The fundamental purpose of a flagship is to point out off the best a name needs to provide. Usually, they take the shape of one thing long, low, massive and expensive . In Audi’s case, the flagship role has been crammed by the A8 sedan and its variants. however the sedan-as-flagship factor is essentially a operate of tradition. Times modification, and once the market its crazy for CUVs, you would like to make a special quite flagship -- one thinglong, tall, massive and expensive . Something, perhaps, just like the Q8.
The Q8 doesn’t most replace Audi’s biggest sedan because it compliments it; it’s the big, shiny object at the highest of the brand’s crossover/SUV lineup even as the A8 sits atop the four-ringed heap once it involves cars.
The Q8 isn't, as luck would have it, Audi’s answer to the BMW X6 or Mercedes-Benz GLE motorcar. It’s positioned additional as a contestant to the vary Rover Sport or the Porsche Cayenne (with that it shares a platform) than it'sto any of these strange German fastbacked frankencrossovers. If you wish to think about it in strictly Audi terms, it’s a Q5 blown up to Q7 proportions (though it’s 3 inches shorter and concerning an in. wider) and filled with all the school you’ll realize on the new A8. Or, maybe, associate Allroad wagon stretched vertically.
From among Audi-owning circles its possible to draw in people who not would like the Q7’s third row, and maybeeven some fools convinced that they have one thing apart from the peerlessly proportioned, eminently sensibleA7.
The Q8 is obtainable in 3 trims: premium, premium and and range-topping status. The broad sunshine-roof, animal skin seats (heated up front), automatic three-zone climate management and additional square measure all normal. Stepping up to the upper trims gets you a spread of driver aids and, of course, larger wheels (premium makes do with 20-inch wheels; the 2 higher trims get 21-inchers). If you wish to travel extremely loco, 22-inch wheels square measure offered as associate possibility.
All Q8s square measure equipped with a three.0-liter turbocharged V6 (not, you’ll note, the supercharged three.0-liter on the market on the Q7) manufacturing 335 HP associated 369 lb-ft; an eight-speed transmission systemcausation power to any or all four wheels is likewise obligatory.
Further, all Q8s get what’s referred to as the “singleframe” grille, that in all probability previews the face which willbe found on all Audi crossovers within the future. It is, to place it with politeness, assertive. One factor I will tell you is that it’s visible within the car mirror from a couple of half-mile away. Expect to ascertain it usually, because it are going to be showing on alternative Audi SUVs.
There is one alternative style part that’s value noting, if solely as a result of it’s thus subtle: The Q8’s D-pillar is associate virtually good reproduction of the Audi Sport Quattro’s. I won’t attempt to win over anyone that the Q8 is that the successor, direct, religious or otherwise, to at least one of the foremost legendary cars in Audi’s historical stable, however the rhetorical nod to the celebrated rally machine is at the terribly least attention-grabbing.
The Execution
The Q8 within which I create my break loose Park town, simply prior to the Sundance festival crowd, is providedwith the midrange Premium and package ($4,000). My ride for day 2 is loaded up with the status, Luxury and adjustive chassis packages; at $9,150, $5,950 and $2,750, they (along with some alternative add-ons) contribute to a banging $88,690 sticker.
Worth it? Depends on what you’re trying to find. All Q8s return well-equipped, however the leather-trimmed dashboard (replacing the standard-issue Audi pebbled rubbery plastic deal), alcantara faux-suede performing artist, dual-pane sheet glass for the frameless doors (it curtail road noise, or a minimum of I convinced myself it did), atomic number 13 switchgear then on created it feel additional sort of a luxury range-topper and fewer sort of a larger Q5. No suite of choices can remodel the Q8 into a baby Bentayga (the Audi conjointly shares its bones with the large Bentley), however the add-ons, whereas dear, don’t return off as excessive if you’re wanting to treat yourself a touch bit.
