2022 Audi RS Q8

　　

2022 Audi RS Q8 Review

byChristian WardlawCorrespondent

　　Christian Wardlaw has worked in the automotive industry since 1994. He has written nearly 10,000 car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 2,000 vehicles over the course of his career. Chris is a correspondent at zzdcar and was the first editor-in-chief of zzdcar.com in the 1990s. He has also contributed to Autotrader, CarGurus, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, NADAguides, New York Daily News Autos and WardsAuto. His mom claims that his first word was “car,” and Chris believes that Miata is always the answer.

　　Audi has lately focused on expanding its e-tron family of electric vehicles, but there's still plenty of life left in the brand's gasoline-powered models. One of the most compelling, at least for performance enthusiasts, is the 2022 Audi RS Q8.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2022 Audi RS Q8 4dr SUV AWD (4.0L 8cyl 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

　　$301/mo  for RS Q8 Base

　　RS Q8 Base

　　4dr SUV AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) (Most Popular) - $119,900 MSRP

　　vs

　　$229/mo

　　Avg. Large SUV

　　Based on the company's flagship SUV, the five-passenger Q8, the RS Q8 looks the part with its black grille, oversized air intakes, massive wheels fronting red brake calipers, and aggressive, forward-leaning stance. Yet, as is Audi tradition, the overall result remains a subtle rather than bold acknowledgement of the mechanical fury roiling just beneath the RS Q8's chiseled surface.

　　A turbocharged V8 engine makes nearly 600 horsepower, delivers 60 mph in an Audi-claimed 3.7 seconds, and tops the SUV out at an artificially limited 155 mph. Naturally, Quattro all-wheel drive is standard. Expectedly, the RS Q8 never met a gas station it didn't like, and it prefers to slurp from the premium pump. Still, this SUV is a mild hybrid equipped with a 48-volt electrical system that incrementally improves fuel economy.

　　Five people can fit into the RS Q8, and despite its rakishly handsome roofline, the cargo area can hold up to 60.7 cubic feet of cargo. Remarkably, that's not much less than the larger Audi SQ7 can handle. But if you need a third-row seat for occasional use, the SQ7 is the way to go.

　　

Which RS Q8 does zzdcar recommend?

Audi offers the 2022 RS Q8 in a single level of specification, so your choices are largely limited to paint colors, wheel designs, interior hues and other cosmetic enhancements. Still, Audi does offer a few option packages and individual upgrades that help you to tailor the RS Q8 to specific preferences.

　　

Audi RS Q8 models

Audi packages the 2022 RS Q8 one way: well equipped. Everything is standard aside from a handful of stand-alone upgrades and option packages. A twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine (591 horsepower, 590 lb-ft of torque) lives under the hood, transferring its output to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission.

　　Standard equipment highlights include:

　　22-inch alloy wheels High-performance brakes Sport-tuned adaptive air suspension (enhances handling and ride comfort and can adjust the vehicle's ride height) Four-wheel steering (enhances the RS Q8's maneuverability and agility) High-definition LED headlights Power liftgate Panoramic sunroof Auto-dimming rearview mirror Multicolor ambient cabin lighting Heated, power-folding side mirrors Four-zone automatic climate control Leather upholstery Heated and ventilated front seats Power-adjustable, heated steering wheelLike other Audis, the RS Q8 is high-tech right out of the box, featuring:

　　Digital instrument panel 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment display Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration Connected services Satellite radio Navigation system Bang & Olufsen premium sound system Wireless smartphone chargerBesides speed, safety is also on the RS Q8's menu:

　　Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse) Rear passenger safe-exit system (can prevent a rear passenger from opening a door into traffic approaching from behind) Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the RS Q8 and the car in front) Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane) Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the RS Q8 and its surroundings for tight parking situations) Front and rear parking sensorsAside from design-related Black Optic, Carbon Optic and RS Design option packages, the RS Q8 offers two main collections of extras:

　　Executive package Dual-pane noise-reducing windows Power soft-closing doors Heated rear seats Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line on the windshield) Intersection Assist (identifies unsafe situations at intersections and can automatically brake the Audi) Traffic sign recognition (reads traffic signs and can adjust vehicle speed accordingly) Luxury package Front massaging seats Simulated suede headliner Leather-wrapped armrests, dashboard and center console Rear window sunshades Other stand-alone options include:

　　Upgraded 23-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system Night Vision Assistant (displays thermal imaging to help with night driving) Carbon-ceramic brake rotors Towing package (7,700-pound capacity)

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