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Video: Audi's revised Q8
Audi’s premium, sporty-ish SUV comes in for a revised look and welcome round of upgrades from tip to tail – Rory checks it out
Words by: Dan Trent
Published on 14 December 2023 | 0 min read
You’d be forgiven for being a little confused about the Audi Q8, given the car previously known as the e-tron has now become … the Q8 e-tron. And is available in the same SUV body shape, or as a sleeker, coupe-inspired Sportback.
Given a recent round of updates to both have introduced similar styling you’d therefore think they’re now all one and the same, right? Kind of. But the diesel, petrol and performance-oriented S versions of the Q8 are, technically, a separate range of cars. Like we said, confusing. Rory’s already driven the Q8 e-tron, though, and here he’s concentrating on the very much petrol-powered SQ8, which sits at the top of the combustion-engined line-up and packs a big, turbocharged V8 engine with a little over 500 horsepower to play with. Which feels a bit old-school in this day and age but remains a bit of a guilty pleasure, and one Rory enjoys to the full in the video. The diesel-powered Q8 50TDi and petrol-engined Q8 55 TFSI meanwhile offer relatively more realistic performance, and the bonus of a mild hybrid boost for improved efficiency. But do nothing to clear up the confusion about Audi’s naming conventions! What, of substance, has changed in this update, though? We’ll let Rory talk you through that in more detail but the headlines are a new grille and lights arrangement with Audi’s latest ‘2D’ four-rings logo at its centre, reshaped bumpers front and rear and the options of swanky tail- and headlights of increasing fanciness as you progress up the range, up to and including the laser-enhanced HD Matrix LED front lights on the top model. Yes, more jargon. But, in effect, the ability to turn night into day without blinding all those around you. Which on the dark winter evenings we’re now living through can only be a good thing. New wheels, improved interior tech and a variety of changes to the interior trims also feature in this updated Q8, with the aim of taking the challenge to equivalent premium performance SUVs like the Range Rover Sport and Porsche Cayenne. Whether it’s enough or not you’ll have to watch the video to find out. And if you enjoyed it make sure you hit like, join the comments in the YouTube thread below and – if you haven’t already – subscribe for more great videos like this.
Given a recent round of updates to both have introduced similar styling you’d therefore think they’re now all one and the same, right? Kind of. But the diesel, petrol and performance-oriented S versions of the Q8 are, technically, a separate range of cars. Like we said, confusing. Rory’s already driven the Q8 e-tron, though, and here he’s concentrating on the very much petrol-powered SQ8, which sits at the top of the combustion-engined line-up and packs a big, turbocharged V8 engine with a little over 500 horsepower to play with. Which feels a bit old-school in this day and age but remains a bit of a guilty pleasure, and one Rory enjoys to the full in the video. The diesel-powered Q8 50TDi and petrol-engined Q8 55 TFSI meanwhile offer relatively more realistic performance, and the bonus of a mild hybrid boost for improved efficiency. But do nothing to clear up the confusion about Audi’s naming conventions! What, of substance, has changed in this update, though? We’ll let Rory talk you through that in more detail but the headlines are a new grille and lights arrangement with Audi’s latest ‘2D’ four-rings logo at its centre, reshaped bumpers front and rear and the options of swanky tail- and headlights of increasing fanciness as you progress up the range, up to and including the laser-enhanced HD Matrix LED front lights on the top model. Yes, more jargon. But, in effect, the ability to turn night into day without blinding all those around you. Which on the dark winter evenings we’re now living through can only be a good thing. New wheels, improved interior tech and a variety of changes to the interior trims also feature in this updated Q8, with the aim of taking the challenge to equivalent premium performance SUVs like the Range Rover Sport and Porsche Cayenne. Whether it’s enough or not you’ll have to watch the video to find out. And if you enjoyed it make sure you hit like, join the comments in the YouTube thread below and – if you haven’t already – subscribe for more great videos like this.