2024 Audi Q8 60 TFSI e evaluation

The Audi Q8 vary is probably the most expansive line-up of fashions in Australia, and the newest addition – this 2024 Audi Q8 60 TFSI e plug-in hybrid – provides but another choice for consumers to contemplate.

This one gives a turbo-petrol six-cylinder engine mixed with an electrical motor and plug-in recharge functionality, with a claimed 59km of EV driving (NEDC) obtainable.

Alongside the turbo-petrol and turbo-diesel six-cylinder fashions it attracts a near-$15K premium for that tech, although. So does it make sense?

How a lot does the Audi Q8 value?

It’s difficult in terms of the Audi Q8 vary.

The brand new plug-in hybrid mannequin seems to be like the present Q8 SUV, which was in-turn joined by the present Audi e-tron (which is now the Q8 e-tron, and is on the market as an SUV and a Sportback) that appears very completely different from the skin.

After which there’s the vary of powertrains – six-cylinder petrol, diesel, newly-added PHEV, and the V8-powered SQ8 and RSQ8. Confused? That’s comprehensible, however I believe it’s important to know the place this new tackle the Q8 theme is positioned in your entire mannequin vary.

Meaning you’re paying round $15K extra for the PHEV model of the Q8 in comparison with a petrol-only model, however it appears very carefully priced to the fully-electric Q8 e-tron SUV, which is just round $5500 extra. 

This evaluation, clearly, is concentrated on the plug-in hybrid mannequin, and whereas the usual spec particulars under will make it easier to get an thought of whether or not it’s worth proposition, the plug-in hybrid house is a now a busier place than you may realise.

There are a number of choices obtainable within the luxurious SUV house with PHEV functionality, together with the Vary Rover Velar (from $131,475), Vary Rover Evoque (from $106,675), Vary Rover Sport (from $178,650), and the full-size Vary Rover (from $254,500).

For these after one thing a bit extra butch and bush-bashable, there may be the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe (from $129,950), and Land Rover Defender 110 P400e (from $126,275).

And the mechanically-related Volkswagen Touareg R eHybrid seems to be like excellent worth at $129,990 earlier than on-road prices. Porsche additionally gives E-Hybrid and Turbo S E-Hybrid PHEV variations of its Cayenne, a cousin to the Touareg and Q8, with costs starting from $152,500 to $312,700 earlier than on-roads.

Suffice to say, there are different selections on the market. Or you would simply be satisfied by the absolutely electrical Q8 e-tron, or the extra inexpensive petrol model!

2024 Audi Q8 pricing:

• Audi Q8 50 TDI: $132,269  
• Audi Q8 55 TFSI: $133,569
• Audi Q8 60 TFSI e: $148,375
• Audi Q8 55 e-tron: $153,900
• Audi Q8 55 e-tron Sportback: $165,900
• Audi SQ8 TFSI: $167,269 
• Audi RSQ8: $219,069

What’s the Audi Q8 like on the within?

In the event you’re aware of the present Q8, you’re not going to really feel misplaced within the PHEV mannequin.

There aren’t any wholesale adjustments right here, and certainly the one changes have primarily been the inclusion of an EV button on the decrease management panel and completely different shows on the Digital Cockpit dashboard.

In any other case, it’s what you’d anticipate, and that’s no unhealthy factor – as a result of the inside of a Q8 is a stunning place to be.

Whereas this mannequin had an non-obligatory prolonged leather-based package deal, the seat trim is gorgeous, and there’s a technical inside feel and appear that is probably not as opulent as rivals, however is precisely what you’d anticipate from Audi.

The supplies and construct high quality are pretty, and the practicality is sweet, too. Whereas the twin-screen structure mightn’t be to all tastes, I admire that there’s a haptic suggestions system constructed into each screens, so you’ll be able to make certain that you’ve hit the supposed management perform reasonably than hoping you probably did.

I had no points with the controls and performance of the display screen, however you do have to study the menus in the event you don’t plan to make use of smartphone mirroring for almost all of features.

There’s ambient lighting and an attractive structure to the dashboard, and storage is okay, with a pair of cup holders alongside the gear selector, a wi-fi cellphone charger within the tiny centre console bin, and bottle holders within the doorways.

The second-row expertise can also be fairly spectacular, with ample grownup occupant house behind a 6’0/182cm driver. There’s good knee, toe, head and shoulder room, and you may match three adults throughout if you must, regardless of the massive transmission tunnel intrusion within the second row.

It’s additionally pretty to see that there are directional air vents at knee top but additionally at face top within the B-pillars.

There are ISOFIX factors and three top-tethers as nicely, and the non-obligatory package deal fitted to this automotive had the intelligent electrically adjustable facet sunblinds, which my daughter thought have been nice (she additionally liked the panoramic roof, particularly within the rain).

Storage choices within the again are respectable, with large door pockets, mesh map pockets on the seat backs (which have arduous plastic kick plates to stop child injury!) and there’s a flip-down armrest with a set of cupholders.

