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With the Q8, Audi brings a sportier and more stylish alternative to the seven-passenger Q7 SUV, while readily sticking it to the faddish “coupe” styling of the Mercedes GLE and BMW X6 SUVs. This is a properly comfortable and appropriately proportioned vehicle that seems to answer a different set of questions than its competitors were given. While the Mercedes and the BMW seem to have been asked how they can make SUVs weirder, the Q8 was asked simply how to make them better. The result is a practical, sporty and all-around appealing entry into the premium SUV market.
The Good: Silky-smooth highway manners and exceptional handling in slippery terrain, such as snow and mud. Audi’s near-perfect Quattro all-wheel-drive system shines in the Q8, and will readily bail you out of most messes. Also, the Q8 is gorgeous, with sharp features but admirable restraint in terms of the creases and character lines that designers regularly sprinkle on their work like magic dust. It’s a more stylish and pointed machine than Audi’s staider Q7 SUV.
Who It’s For: The Q8 is primarily intended for customers upgrading themselves from family haulers – such as Audi’s own Q7 – or those interested in sportier SUV’s, regardless of their age. Obviously, it’s a pricey vehicle, but it’s a solid value for those looking for great design, performance and utility in their machines.
Watch Out For: Be sure you acquaint yourself with the new Audi MMI infotainment system. Audi removed the central dial-based interface in favor of a new haptic touchscreen. It works brilliantly, but it may not be some people’s cup of tea. Also, it uses a dual-screen mechanism, which places the infotainment features on the top and vehicle features, such as climate control, on the bottom – but it also tucks the “favorites” tab on the lower screen. This may confuse some people who will assume the favorite audio channels are on the top, as well.
Alternatives: The Mercedes GLE and BMW X6 are the most obvious competitors. The Q8 handily bests both in terms of both external appearance – being absent the excessively sloping rear rooflines of those cars – and internal rear-seat comfort. Adults simply fare better in the Q8 than the others. But it’s also a fair alternative to the gold standard of luxury SUVs; specifically, the Range Rover Velar. Both have very strong design qualities, though the Velar is more capable off-road, and it’s cheaper, too, starting at $49,600 against the Q8’s $67,400 entry point. But the Q8 brings its own brand of amenities and features to the table that makes it worth considering amidst any price-shopping.
