The 2020 Audi Q8 backs its coupe-like styling with pleasing performance and plenty of luxury and technology features. A high price tag and a few compromises, however, prevent it from being the overall favorite in the class.
Several previously optional features are now standard
Newly available Black Optic and S Line appearance packages
Part of the first Q8 generation introduced for the 2019 model year
Edmunds says
Just last year Audi introduced its Q8 SUV, the brand's most expensive and most stylish SUV. It's not Audi's most practical — that award goes to its three-row Q7 — but the 2020 Q8 does offer a sleek profile and a high-quality cabin. It also comes with plenty of standard luxury features. If you're looking for a luxury SUV that's a little more special than the norm, the Q8 should be a great pick.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 Audi Q8 Premium 4dr SUV AWD w/55 TFSI (3.0L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.07 per gallon for premium unleaded in Alaska.
2019 Audi Q8 3.0 TFSI Premium quattro 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric hybrid 8A)
After months of research I purchased the Q8 with Premium Trim.
The Q8 has exceeded my expectations as a sporty and luxurious SUV. As a tall man (6’6”), I feel right at home in the Q8 and driving it is a lot of fun! This SUV has all kinds of power and smoothness.
The Technology in the vehicle is a lot but it becomes fairly intuitive after a few days. Super quiet on the inside!
One … note for better or worse, the Q8 is bigger than you think - closer to the Q7 than the Q5. If you want a true midsized SUV I’d look at the Q5 and if I still had kids going to soccer, lacrosse, etc... I would have bought the Q7
The rear cargo area has enough room for my golf clubs, and work materials. The back seat has more room than any other vehicle I considered.
I looked closely at and considered the BMW X5, Acura MDX, and the Mercedes GLE. Personally I don’t care for the looks of the Lexus or Infiniti SUVs, The Range Rovers looks great but I was scared away by the reliability reports on Edmunds, and I don’t really see myself as a Jag or Porsche owner.
Pleasantly Surprised
5 out of 5 stars
Matt D, 06/22/2019
2019 Audi Q8 3.0 TFSI Prestige quattro 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric hybrid 8A)
Have always shopped MB and BMW w/o much thought on Audis. When the MB debacle associated with the GLE 450 added six months (or more) to my delivery date I got my deposit back and started doing a bit more research. Never thought the "coupe" style SUVs were ugly personally, but I know they are polarizing. The Audi does a much better job making a sporty vehicle, so I figured it was worth … a test drive. Loved the car, so ordered one loaded with all options less night vision. There is a learning curve on the tech., but the vehicle is very well equipped. Joy to drive and a four-hour car ride is about as stress-inducing as a jaunt to the corner market. The added insulation and thicker glass, coupled with the upgraded audio system make it a fun place to be. The mild hybrid system isn't remarkable and is largely focused on making the start-stop system smoother (it does). Audi seems to have slightly outsmarted themselves on the system though as it will put the car in coast mode prior to a full stop and if you find yourself getting back on the gas while this happens you can have a bit of hesitation. That hasn't been an issue for me, but others complain about it on the user boards and post workarounds like staying in sport mode and/or turning off the auto stop-start feature. All and all I'm very happy with the Q8 in the early stages of ownership. Probably rivals an S550 sedan for taking four adults on a long road trip with the added flexibility of an SUV.
Great overall package
4 out of 5 stars
Steve D, 07/04/2019
2019 Audi Q8 3.0 TFSI Premium quattro 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric hybrid 8A)
Overall, we are really happy with our Q8. Regardless of published reviews, this car is very quick. Its a quiet ride, the technology is really strong. It gets constant looks or people asking us what model the car is. Its a definite 4 or 4.5 stars rating for us. A few things for the Audi designers to work on to make it a 5:
- Remote start capability: Last four cars have had this, … black car in Texas its a necessity
- Really would good to turn off the auto-shutoff at stop lights permanently
- Storage is lean (e.g. for sunglasses, etc). Console is tiny
- Seat settings: there is some logic that we can't figure out but its not the settings of the last person that drove the car, but it doesnt seem to react the same everytime.
- The software is a little flakey, with strange messages appearing occasionally, and certain parts of the menus disabled on one drive for no reason.
Quirky and Temperamental
2 out of 5 stars
JR , 08/02/2022
2019 Audi Q8 3.0 TFSI Premium Plus quattro 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric hybrid 8A)
We have owned Audi's for the past 10 years. Our Q5 was hands down one of the best vehicles we have ever owned. We decided to pick up a Q8 after a great Q5 experience and figured it would be even better since it is Audi's flagship SUV. Boy were we wrong. It has been in the shop for repairs numerous times for locking malfunctions, MMI issues and most recently for a child locking … malfunction. The electronic locks on this car are absolutely atrocious and are a safety issue. Besides that, it is one of the most quirky cars. The MMI system does its on thing when connected to Apple Car Play. Overall, Im not happy with it and am seriously not happy with my dealerships response to the issues with the locks. We will be breaking ties with Audi and you have now lost a long time loyal customer.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2020 Audi Q8, so we've included reviews for other years of the Q8 since its last redesign.