Oddly, you’ll be able to’t fold the centre of the seat down as a ski port. 

Nonetheless, the seat does supply sliding performance for improved boot house, or optimised passenger house. Backseat riders even have entry to a pair of USB-C ports, and a 12-volt port. 

Boot house for the Q8 60 TFSI e mannequin is a bit lower than different variations of the Q8. You get 505 litres with the rear seats in place of their rear most place (100L lower than the ICE variations, and there’s no space-saver spare wheel on supply right here both – only a tyre restore equipment.

It doesn’t imply it’s an impractical selection. It simply means it’s not as sensible because the cheaper Q8 fashions.

What’s below the bonnet?

The Q8 60 TFSI e mainly runs the identical plug-in hybrid drivetrain because the associated Volkswagen Touareg R eHybrid, one that mixes a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 petrol engine with an electrical motor and a 17.9kWh lithium-ion battery pack – housed below the boot ground.

The petrol engine alone produces 250kW and 450Nm (primarily the Q8 55 TFSI specification), whereas the e-motor contributes 100kW and 400Nm. 

Mixed outputs are acknowledged to be 340kW and 700Nm, which is sufficient to assist this 5005mm lengthy, 2400kg SUV dash from 0-100km/h in simply 5.4 seconds. That is half a second faster than the 55 TFSI. The Q8 60 TFSI e makes use of an eight-speed computerized transmission (into which the e-motor is built-in), and has quattro all-wheel drive.

The battery unit is claimed to supply 59 kilometres of EV driving below the much less stringent NEDC testing cycle or 47km on the WLTP cycle (see driving part under for real-world outcomes), and the official gasoline consumption determine of 2.6 litres per 100 kilometres. Gasoline tank capability is 85 litres.

The vital factor to notice with the gasoline use declare is that you’ll solely ever obtain that if in case you have a full electrical battery, as the following 100km (utilizing it as a hybrid, reasonably than driving in EV mode with petrol as a back-up) isn’t going to be as environment friendly.

There are a number of drive modes to select from to change and adapt the automotive’s powertrain to the driving circumstances, together with Auto, Cost (utilizing the petrol motor to recharge the battery), Maintain (to retain the battery at its present share) and EV (for absolutely electrical driving).

In line with Audi, the automobile’s navigation information can be utilized to foretell the drive forward and make sure the powertrain is working in its optimum manner.

In fact there’s a regenerative braking system that’s mentioned to have the ability to recuperate as much as 25kW of power when coasting, and as much as 80kW below braking.

When it’s time to recharge, there’s a Kind 2 AC connector, and the utmost charging charge for the Q8 60 TFSI e is 7.4kW, which the corporate states permits the battery to be absolutely charged in 2.5 hours.

All that, and it’s nonetheless rated to tow as much as 3500kg (most braked towing capability) with a 350kg downball weight. Wow.

How does the Audi Q8 drive?

As is the case with all PHEV fashions, the most important consideration is whether or not it’s going to work together with your precise way of life.

Like, the claimed EV vary is 47km, and in the event you suppose you’ll be able to run totally on electrical energy say for commuting or the varsity drop-off, and that you’ll solely have to name on the petrol engine once you’re going for an extended drive, then it may make sense.

However you must observe that, for this check, I solely managed to realize an EV driving vary of 38km, which lessens the usability of it. Certainly, I’ve carried out 88km in EV-only in a less expensive Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, and even 66km within the Peugeot 508 GT Sportswagon PHEV. So, this isn’t the best method to get into the EV-with-petrol-as-a-back-up way of life.

So, 38km? Not terrific for EV driving vary, however it’s fairly spectacular in the best way it’s going to soar between petrol driving and dip again into EV mode when circumstances allow.

The powertrain; nonetheless, isn’t probably the most refined plug-in hybrid that I’ve sampled. Numerous that comes all the way down to the truth that the electrical motor is built-in into the transmission, and that implies that at instances it may well really feel somewhat ‘doughy’. 

That is primarily if you’re driving with a largely depleted battery and also you speed up from a standstill, when it may well really feel as if you’ve received some notable lag to take care of.

You may override that by deciding on completely different drive modes, and it’s nonetheless a really likeable automotive to drive in stop-start conditions – particularly when the battery is full. However it doesn’t really feel sprightly; whereas, the petrol model with out the plug-in hybrid tech does.

You may repair all this by placing the automotive into Dynamic mode, which can prioritise utilizing the battery pack and the electrical motor to supply probably the most potential energy and torque. That drive mode additionally adjusts the suspension to be significantly firmer, makes the soundtrack of the powertrain much more aggressive, and likewise provides weight to the steering really feel. 

One factor which may take somewhat little bit of getting used to is the brake pedal responsiveness and really feel; though, over just a few hours of driving I managed to get used to it fairly simply. It’s just a bit bit sensitive at instances, and regenerative braking is built-in into the system. 

