2024 Audi SQ8 e-tron SUV

　　

2024 Audi SQ8 e-tron Review

byReese CountsVehicle Test Editor

　　Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at zzdcar in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.

　　The e-tron was one of the first fully electric luxury SUVs that came to the U.S. market, and for 2024 Audi has given it a new Q8 e-tron moniker along with many updates for the 2024 model year. As part of the update, the previous performance version — the e-tron S — is now called the SQ8 e-tron. Available as both a regular SUV and the coupe-style Sportback version (reviewed separately), the SQ8 e-tron gains enough changes to help keep it competitive in the face of newer competition.

　　

Audi SQ8 e-tron EV Insights

Trim:SQ8 e-tron Premium Plus

　　Premium Plus 4dr SUV AWD (electric DD) - $89,800 MSRPPrestige 4dr SUV AWD (electric DD) (Most Popular) - $95,800 MSRP

　　

Range

　　253 miles

　　EPA Estimated Range

　　EV batteries lose 1-2% of range per year. Est. range for this car is 215 miles after 8 years.Electric cars typically experience 1-2% of range loss per year with slightly faster degradation over the first 50,000 miles as the car settles into its long term state, according to reviewed separately's study of 15,000 EVs.

　　Estimated range mapThis map is a visual representation of the possible one-way and round-trips by this vehicle (on a full charge) from the geometric center of Rutland, North Dakota. The depicted ranges are based on the estimated new vehicle range value provided by the EPA, rounded down to miles for one-way and miles for round-trip. Actual range will vary depending on the condition of this vehicle’s battery pack, how you drive, driving conditions and other factors.Map display generated using: © openrouteservice.org by HeiGIT | Map data © reviewed separately contributors | reviewed separately

　　from 58067

　　

EV Battery Warranty

　　8 yrs or 100,000 milesThe federal government requires that EV batteries be warrantied for a minimum of eight years or 100,000 miles. The EV battery warranty includes replacement if your battery capacity drops below a certain percentage of the original capacity.

　　

Charging at Home

　　13 hours

　　Total Charging Time (240V outlet)

　　SAE ComboStandard port for most electric models. Supports Level 1, Level 2, and DC Fast charging.

　　Plug Type

　　

EV Tax Credits & Rebates

　　$400

　　Available Rebates. Restrictions apply.

　　Utility EV Charger Offer

　　$400

　　Restrictions: Otter Tail Power offers EV owners a rebate of up to $400 towards the installation of a Level 2 charging station. To qualify for this rebate, the customer and/or charging station must meet the following requirements: Receive electricity from Otter Tail Power.

　　To learn more, visit reviewed separately

　　Complimentary Charging Offer

　　Restrictions: This program is a charging agreement between Audi of America and Electrify America. Customers who purchase a new Audi SQ8 e-tron or SQ8 e-tron Sportback will receive 2 years of complimentary charging on the Electrify America network. Complimentary charging expires 2 years from date of sale. Offer is non-transferable. See your participating dealer for details.

　　

Cost to Drive

　　$98/mo

　　SQ8 e-tron

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　SUV Avg.

　　Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　

Am I Ready for an EV?

　　EV ownership works best if you can charge (240V) at home or at work This typically means a 240V home installation, but you could also have a similar setup at your office or other places your car is already parked for several hours each day. Don't expect a regular household outlet (120V) to suffice unless you've got a plug-in hybrid, in which case overnight charging at home is feasible.

　　If you can’t charge at home, charging at a charging station could take at least 10x longer than at a gas station With public charging infrastructure still in its infancy, the user experience can be maddeningly inconsistent. Tesla owners tend to rave about the reliability and speed of the company's proprietary Supercharger stations, but rival DC fast options have thus far been plagued by technical issues and overcrowding. It's an evolving landscape and our best advice is to do your research on the available options for the EV you want to buy.

