumption claim is 12.1L/100km and we ended up averaging 14.1L/100km over a week of highly-varied driving. That’s pretty good for a vehicle like this.

The RS Q8’s drivetrain is completed by a torque-converter auto that can be operated via the lever or manual flappy paddles and includes launch control.

The AWD system is based around a mechanical locking centre differential that normally splits drive 40 per cent front and 60 per cent rear. Up to 70 per cent can go forward and up to 85 per cent to the rear. Wheel-selective torque control and a rear sport differential refine drive paths further.

Underpinning the RS Q8 is a combination of multi-link suspension hardware, air springs, adaptive dampers, electromechanical active anti-roll bars and all-wheel steering.

Thanks to the air springs the loading level can also be lowered when parked and ground clearance can rise to a maximum 200mm for off-roading. Would you dare? We couldn’t do it.

The stabilisation system decouples the two halves of the roll bar on each axle at the straight ahead position to reduce vibration and increase ride comfort. An electric motor and transmission then twist the two halves against each other in corners, reducing body lean angles.

Cleverly, this system also recuperates power and feeds electricity into the mild-hybrid’s lithium-ion battery.

The all-wheel steering system turns the rear wheels up to five degrees in the opposite direction to the fronts at low speed to aid manoeuvring and the turning circle (a decent 12.3m). Conversely, they turn up to 1.5 degrees at the same steering angle as the font wheels during fast lane changes.

The Audi RS Q8 comes standard with red-painted 10-piston callipers clamping 420mm front discs, with 370mm rotors at the rear.

We had the optional RS ceramic braking system that saves 34kg in unsprung weight and comprises even larger (440mm) front discs. It’s part of the aforementioned $19,500 ‘dynamic package plus’ pack with the higher top speed, and the brakes are incredibly powerful. Thankfully.

The RS Q8 is rated to tow 3.5 tonnes braked – what a great pose vehicle to haul a boat with!

To tailor the behaviour of all this performance technology the RS Q8 gets the same RS1 and RS2 drive select modes as other new RS models, in addition to six standard Q8 modes.

Digital driving

We have spent some time delving into the performance technology of the 2021 Audi RS Q8 for the simple reason it defines the driving experience.

The RS Q8 is 5012mm long, 1998mm wide, 1694mm high and weighs in at 2315kg. This is a vehicle of substantial size, incredible performance and epic heft.

In the old days back when super-SUVs were first becoming a thing – 15 or so years ago – they were often lead-tipped arrows that rode too hard, rolled too much and handled approximately.

But you can’t say that about the RS Q8. The control its various chassis bits – especially the roll stabilisation – exert over it are uncanny.

The belt in the back the engine provides in a straight line is familiar to any of this breed. It’s a very cool drivetrain, rest assured.

But the RS Q8’s flat stance, bump compliance mid-corner at speed, ability to change direction and power down is other-worldly.

It’s actually easier and smoother to enthusiastically drive along a winding country road than many smaller, lighter so-called sport SUVs. The absence of body roll especially takes some getting used to.

Escalate through the different modes and the RS Q8’s character does change. The ride comfort reduces, engine noise and sharpness increases, the auto starts blipping, the exhaust snarls and the steering weights up. It’s all noticeable as an evolution rather than transformation.

But while the tech is awe-inspiring it also removes the connection that drivers who enjoy the job crave. The RS Q8 is ridiculously capable, yet noticeably remote.

More often than in any car driven of late, the number showing on the digital speedo was a surprise. The RS Q8 doesn’t feel as fast as it is.

Is that a good thing? This deceptive speed would lead to one hell of an unintended off-road excursion if the boundaries were over-stepped.

Hey, don’t do that, just relax and view the scenery rather than explore it.

The good news is, like the Q8 it is based on, the RS Q8’s interior is a place of beauty, comfort and plentiful space for you and your things. Only the middle-rear passenger has less than optimal comfort.

It’s noticeable in a world of increasing complexity Audi has attempted to simplify the presentation of the dashboard and its surroundings.

Multiple digital screens stacked in the dashboard sounds imposing, but apart from obvious fingers smears it all works rather well.

Having said that, drill down and you will find plenty of settings and adjustments to occupy your attention!

In comfort mode the RS Q8 is a sleeping giant, happy to cruise the ’burbs and highways. You never forget its size in tight spaces like supermarket car parks, but there are plenty of cameras and sensors to assist such nerve-wracking moments.

At 605 litres the boot can easily swallow the family food shop. Fold the rear seats down and the 1755-litre opening can feed the neighbourhood.

Mighty impressive

The 2021 Audi RS Q8 is a mighty impressive addition to the super-SUV segment.

It’s stylish and flexible and when tapped has performance capabilities that do justice to the RS badge.

When you do put the hammer down be aware you’re getting a digitised performance experience. But that’s understandable considering the amounts of energy that have to be controlled.

The purists probably won’t like it, but it’s hard to imagine the purists shopping for a vehicle like this anyway.

How much does the 2021 Audi RS Q8 cost?
Price: $208,500 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbo petrol
Output: 441kW/800Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 12.1L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 276g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Not tested