2021 Audi Q8 Review

　　

2021 Audi Q8 Review

byTravis LangnessReviews Editor

　　Travis Langness has worked in the automotive industry since 2011. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career.

　　The 2021 Audi Q8 is Audi's range-topping SUV. It's mechanically related to Audi's Q7 three-row SUV. But for the Q8, Audi ditches the third-row seat and adds sportier styling. The result is an impressive midsize SUV with more headroom than similar coupe-style SUV competitors.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Audi Q8 Premium 4dr SUV AWD w/55 TFSI (3.0L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$233/mo  for Q8 Premium

　　Q8 Premium

　　Premium 4dr SUV AWD w/55 TFSI (3.0L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) - $68,200 MSRPPremium Plus 4dr SUV AWD w/55 TFSI (3.0L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) (Most Popular) - $72,050 MSRPPrestige 4dr SUV AWD w/55 TFSI (3.0L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) - $77,850 MSRP

　　vs

　　$229/mo

　　Avg. Large SUV

　　For 2021, all Audi Q8s come with blind-spot monitoring, and the base Premium trim's Convenience package includes a heated steering wheel and a 360-degree parking camera. Midlevel trims get some extra upgrades as well, but for the most part, this year's Q8 carries over without big changes. As a result, the Q8 remains stylish, practical and sophisticated. Want to know more? Check out our Expert Rating for our in-depth evaluation on the 2021 Q8.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　7.8

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.5/10

　　How does the Q8 drive? With enough prodding, the Audi Q8 proves that it has the thrust to move at a good clip. In zzdcar testing, 0-60 mph came in 5.6 seconds. That's quick, though other SUVs in the class with similar engines are either as quick or quicker. But throttle response in the default drive mode feels strangely weak, especially considering how much power is available. Response improves to acceptable levels in Sport mode.

　　The Q8 handles admirably through tight and sweeping corners alike. The suspension is properly buttoned-down in Sport mode, and body roll is nicely controlled. Only in higher-speed corners does the Q8's weight become a limiting factor. The steering is accurate and well tuned in terms of effort.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Q8? Like any good luxury SUV, the Q8 provides comfort in spades. We love the front seats' wide range of adjustment and cushy armrests. The seat padding is firm yet comfortable. Heating and ventilation functions seem subtle but are effective over time.

　　The Q8's suspension manages both compliance and body control very well. While this Audi isn't the cushiest of rides, it provides a sufficiently comfortable ride quality. At highway speeds, there's a marginal amount of road noise and slightly more wind noise around the windshield. Otherwise, all other ambient noise is nicely isolated.

　　

Interior

7.5/10

　　How’s the interior? Audi's bold decision to go full touchscreen on its latest infotainment interface is controversial. Some of our experts found the interface distracting and easy to smudge, while others liked the clean look and operation. We were more united in our dislike of the Q8's limited visibility. The rake of the front windshield and rear glass does shrink your view out, and the front and rear roof pillars are on the thick side.

　　The Q8 offers plenty of room, though. The space up front is generous, even if the lower roofline gives the impression of less headroom than there is. The rear seating is surprisingly opulent, with excellent legroom, lots of toe clearance and ample headroom. The wide rear bench can hold three adults in agreeable comfort.

　　

Technology

8.0/10

　　How’s the tech? The MMI interface isn't for everybody, but you can't deny that the Q8's cabin tech looks fully modern and comes with plenty of features. We like that it supports wireless Apple CarPlay, and the Digital Cockpit instrument panel is both useful and crisp-looking.

　　We're less impressed by the voice control system, which isn't as full-featured as what Mercedes' MBUX system offers. It needs to be able to handle more functions, especially since Audi buried nearly all controls in the distracting infotainment system. The Q8's driver aids work well, but Audi's decision to make adaptive cruise control part of an optional midtrim package is irksome.