　　Adding a 240V home charging system could cost up to $1,600 or more If your existing electrical service can handle the additional demands of EV charging, you may be able to add Level 2 charging at home for less than a grand, including installation. But your costs will multiply if you need to upgrade your electrical panel or add a dedicated circuit.

　　

zzdcar spotlight: The SQ8 e-tron compared to the regular Q8 e-tron

The SQ8 e-tron adds more than just an extra letter. While the two models share the same upgraded battery that provides more range for 2024, the biggest difference between the pair is the addition of a second electric motor at the rear axle. The SQ8 e-tron's tri-motor setup adds an additional 94 horsepower and a stonking 228 lb-ft of torque when compared to the Q8 e-tron's dual-motor layout. The extra motor significantly improves acceleration (Audi's 0 to 60 mph estimate drops by more than a second) and also helps the SQ8 e-tron handle better. The extra motor allows the vehicle to adjust output to each individual rear wheel, improving traction and helping make the SQ8 e-tron feel more nimble than its size would suggest. Handling is further improved by the SQ8 e-tron's standard sport-tuned air suspension and wider wheels and tires.

　　

Competitors to consider

When the original e-tron debuted for 2019, there weren't many other all-electric SUVs on the market. That's changed quite a bit over the last few years thanks to the introduction of the BMW iX, Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV and Rivian R1S. The iX and EQE are both available in performance versions that offer more range and better in-car tech than the SQ8, though they are both more expensive than the Audi. The R1T largely charts its own path with its enhanced off-road capability and third row of seating. The Model X is also around, and while it's not as comfortable or as luxurious as the Audi, the enhanced range and access to Tesla's Supercharger network make it worth a look.

　　

Which SQ8 e-tron does zzdcar recommend?

As there's only two trims to choose from, we suggest going with the standard Premium Plus trim. The higher-spec Prestige mode includes a few extra niceties like a head-up display, but you're not getting any more performance, range or overall comfort than the Premium Plus.

　　

Audi SQ8 e-tron models

The 2024 Audi SQ8 e-tron is available in just two trims: Premium Plus and Prestige. Mechanically, the two trims are identical. They have a three-motor setup (one electric motor powering the front wheels and an individual motor for each rear wheel), giving it standard all-wheel drive. Total system output is 496 horsepower. The 106-kWh battery is good for an EPA-estimated range of up to 253 miles on a single charge. Keep reading for a complete rundown of the SQ8 e-tron's standard and optional features.

　　Premium Plus

　　The Premium Plus comes well equipped from the start with:

　　20-inch wheels 9.6-kW AC onboard charger Hands-free power liftgate Panoramic sunroof Sport-tuned air suspension Leather upholstery Heated and ventilated front sport seats Heated rear seats Heated steering wheel Four-zone automatic climate controlStandard tech features include:

　　10.1-inch infotainment screen Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration (both with wireless connectivity) Navigation system Wireless smartphone charging pad Bang & Olufsen audio system Carbon-fiber interior trimThe SQ8 e-tron also comes with:

　　Forward collision warning with automatic braking (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning (alerts you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing) Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane) Front and rear parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of or behind the vehicle when parking) Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front) 360-degree camera system (gives you a top-down view of the SQ8 e-tron and its surroundings in tight parking situations) Prestige

　　The top-level Prestige trim builds off the Premium Plus model, adding:

　　Upgraded LED headlights Soft-closing doors Sunshades for rear side windows Front cross-traffic warning Automated parking system (steers into a parking spot with little or no driver intervention Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line on the windshield)There are a handful of options available for both trim levels, including:

　　Individual Contour Seat package Massaging, heated and ventilated front seats AC Charging package Upgraded 19.2-kW onboard charger for improved Level 2 charging speeds A second Level 2 charging port on the passenger side for added convenience Black Optic package 22-inch gloss-black wheels Gloss-black mirror caps, roof rails, grille and window trim Trail hitch (3,300-pound capacity)

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