The adjustive chassis package with air suspension and all-wheel steering might, at $2,750, be less necessary. A compliant, snug ride is that the name of the sport here; there’s noticeable squat on laborious acceleration, and dive beneath laborious braking, however once cacophonous 2 sold-out days of driving between typical and air-equipped Q8s, ride quality is nice on all road surfaces with either suspension put in.
I can’t fault the Q8’s comfort-tuned dynamics, as a result of the Q8 doesn’t bill itself as a track-ready super-SUV; thereupon competent however unspectacular turbocharged three.0-liter turbo V6 because the solely engine possibility, it ne'er are going to be. Paired with associate eight-speed transmission system, the motor will what it must do effortlessly, ne'er fretful because the atmosphere thins (I didn’t even need to stop to re-jet the carburetors to create it over a nine,000-ft elevation pass! Vorsprung durch Technik indeed!). however it will it all with none real aptitude.
Still, there’s potential for Audi to dial things up within the future. Somewhere on the road from Park town to entryway, Colorado, I realize a awfully attractive abandoned gasoline station with a large, icy gravel heap. With many area to mess around I ensure that the Q8’s quattro system is unquestionably rear-biased (40/60, in fact), during a great way.
The roided-out performance crossover can ne'er take the place of huge, low autobahn-dominators just like the S8 in my heart. however I will see a theoretical SQ8 being the sort of car that, during a moment of weakness, I’d realize myself accidentally having a full heap of fun in. What’s the largest motor you reckon they might cram beneath the hood?
One space within which the Q8, in conjunction with the A8, A6 and A7, excels is in school integration. There square measure loads of bells and whistles to play with here, from the high-resolution twelve.3-inch virtual cockpit digital instrument cluster to the tactile feedback-enabled, user-configurable touchscreens (on the mostscreen you'll be able to drag and drop buttons for functions like navigation, radio and media, organizing them rather like the house screen of your smartphone) to adjustive control and driving aids.
Importantly, though, it’s all enforced during a efficient method. The voice command system may be a smartexample: Press the button on the handwheel, speak your deepest, most dearly control wishes (“lower cabin temperature 2 degrees”) and therefore the automobile complies. Or don’t use it the least bit. In any case, it feels so much less intrusive than Mercedes-Benz’s always-listening MBUX assistant or the gimmicky gesture-based controls found on BMWs.
The Takeaway
The factor concerning the Audi Q8 is that it may have tense a extremely stupid, all superfluous vehicle -- another grotesque coupe-ified German vainness SUV, another answer in search of question (but apparently not, if sales numbers mean something, in search of buyers).
But it didn’t. Instead, Audi took everything that basically works concerning associate A7 or associate A8, from powertrain to ride quality to aboard school, and basically stretched it vertically. It works. It’s not as quick as a Cayenne and it's missing the cross-country name of something with a spread Rover badge, however it lacks the worth tag of the previous and will a much better job serving up innovative school than the latter. Moreover, if you don’t would like a 3rd row, you’ll realize the Q8 a easier thanks to transport four adults than the larger Q7 on account of its further rear legroom.
The time has long passed for all folks to do to work out why the crossover is currently king and to easily settle forthat it's -- and consequently, there square measure some darn smart ones out there. The Q8 enclosed. whereasyou’re optioning yours you would possibly in addition throw down for the status and Luxury packages whereasyou’re at it. this is often a flagship, after all.
ON SALE: currently
BASE PRICE: $68,375
AS TESTED PRICE: $88,690
POWERTRAIN: three.0-liter turbocharged V6; eight-speed transmission system, AWD
OUTPUT: 335 HP @ five,000-6,400 rpm; 369 @1,370-4,500 rpm
CURB WEIGHT: four,729 lbs
0-60 MPH: five.6 seconds
FUEL ECONOMY: 17/22/19 mpg
(EPA City/Hwy/Combined)
PROS: snug cabin, refined ride, wonderful school integration, smart visibility all around
CONS: Curious grille; enthusiasts can crave a punchier motor -- or associate SQ8 variant
