Audi’s first electrical car, the e-tron, has been changed by a brand new mannequin referred to as the Q8 e-tron. We knew the unique identify wouldn’t final endlessly as Audi expanded its EV lineup. Like the unique e-tron, the brand new Q8 model is available in two derivatives: a standard SUV and a coupe-like Sportback variant. DrivingOnRoad just lately spent every week with the 2024 Audi Q8 Sportback e-tron to seek out out what enhancements have been made to this second-generation mannequin. In remodeling the e-tron into the Q8 e-tron, Audi laid out the blueprint for easy methods to evolve an EV to go well with an ever-changing market.
The Q8 Sportback e-tron options revised styling, a bigger battery pack, and a highly-requested enhance in driving vary. Whereas the outgoing e-tron Sportback might solely journey 218 miles on a cost, this new one can crack 300 miles with the correct trim packages. Are these adjustments sufficient to maintain the Q8 e-tron related in a quickly rising luxurious EV phase? We came upon.
Exterior Design: Household Resemblance
Regardless of the identify change, the Q8 Sportback e-tron is known as a facelift of the outdated e-tron, so the styling hasn’t modified too drastically. Up entrance, there’s a new entrance fascia with a black grille encompass that bears better resemblance to the e-tron GT. That new grille is not only for present – it improves the drag coefficient by 6%. That is additionally the primary mannequin to get the up to date 2D Audi logos and have the mannequin designation posted on the B-pillar. Because the identify implies, the Sportback mannequin contains a coupe-like rear finish. It appears to be like incredible, nevertheless it does hamper cargo house barely.
The Q8 Sportback e-tron rides on 20-inch wheels as customary, however 21-inch wheels can be found from the Premium Plus trim. Prospects also can get 22-inch wheels, however solely on the Launch Version. If vary is your precedence, the Q8 Sportback e-tron gives an Extremely Bundle on the bottom Premium trim, which drops all the way down to 19-inch wheels with low rolling resistance tires. As we’ll talk about later, although, we’re unsure it is price it.
Inside: Easy Luxurious
As with the outside, Audi hasn’t modified a lot contained in the cabin. There’s nonetheless a ten.1-inch central touchscreen powered by Audi’s Contact MMI infotainment system with an 8.6-inch decrease display screen to manage local weather features. Although the screens are straightforward to make use of with none complicated menus, they’re trying a bit small subsequent to different automobiles at this worth level. Audi’s Digital Cockpit gauge cluster display screen stays a pleasure to make use of with a easy structure that may be navigated from the steering wheel.
Our tester was a top-level Status, that means it got here with Audi’s pretty Valcona/Milano leather-based seats with heating, air flow, and therapeutic massage perform. The usual black leather-based is a bit boring, and we might desire both the lighter Pearl Beige or Okapi Brown. Patrons who snag a launch version can get a singular Flint Grey inside with orange seat piping. We preferred the look of the Volcano Ash Grey wooden inlays on the sprint, however a few of our passengers commented that it seemed low-cost. A extra typical Darkish Brown Pure Sycamore Wooden can also be out there and will not price you further.
Battery & Vary: Stacking Stacks Up
The outgoing e-tron Sportback might solely go 225 miles on a single cost. Subsequent to the current crop of luxurious EVs, that wasn’t going to chop it. Utilizing cell stacking know-how, Audi managed to package deal a 114 kWh battery (106 kWh usable) in the identical quantity of bodily house the place the outgoing 95 kWh battery used to sit down. The usable capability can also be improved from 91% to 93%. Vary has now shot as much as between 296 miles or a full 300 miles with the Extremely Bundle. We’re a bit doubtful of that declare, although, since we solely averaged 2.5 miles per kWh in our week of testing, which might web about 285 miles.
Together with improved vary, the Q8 can cost quicker than the outdated e-tron. It now peaks at 170 kW (up from 150 kW), that means it could actually go from 10-80% in 31 minutes. That is nonetheless not class-leading, nevertheless it’s extra aggressive. On an AC charger, the Q8 replenishes at 9.6 KW, good for a full battery in 13 hours. There’s additionally a $1,850 AC Charging Bundle that provides a second plug able to 19.2 kW. That will refill the battery in simply 6.5 hours, however few homeowners could have that stage of juice of their residence – and it is solely out there on increased trims.
Driving Impressions: Easy As Ever
Like most Audi automobiles, the Q8 Sportback e-tron places an emphasis on smoothness. The adaptive air suspension is comfortable with out feeling sloppy, and the steering {hardware} was redesigned to ship extra suggestions than earlier than. It feels extra related than most gas-powered Audi fashions, together with the traditional Q8. On the freeway, the cabin is serene, with little or no wind or highway noise intruding.
As for the powertrain, twin electrical motors mixed to ship as much as 402 horsepower and 490 lb-ft of torque. We are saying “as much as” as a result of that output is barely delivered in Enhance Mode, which requires the automotive to be in Dynamic Mode with the pedal depressed past kick-down. In common driving, it produces 355 hp and 414 lb-ft. This is not the kind of EV that pins you again in your seat, hitting 60 mph in a comparatively common 5.3 seconds. Patrons who crave extra velocity will wish to maintain out for the tri-motor SQ8 Sportback e-tron.
Audi, like Porsche, didn’t put a full one-pedal driving mode into this EV. There are three regen modes, however none can carry the automotive rapidly to a cease and maintain it there. Audi prefers to let the car coast to a cease, and we should say this automotive can roll additional than some other car we have examined once you carry off the throttle. The Q8 e-tron additionally lacks a creep perform, which is one thing most different EVs provide.
Practicality: Restricted Penalties
Choosing the Sportback model of the Q8 e-tron makes just a few sacrifices within the identify of styling and vary, however they are not too drastic. You get 27.2 cubic toes behind the again seats and 54.5 cubic toes with the seats folded. These figures are down solely a little bit in comparison with the usual Q8 e-tron, which will get 28.5 and 56.4 cubes, respectively.
Within the again seat, the Sportback sacrifices lower than an inch of headroom, however the house nonetheless feels plentiful for an occupant beneath six toes. As a reward for these penalties, the Sportback e-tron can journey as much as 300 miles on a cost, whereas the usual Q8 e-tron solely goes 285 miles.
Pricing & Verdict: Preserving It Related
Although it was all the time a pleasant luxurious automotive, the e-tron’s restricted vary made it a troublesome promote in at the moment’s market. The Q8 e-tron is a little more costly, nevertheless it justifies that worth enhance with a extra aggressive vary and quicker charging speeds. Pricing begins at $74,400 for the usual Q8 e-tron, with Sportback fashions pushing that as much as $77,800, excluding the $1,195 vacation spot cost. Our Status tester rang in at $92,390, placing it in the identical territory as EVs just like the BMW iX and Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV.
The Audi undercuts the BMW by about $10,000, although the iX gives extra customary energy and round seven miles extra most vary. It isn’t almost as engaging because the Q8 Sportback, nonetheless. The Mercedes is about the identical worth, however has much less energy and decrease vary. Audi’s enhancements have managed to vault the Q8 e-tron from irrelevant to extremely aggressive. The Q8 Sportback e-tron proves that EVs will proceed to enhance, evolving with every new technology.