Audi Q8 e-tron – Back to Basics

Audi Q8 e-tron 50 quattro Edition, €71,385

The new electric Audi Q8 e-tron is the facelifted Audi E-tron, Audi’s first series production EV. A facelift including name change; we don’t see that often. It is therefore quite extensive. The interior of the Q8 e-tron is hardly different from that of the E-tron, but on the outside the differences are clear and a lot has changed under the skin. There we will now find a net battery pack of at least 89 kWh, where the entry-level model previously had a 65 kWh pack on board. In addition, since the facelift, the car also uses its energy more efficiently, resulting in a considerably larger driving range.

The Audi Q8 e-tron ’50 quattro’, as the cheapest powertrain is called, uses two electric motors that drive all four wheels, together deliver up to 340 hp and accelerate the Audi to 100 km / h in 6 seconds. The driving range of the entry-level version is 480 km (WLTP), fast charging can be done with up to 170 kW, 3-phase (at home) charging with up to 22 kW. With the more than €10,000 more expensive and larger battery pack you can go 100 km further and you have 68 hp extra.

Spray-painted contrast parts for the slip-on

You can recognize an entry-level Q8 e-tron by the lack of aluminum-look roof rails and 19-inch wheels, because the other versions (the Advanced edition and the S edition) always have those rails and at least 20-inch. However, larger wheels are also available on the Edition. The S edition gets different bumper work, the Advanced edition looks the same as the slip-on in terms of shape. Striking: the cheapest carries quite a few parts – for example around the grille and wheel arches, the sills and the rear bumper – sprayed in a dark contrast color, where a step higher has those parts in body color. That does not necessarily look higher quality, but it does make a big difference to the looks.

The color of the body itself does not necessarily say anything about the minimum starting price, because Audi offers a choice of seven different (metallic) paints at no extra cost. The lighting doesn’t reveal anything either: full LED lighting all around with dynamic flashing lights at the front and rear is always there.

Inside, the Q8 e-tron will have three screens anyway, because a digital instrument panel and two screens on the center console are standard. You operate it while sitting on a black fabric-covered and fairly simple-looking chair – a manually adjustable and non-heatable one, too. Still: the Audi always has climate control – which can be operated from the bottom screen – and a preheating function for cold days. The top screen of the two in the middle provides access to navigation and wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto. The car has ten speakers including a subwoofer and a wireless phone charger is also present. In terms of infotainment, it is certainly not easy in the slip-on – also because it can be operated from the steering wheel and it can display things in the instrument panel in front of the driver.

There is also no need to pay extra for things such as an electrically operated tailgate, split-folding rear seats, heated side mirrors and front and rear parking sensors. The Audi Q8 e-tron is always on adaptive air suspension and has a small list of standard assistance systems, which include non-adaptive cruise control, an emergency braking system and lane departure warning.

These black fabric-covered seats look very scanty for this segment. With the Advanced edition they are simultaneously heated, electrically adjustable and covered with leather.

How much does a little more cost?

Summary: for €71,385 you are most likely regal, even in a Q8 without options. This is due to the fact that we are dealing here with a car that clearly operates in a higher segment than, for example, the aforementioned ID4. The dashboard with its three shavings is of a higher quality and in terms of sound insulation and refinement, everything is also just on a higher level. A car with a combustion engine in this segment quickly suffers from a high bpm rate. The Q8 e-tron is spared that, so that the pricing is still somewhat manageable.

Still: there are a number of things that we miss for this money. Take adaptive cruise control with a traffic jam assistant, heated seats (which is nice in an EV), leather upholstery and even slightly higher-looking seats. Those things – and quite a lot more – are all present in the second trim level: the Advanced edition (photo 8). At €77,785, it costs exactly €6,200 more.

Not tender, but the relative difference is manageable. Since the facelift, the Audi Q8 e-tron has also been a fairly usable and spacious electric car with the ‘basic battery pack’, for which you do not have to make concessions in terms of charging speed. As an Advanced edition, it also has the equipment that fits such a car, along with the – according to the undersigned – better-looking painted exterior parts and 20-inch wheels. The additional cost requires a longer savings campaign, but seems to offer value for money compared to the entry-level model. If you do not agree, then your money might be better spent at a Skoda or Volkswagen dealer. There you will also find the mentioned extras at considerably lower total prices.

This upholstery is one of the options without extra cost if you opt for an Advanced edition and looks a lot higher quality.