However I might say the standout factor of the drive expertise for the Q8 plug-in hybrid already existed earlier than this powertrain was added to the substances record. Particularly, the truth that it’s received adaptive air suspension which is extraordinarily comfy and gives a stage of trip consolation and composure that’s arduous to match.

The suspension seemingly communicates between the entrance and rear axle once you do go over a bump – if it’s a pointy edge and the entrance axle senses that, the rear axle appears to have the ability to regulate to swimsuit – and it actually does have an excellent trip in numerous completely different conditions. 

What fails that trip somewhat bit is the truth that you’ve received large (non-obligatory) 22-inch wheels, that are little doubt very heavy, and also you’ve additionally received fairly a broad tyre with a giant footprint on the bottom under. So you’ll be able to anticipate that you will really feel among the lumps and bumps within the street floor. 

The steering response relies on the drive mode chosen, however is gentle and correct. Nonetheless, it doesn’t supply immense ranges of communication and really feel, however is not less than completely usable in numerous completely different conditions. It’s not going to excite you as a lot as an SQ8 or RSQ8 would, however that’s not this mannequin’s job.

This mannequin may be very refined, although. There’s not a lot noise intrusion into the cabin, and that makes it really feel luxurious. 

Now, after about 180km of driving, I used all of the battery pack (38km) after which ran the automotive in hybrid mode primarily, and after the primary 100km I had a displayed return of 6.6 litres per 100km. And after I handed the automotive again, that determine had climbed to eight.6 litres per 100km.

That’s not horrible, and as a worst-case situation it will be effective – even completely acceptable contemplating the dimensions and luxurious on supply on this automotive. However it does reinforce that, like all PHEVs, it’s actually going to come back down as to whether you suppose it’s going to work in your way of life.

What do you get?

Q8 60 TFSI e highlights:

• Matrix LED headlights
• LED daytime working lights
• LED tail lights (non-obligatory OLED tail lights additionally obtainable)
• 21-inch alloy wheels (22in as examined)
• Black exterior styling package deal
• Adaptive air suspension system
• 10.1-inch touchscreen media system
  • Accessible Spotify, Amazon Music
  • Wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
  • Satellite tv for pc navigation
• 17-speaker Bang & Olufsen 3D stereo sound system
• Head-up show
• “Digital Cockpit” digital instrumentation
• 3-zone local weather management air-conditioning
• Heated entrance seats
• 8.6-inch touchscreen for local weather and automotive controls
• Drive mode selector
• Leather-based seat trim
• Electrical entrance seat adjustment
• Panoramic sunroof
• Electrical tailgate
• Illuminated sill trims
• Puddle lights
• Encompass-view cameras, parking sensors
• Semi-autonomous parking
• 240V 3-pin Australian Normal plug
  • Kind 2 charging cable for public charging
  • Complimentary wall bracket for mounting residence charger

The check automobile seen right here has these aforementioned 22-inch wheels ($2300), metallic paint ($2300) and the prolonged “full leather-based” package deal for an eye-watering $8900 however contains leather-based trim for the centre console, armrests, higher and decrease dashboard, and it additionally incorporates electrical sunblinds for rear facet home windows and a handbook sunblind for the rear window.

Is the Audi Q8 secure?

The Q8 petrol and diesel fashions are coated by a five-star ANCAP security score from 2019; though, the PHEV mannequin isn’t listed as being coated by the identical rating.

Even so, the Q8 scored nicely for grownup occupant safety (93 per cent) and baby occupant safety (88 per cent), and had respectable scores for susceptible street person safety (71 per cent) and security help (75 per cent).

Normal security options embrace:

• AEB incl. Car, Pedestrian, Bike owner detection
• Blind-spot monitoring 
• Entrance, rear cross-traffic help
• Manoeuvre braking
  • Can detect and stop low velocity impacts if obstacles detected
• Lane departure warning 
• Lane preserve help
• Audi pre sense entrance (multi-stage) collision avoidance
• Encompass parking sensors
• Encompass digicam system

The Q8 has eight airbags – twin entrance, entrance facet, rear facet and full-length curtain protection.

How a lot does the Audi Q8 value to run?

Audi gives a five-year, limitless kilometre guarantee in Australia, and there’s complimentary roadside help on supply, too.

Servicing might be taken care of both by paying as you go, or by electing to take up a five-year/75,000km servicing plan, at a price of $3570.

The 12-month/15,000km intervals are good, however have in mind you’ll most likely pay extra for upkeep in the event you don’t prepay your service pack. Price noting that you would be able to get entry to a service mortgage automobile when it’s time for upkeep, too. 

The model additionally prides itself on providing house owners particular way of life experiences with a mixture of completely different occasions happening all year long.

CarExpert’s Tackle the Audi Q8

Extra EV driving vary can be welcome right here, and a cheaper price level, too.

It’s arduous to see why a purchaser would contemplate this, in the event that they have been considering with their pockets.

But when you already know a PHEV will work in your way of life, and also you need one of the crucial luxurious takes on the theme, then the Audi Q8 60 TSI e could be good for you.

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