Nearly-new buying guide: Audi Q8
Make a statement with two tonnes of Ingolstadt’s finest, we suggest
If you are attracted to the idea of an Audi Q7 but in your head are a little too dashing for all that sensible-knickers, seven-seat stuff, you could always splash your cash on the catwalk-friendly Q8 instead.
The Q8 is a Q7 clothed in a coupé-inspired body, and there’s room in its opulent interior for only five. Squint and it could even be the Lamborghini Urus, of which it is indeed a cousin.
Initially, you could have only a 282bhp 3.0-litre diesel V6 (badged the 50 TDI) or a 335bhp 3.0-litre turbo petrol V6 (55 TFSI). But Audi recently added two petrol-engined plug-in hybrids: the 375bhp 55 TFSIe and the 456bhp 60 TFSIe, both of which can do 28 miles on electricity.
*Click here to buy your next used Q8 from Autocar*
For the very dashing driver, there’s also the sporting SQ8, which began life as a 427bhp diesel of enormous oomph before turning into a 507bhp petrol with the same twin-turbo V8 as found in Porsche’s Cayenne GTS.
And if you really do love the idea of a Deutscheghini, there’s now even an RS Q8, replete with the same 592bhp twin-turbo 4.0-litre petrol V8 as the Urus.
Mind you, every Q8 provides plentiful performance, plus a sportier bent than the Q7. This is reflected in the ride: it’s never uncomfortable, but you feel lumps more, even when the adaptive suspension is set in its most compliant (Comfort) mode. And the handling is really rather good for such a hefty vehicle, with minimal body roll, while four-wheel steering makes a hot Q8 a bit of a revelation.
Entry-level S line models get near enough everything you could ever wish for, including 21in alloys, LED headlights, Audi’s Virtual Cockpit digital display, heated front sports seats and adaptive air suspension.
Black Edition trim brings a black styling package (obviously), 22in alloys, a panoramic glass roof and four-zone climate control.
Vorsprung tops it off with cooled front seats, plusher leather, a Bang & Olufsen hi-fi and four-wheel steering.
The Q8’s interior is beautifully finished, with the finest plastics, leathers and metal finishes, but it ditches physical buttons and dials for touchscreens that give haptic feedback. These aren’t as easy to use as the rotary controller used in older Audis, and they show up fingerprints really badly in sunlight.
Space isn’t an issue in the rear, even for tall adults, unlike with other SUV-coupés, and there’s excellent leg room. Plus, the boot betters the BMW X6’s for capacity, although it trails that of the Mercedes GLE Coupé.
Buying used is always the way to go, but you still need a lot of dosh for a Q8. Prices for the earliest 50 TDI cars start at about £45,000 (some £20,000 less than when new), but you must pay £55,000 to get one of the rarer petrols, around £85,000 for an SQ8 and at least £105,000 for an RS Q8. The PHEVs are still too new to be appearing on used forecourts.
*Need to know*
The 50 TDI diesel gets official fuel economy of 33.2mpg, while the 55 TFSI petrol gets 26.4mpg. The hybrids recorded ridiculous MPG figures on the official test but can do up to 28 miles on electricity.
There have been a few recalls for the Q8. There can be a problem with the casting of the front shock absorber forks on cars built in 2018. The bolts connecting the steering rack and shaft can work loose on a few cars built between 2018 and 2019. And oil might leak from a faulty join in the gearbox oil line of Q8s manufactured from September to December 2019.
The Q8 wasn’t in the latest What Car? Reliability Survey, but its Q7 relation came second in the luxury SUV class. Then again, Audi ranked a disappointing 22nd of 31 brands.
*Our pick*
*50 TDI S Line: *The 50 TDI diesel is the most plentiful version of the Q8 on the used car forecourts as well as the best option, thanks to its blend of refinement, performance an economy. Nicely trousered, sir.
*Wild card*
*SQ8:* Thanks to a 507bhp twin-turbocharged petrol V8 under the bonnet of the latest SQ8, you get the pumped-up kicks to go with the pseudo-Lamborghini looks. 0-62mph in 4.1sec, if you please.
*Ones we know*
2018 Audi Q8 50 TDI S line, 28,000 miles, £45,500
2020 Audi Q8 55 TFSI S line, 18,000 miles, £56,950
2021 Audi SQ8 Black Edition, 4000 miles, £86,000
*READ MORE*
*Future of Audi A1 in doubt, revival of A2 as an EV on the cards *
*Your guide to Audi’s TFSI e plug-in hybrid range *
*Audi S8 2020 UK review*