The 2024 Audi Q8 is not a car for everyone. It has a very specific kind of buyer in mind with what it has to offer. Priced at Rs 1.17 crore, ex-showroom, it’s par for the course in the luxury SUV market, but that’s not its unique selling point. The Audi Q8 is for the purist, for the person who loves to drive, for the person who wants the image of a luxury SUV with the driving dynamics of a sedan.
Audi India sent across the Q8 for a short while, and in the limited time I had with it, I formed an opinion on what the Q8 is trying to convey. Here’s what I think about the Audi Q8.
Audi Q8 Pros and Cons
| What I like about the Audi Q8 | What I don’t like about the Audi Q8 |
| Butter-smooth V6 petrol engine | Skimps on features for its price |
| Responsive handling, great to drive | No ventilated seats, no ADAS, no spare tyre |
| Spacious boot, understated looks | Touchscreen operations are distracting |
Audi Q8 design
The 2024 version of the SUV has a few styling updates to its predecessor, on close inspection. The matrix headlamps with laser are definitely a talking point, with their customizable welcome sequence. The grille seems wider with a slight design tweak. At the rear, the trend of a connected taillamp carries through, with the lights again getting a customizable pattern. The design hides its size. The frameless doors are a nice sporty touch but feel delicate. It rides on large 21-inch alloys which also show off the new red brake calipers. It can seat four adults fairly comfortably and five at a pinch. The boot is particularly spacious with 605 litres of luggage space and a 40:20:40 split folding system to increase that. Underfloor storage space is taken up by the huge subwoofer, and hence there’s no spare wheel.
Also see: Audi Q8 E-tron first drive review: A luxury electric all-rounder for single-car buyers
Audi Q8 interiors
The interiors of the Audi Q8 are familiar, defining luxury with its soft-touch materials all around – from the dashboard to the door pads, it engulfs you with a sense of luxury, yet very understated. There’s leather everywhere. One thing I didn’t quite like was the inclusion of touchscreen functions and the removal of physical buttons for a lot of things, like the 4-zone climate control. Operating it on the move is distracting. Note to all carmakers – please keep tactile controls intact (bring back buttons!).
Audi Q8 technology and features
While the Audi Q8 available in other markets comes with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), the one sold in India does not have it. It gets regular cruise control with a speed limiter and warning systems only. It has a 360-degree camera system and 8 airbags as standard safety features.
In terms of convenience features, the Audi Q8 could have packed in more, considering expectations from Indian consumers now. Ventilated seats are a sore miss, a feature now available on budget segment cars as well. One would expect an electronic steering height/telescoping adjustment system on a car in this segment, but it’s manual. There is no full keyless entry!
However, there’s also a lot to appreciate as well, such as the 17-speaker Bang and Olufsen sound system that encapsulates you with crystal clear audio or the panoramic sunroof (some other markets don’t get this). The virtual cockpit (instrument console) is easy to read and has a sense of purpose depending on which drive mode you are in.
Also read: Audi Q8 E-Tron Sportback and SUV first-drive review: Bye-bye ICE, hello EV
Audi Q8 drive and handling
One of the primary reasons to buy an Audi Q8 is for the way it drives. That raw sense of power and precise handling is what will appeal to most buyers, especially those who love to drive. The Q8 in India comes with a 3-litre V6 turbo-petrol engine that pushes out 335 bhp of power and 500 Nm of torque, assisted by a 48-volt mild-hybrid system with an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive system.
It can do 0-100 in about 5.6 seconds, but that’s not what it’s all about. This motor is refined but makes the right noises when called upon. It’s quick to overtake and the steering is precise, making for a capable mile-muncher. The air suspension cushions occupants quite well, although the ride is on the stiffer side. Throw it into a sweeping corner and it sticks to its line without a fuss. The hum from the engine on hard acceleration is music to the ears, which would make you turn off the Bang and Olufsen for a bit.
Audi Q8 verdict
Who should buy an Audi Q8? It’s an SUV for those who like to drive, not be driven in. It’s a great cross-country GT vehicle if you want. It has good ground clearance, a large boot and an adaptive suspension to handle anything you throw at it. If you have just one luxury car to pick, that would be at home on the race track as it is in the mountains or highways, the Audi Q8 is a good pick. It competes with the likes of the Mercedes GLE and BMW X6, so it is a tough market, yet the design stands out.
