Solid European Midsize Luxury Electric SUV
Is it possible to judge the quality of a car by the sound of the driver door being closed? Does it feel solid and make a resounding thunk? If these are a couple of your check boxes when shopping for a quality car, then the 2024 Audi Q4 Sportback E-tron Quattro probably will impress you.
There is something about driving a German car, and Audi does not disappoint with its midsize all-electric luxury SUV.
The First All-Electric Audi SUV
Audi’s first pure EV E-tron was introduced in 2018, and now in 2024 there are five E-tron models—Q4, Q4 Sportback, Q8, Q8 Sportback and GT, with all but the last being SUVs (and more coming). Audi has changed its nomenclature—the 2024 Q8 E-tron Clean Fleet Report drove last year was originally just called the E-tron.
We had a fun week in the smooth-riding, comfortable five-passenger Q8 Sportback E-tron Quattro. Here is our take.
Performance
The dual electric motors, one front and one rear, produce 402 horsepower and 414 pound-feet of torque. The Audi Quattro all-wheel drive system turns 0-60 times of about 5.2 seconds, which is pretty good for a SUV weighing in at 5,798 pounds. The EPA rates the 2024 Q8 E-tron Quattro at 296 miles of electric driving range. This is on the threshold of the 300 mile all-electric range that is becoming an EV baseline. Audi knows its customers and is confident any range question is gladly balanced by the luxury in this midsize SUV.
The Q8 E-tron Quattro has that oh-so-wonderful EV instant torque at any speed going through a single speed transmission. Tromp the right pedal and the linear acceleration is unaffected by gear shifts that cause a gasoline-powered car to ever-so-momentarily lose momentum. The whoosh feeling is a joy and Audi has done it very well. Drive Select offers driver-selectable drive modes—Comfort, Auto, Dynamic and Individual—each adjusting the steering and suspension settings, offering a different driving experience.
Audi does not market the Q8 E-tron Quattro as a sports SUV, but one that performs smoothly on the highway and around town, with the variable steering making city driving easy. Not designed to eat-up corners at high speeds, the weight can be felt when pushing too hard, but any body roll is easily managed. The 265/40 Hankook Ventus S1 Evo 3 EV summer tires, mounted on 22-inch, 6-spoke design wheels, gripped well. Braking was through 6-piston front calipers and single calipers on the rear with ABS and electronic brake distribution with electronic stability control.
The steering was just heavy enough for good road feedback but not so much as to need muscling it through a corner. The progressive steering has been designed, with software assistance, for faster and less driver-input steering that makes it feel more direct, with good road feel.
The adaptive air suspension made highway driving a dream, and the low drag coefficient (Cd) of 0.27 cut through the air with little-to-no wind noise. When equipped with the optional trailer hitch and 7-pin connector the Q8 E-tron Quattro can tow 4,000 pounds.
Charging
The Q8 E-tron has a 196 kWh battery that can be charged four ways.
- Level 1 is when connected to a common 120-volt household outlet. This is the long and slow method that will recharge an empty battery in about 80 hours.
- Level 2 is what most owners will be familiar with after installing a 240-volt charger in their home. This cuts the charge time to 13 hours at 9.6 kW or 6.5 hours with a 19.2 kW charger.
- DC Fast Charging is where owning an EV like the Q8 starts to be convenient for long range road trips. Using a 170 kW charger, it takes 31 minutes for a 10% – 80% charge. To fully utilize DC Fast Charging, Audi Q8 E-tron owners receive two years of free fast charging through the Electrify America network at 900 stations and more than 4,000 chargers in North America.
It is important to note cold weather can affect the charging time and driving range. Nathan Hoyt, manager of product communications for Audi of America, told us “The Q8 E-tron uses its own thermal management system to ensure the battery quickly reaches its optimum efficiency range and stays there while driving, whether operating from a cold start in winter or fast highway driving on hot summer days. The driver can also set auxiliary climate control temperatures and a departure time so, while plugged in, the cabin can be set to a desired temperature prior to departure, saving a bit of range with either heat or cool.”
Regenerative braking is the fourth charging method, a seamless way to recharge the battery when driving. Using the steering wheel paddles, braking actually comes from the electric motors reversing direction, not the brakes being applied. This method converts kinetic energy into electricity when slowing or coasting.
There are two concerns with the regenerative braking on the Q8 E-tron. First, it does not have one-pedal driving, where the car will come to a complete stop and hold without touching the brake. The Q8 E-tron will slow to almost zero, but then you have to press the brake pedal to engage auto hold. It works, but is not as convenient nor technology-forward as competitor EVs.
The other issue is: While the Q8 E-tron regenerative braking has three levels set with the steering wheel paddles (blips with the left paddle for more; three on the right paddle for less), there is no way to set the intensity of the braking. We would have liked it to be more forceful and returning more energy to the battery, which would have made the driving a bit more fun. Once mastered, one-pedal regenerative braking driving, in almost all circumstances, does not require touching the brake pedal. This means the left fingers are slowing the car (left paddle) and the right paddle releases the motor so acceleration can resume. On a twisty or curvy mountain road, it is a blast to smoothly negotiate turns while never feeling any gear shifts or brake lurches.