　　

Storage

8.0/10

　　How’s the storage? The Q8's design preserves most of the cargo space and offers people something attractive and cool to look at. The optional air suspension allows you to lower the rear for easier access to a wide cargo area. Split seats fold flat and provide a decent 30.5 cubic feet of cargo space. Storage is scarce for small items aside from the sizable door pockets. Car seat anchors hide behind removable covers, and the generous legroom ensures car seats of any size will fit.

　　The optional towing package gives the Q8 a towing capacity of 7,700 pounds, which is generous for the class. A trailer maneuver assist feature automatically guides the trailer while reversing — the driver swipes to control it on the lower MMI infotainment display.

　　

Fuel Economy

6.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? Despite mild hybridization, the Q8 is less efficient than much of its competition with comparable engines. Its rating of 20 mpg combined (18 city/23 highway) is about 2 mpg lower than most. We measured 19.5 mpg on our highway-heavy test loop, which is slightly lower than we anticipated. This may be due to the use of Sport mode to offset its sluggishness in Normal mode.

　　

Value

7.0/10

　　Is the Q8 a good value? The Q8 exudes quality from the inside out. It's not just nice materials — the execution of the design and attention to detail also make the Q8 feel special. One interesting design detail is the use of frameless windows in the mold of a sports car. This is a rare feature for a SUV, yet the doors are solid and airtight.

　　That impressive build quality comes at a fairly steep price. Our fully loaded test vehicle came within a whisper of $100,000, which is quite a lot for a V6-powered midsize SUV. Audi's warranties are average for a luxury automaker.

　　

Wildcard

8.5/10

　　The Q8 scores big points with its sporty styling, and thankfully it has the performance chops to back it up. Still, you're not going to be outrunning sport sedans in this thing even though it looks like you could. However, you will have one of the coolest-looking SUVs in the lineup for school drop-offs.

　　

Which Q8 does zzdcar recommend?

The midlevel Q8 — the Premium Plus trim level — is our choice. On top of the standard luxury equipment, it adds a wireless phone charging pad, a 360-degree parking camera, a 17-speaker stereo, and access to several options you can't get on the base trim.

　　

2021 Audi Q8 models

The Q8 comes in three trims: Premium, Premium Plus and Prestige. The Q8 is available with one engine: a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 that produces 335 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. It's connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.

　　Standard feature highlights for the Premium trim include:

　　Adaptive suspension (improves ride comfort and handling) Power liftgate Panoramic sunroof Twin-touchscreen infotainment system Digital gauge cluster (Audi's Virtual Cockpit) Three-zone automatic climate control Leather upholstery Heated front seats Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibilityStandard safety equipment for the Q8 includes:

　　Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane) Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing) Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Front and rear parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of or behind the vehicle when parking)The Premium's Convenience adds:

　　Wireless charging pad and cellphone signal booster Auto-dimming exterior mirrors Heated steering wheel Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the Q8 and its surroundings for tight parking situations)The Premium Plus trim adds the contents of the Convenience package, plus:

　　Front-seat ventilation Four-zone climate control 17-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system Additional LED ambient lightingPremium Plus buyers can also specify the Executive package, which adds:

　　Matrix-design LED headlights Heated rear seats Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front) Lane departure mitigation (warns you of a lane departure when a turn signal isn't used and can automatically steer to maintain lane position)Prestige models come with the Executive package plus:

　　Headlight washers Soft-close doors (catch as they're being closed and gently pull shut) Head-up display Power rear sunshades Other option packages worthy of a look include a Towing package, an Adaptive Chassis package (air suspension for adjustable ride height and rear-wheel steering for more nimble turning) and, for the Prestige only, a Luxury package that includes premium cabin materials and upgraded front seats.

　　

2021 Q8 Highlights

Trim: PremiumPremium PlusPrestigePremium

　　

Base MSRP	$68,200
Engine Type	Mild hybrid
Combined MPG	20 MPG
Cost to Drive	$233/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	30.5 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles