2018 Audi Q8 snapshot
The car in our photo is the Audi Q8 and it’s basically the sporty coupe version of their mammoth SUV the Q7. Just think of the BMW X6 or Mercedes Benz GLE and you’ll be able to place it better in your mind. Strangely, these are cars for people who don’t want their SUVs to look too much like…an SUV.
When you first look at the Q8 it’s actually quite hard to believe that it’s basically a Q7 though we think Audi’s design team have done a brilliant job of making this car look completely different. The styling won’t be to everyone’s taste but we think this car will gain a generally positive response and probably prefer it over the more divisive look of the BMW X6. The Q7 is shorter, wider and lower to the ground than the Q7. Along with it slim lights, Audi’s new 8 sided grille and slim roofline the Q8 is pretty sleek looking. The flared wheel arches are reminiscent of the brand’s Audi Quattro rally cars. We think the wheel arches and the big 22 inch alloys look absolutely great though our small gripe is that when the Q8 is fitted with the standard 20 inch alloys the gap between the tyres and the arches are just too big. This will really push car buyers into having to upgrade and spend more money to get the better look. Another thing we really like about the exterior of the Q7 are its frameless doors. These look great although if we put on our sensible hat then these might actually be a bit of a safety hazard as the sharp edge could really hurt your eye.
Step inside the Q8 and it’s pretty much what you’d expect. It’s refined, elegant and incredibly well-built. In fact, it’s just like being inside their luxury saloon the Audi A8. We’d have to say that it would be incredibly difficult to find any fault with the build quality in here as it’s simply excellent. However, if we have to say something negative about the cabin is that it might feel a little bit too bland for some. The dual-screen looks great but they may be a bit too fiddly to use while you’re on the move. Those drivers with a slightly OCD nature might be offended by the screens as they tend to leave a fingerprint mark every time you touch them. One thing we do absolutely love is Audi’s Virtual Cockpit digital display. You can control it from the steering wheel and the graphics are absolutely superb. What it means is that you have everything you’ll need right in your line of sight. Another thing we’re massive fans of inside this car are the leather quilted seats. We’re not exaggerating here but as soon as you sit in them you won’t want to get out as they’re so darn comfortable. The only downside is that the seats are on the extras list so don’t expect them on the standard range. When it comes to storage there isn’t a huge amount. You get a couple of cup holders, a slim storage compartment hidden under the central armrest, a great sized glovebox and also really good-sized door bins.
The Q8 is actually wider than the Q7 which means that even though there isn’t the option of a third seat you’ll easily fit three adults across the back seats. You get a couple of IsoFix child seat points on the outer seats and the storage is really good too. Despite the rakish roofline it’s actually very spacious in the back. The headroom is very good and as for your legroom you’ll find stacks of room here too. When it comes to rear luggage space the Q8 is actually a little disappointing. It just isn’t as practical as the Q7 although on sheer boot size it does actually trump the BMW X6. Unfortunately, the boot isn’t the most useable of shapes because of the sloping roofline. So, you can expect to struggle to fit in a small bike which we would have expected you’d be able to do. Another thing that you might find really annoying is that in order to reach to the back of the boot most owners will have to push up right against the boot of the car. This isn’t too bad on a nice sunny day when the car is clean but can be very annoying when it’s muddy or wet.
While the setup of the Q8 is pretty much the same as the Q7 the Q8 definitely has a sportier feeling about it. The lower stance undoubtedly plays a huge role in this and it feels more like a hatchback and less like an SUV behind the wheel. What we were really impressed with is what a brilliant job the air suspension does in smoothing out any bumps and lumps in the road which really help make this car such a comfortable Cruiser. If you do want to personalise things then you can play around with the suspension setup. It’s got everything from off-road to comfort to dynamic which all help to raise or lower the ride height appropriately. There’s no doubt that you’ll have more fun in the Q8 on twisty roads than you would in the Q7. However, you just don’t get an awful lot of feel from the steering. The BMW X6 is without a doubt a more engaging car to drive. Whilst visibility is generally good the chunky B-pillar does obstruct your view when you’re trying to turn.
At the time of tying, the fast Q8s on sale are only fitted with a 3.0 litre V6 diesel engine though there will be a less powerful version of the same engine coming later along with a 3.0 litre V6 petrol. The 50 TDi car we’re testing uses a 48 volt electrical system to support a mild hybrid system which means that it shuts the engine down when it doesn’t need much power. Apparently this helps to make the Q8 capable of delivering acclaimed 42 miles to the gallon (mpg).
Don’t let the sleek looks fool you into thinking that this is a sports car along the lines of it’s stable-mate the Lamborghini Urus with which incidentally it shares a fair bit of its structure. What this car can offer you is a lot more fun and make far more of a statement than a standard SUV. If you like the look of the Q8 then take a look at what used Audi A8 cars for sale we have on DesperateSeller.co.uk right now.