Refined Cabin
The Q8 E-tron interior is spacious, with the air suspension smoothing-out the bumps and dips making for a seriously comfortable ride. Quiet is the rule here, helped by dual pane acoustic glass on the side windows, making this one of the quietest midsize SUVs I have driven.
The interior attention to detail is obvious. The seams between panels are tight, the look is classic German—not ostentatious or trendy. The interior of our Q8 E-tron was in Flint Gray with Orange stitching. The use of soft materials, brushed aluminum, mesh anthracite and natural wood inlays and gloss black trim offers a complementary look.
The supportive heated and ventilated front seats, covered in soft and supple Valcona Milano leather, had power-everything, including massage, lumbar and 8-way driver and 4-way passenger adjustments. The rear heated seats offer plenty of leg, head and shoulder room for two adults, three for shorter trips. Rear passengers get vents and digital climate controls, manual side window shades, two USB charge-only C ports and a 12V power outlet. The rear seat splits 40:20:20 with a fold down armrest and cup holders. Cargo space is 27.2 cubic feet with the rear seat up, and 54.5 with it folded flat.
The 12.3-inch virtual cockpit is configurable to switch between maps, music playlists and the traditional large round gauges with white numbers on a black background. Audi hasn’t done away with all buttons and other switchgear, but most of the controls are either on the heated, four-spoke, leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel or by touching the upper 10.1-inch and lower 8.6-inch screens. The lower screen is to control the four-zone automatic climate system, while the upper is for the audio system, navigation and vehicle systems. The menu was easy to learn and did not require going through multiple screens to find what you are looking for.
Our Q8 E-tron Quattro had a head-up display, surround view camera, adaptive cruise control and the outstanding 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system with FM/SiriusXM radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system is not equipped with AM radio.
The panoramic sunroof has a power shade. Interior storage is found in the doors, under the cargo area floor and the front trunk (frunk). The frunk is small but handy to stash a few valuables out of sight.
Safety
There is an extensive list of standard and optional advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), including front, side (front and rear) airbags, forward collision warning and avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure and blind-spot warning, electronic stability and traction control, along with four-wheel anti-lock brakes and a tire pressure monitoring system.
The 2024 Audi Q8 E-tron not been rated by the National Highway Traffic Administration, but the 2023 E-tron earned 5 Stars, its highest safety rating. The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the 2024 its highest rating as a Top Safety Pick+.
Warranty
The 2024 Audi Q8 E-tron comes with these warranties:
- New Vehicle – Four years/50,000 miles
- Battery – Eight years/100,000 miles
- Maintenance – One year/10,000 miles
- Roadside Assistance – Four years/Unlimited miles
- Corrosion – 12 years/Unlimited miles
Pricing
The 2024 Audi Q8 E-tron Quattro comes in four trims with these base prices that included the $1,195 destination and delivery charge.
- E-tron $75,595
- E-tron Sportback $78,995
- SQ8 E-tron $90,995
- SQ8 E-tron Sportback $92,600
Clean Fleet Report drove the 2024 Q8 Sportback E-tron Quattro, with the S Line package, had a base price of $89,395, including the mandatory $1,195 destination charge. With $6,795 in options the total price came to $95,395.
Note: Under the Inflation Reduction Act, the MSRP of electric vehicles must be $80,000 or less for SUVs, vans, and trucks. All other electric vehicles must be $55,000 or less. But, there are other caveats and restrictions to qualify for a federal tax credit, or a state tax credit, so speak with your CPA before visiting an Audi dealer.
Observations: 2024 Audi Q8 Sportback E-Tron Quattro
The 2024 Audi E-tron is now in its fifth year, but the first with the new name of Q8 E-tron. The exterior is classic Audi being understated and classy, and the posh interior is a place you will want to spend time. The equipment list is long, the driver safety systems robust, and the infotainment system is excellent.
The Q8 E-tron drives smooth and quiet, with the air suspension going from freeway comfort to firmer when in Dynamic mode. After 339 miles driving through Southern California we came to appreciate the Q8 E-tron as a very nice EV. This review only begins to touch on the available features to personalize your Q8 E-tron.
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Story by John Faulkner. Photos by John Faulkner and Audi.
[See image gallery at cleanfleetreport.com]Disclosure:
Clean Fleet Report is loaned free test vehicles from automakers to evaluate, typically for a week at a time. Our road tests are based on this one-week drive of a new vehicle. Because of this we don’t address issues such as long-term reliability or total cost of ownership. In addition, we are often invited to manufacturer events highlighting new vehicles or technology. As part of these events we may be offered free transportation, lodging or meals. We do our best to present our unvarnished evaluations of vehicles and news irrespective of these inducements.
Our focus is on vehicles that offer the best fuel economy in their class, which leads us to emphasize electric cars, plug-in hybrids, hybrids and diesels. We also feature those efficient gas-powered vehicles that are among the top mpg vehicles in their class. In addition, we aim to offer reviews and news on advanced technology and the alternative fuel vehicle market. We welcome any feedback from vehicle owners and are dedicated to providing a forum for alternative viewpoints. Please let us know your views at publisher@cleanfleetreport.com.
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