The 2023 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.
Audi's flagship Q8 SUV is the most expensive non-electric SUV in the brand's lineup. It's a sporty version of the three-row Q7, but it only offers two-row seating. Besides being comfortable and stylish, the Q8 provides plenty of power and space, and it packs impressive tech. Its digital instrument panel and dual-touchscreen infotainment system lend to its high-tech and modern-looking interior. The Q8 also has a generous towing capacity. For additional power and performance, there is the separately reviewed SQ8 and RS Q8.
Only 21,139 Miles! Delivers 23 Highway MPG and 18 City MPG! This Audi Q8 delivers a Intercooled Turbo Gas/Electric V-6 3.0 L/183 engine powering this ...
The Q8 is an all-around solid luxury SUV, but it comes with some drawbacks to consider. It can't seat as many people as the Q7, and the infotainment system can be difficult for some to use. Limited outward visibility and subpar fuel economy are other downsides we experienced during testing. If you're interested in the Q8's rivals, it competes against the highly ranked Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe, the Porsche Cayenne Coupe, and the new kid on the block, the Genesis GV80. Check out our Expert Rating below to get our test team's full review of the Q8's comfort, utility and more.
We drove the 2023 Audi Q8 on our test track and on real roads. Our Edmunds team conducts rigorous independent vehicle testing, driving 500,000 miles a year.
Performance
7.5/10
How does the Q8 drive? With enough prodding, the Audi Q8 proves that it has the thrust to move at a good clip. In Edmunds' testing, 0-60 mph came in 5.6 seconds. That's quick, though other SUVs in the class with similar engines are either as quick or quicker. But throttle response in the default drive mode feels strangely weak, especially considering how much power is available. Response improves to acceptable levels in Sport mode.
The Q8 handles admirably through tight and sweeping corners alike. The suspension is properly buttoned-down in Sport mode, and body roll is nicely controlled. Only in higher-speed corners does the Q8's weight become a limiting factor. The steering is accurate and well tuned in terms of effort.
Comfort
8/10
How comfortable is the Q8? Like any good luxury SUV, the Q8 provides comfort in spades. We love the front seats' wide range of adjustment and cushy armrests. The seat padding is firm yet comfortable. Heating and ventilation functions seem subtle but are effective over time.
The Q8's suspension manages both compliance and body control very well. While this Audi isn't the cushiest of rides, it provides a sufficiently comfortable ride quality. At highway speeds, there's a marginal amount of road noise and slightly more wind noise around the windshield. Otherwise, all other ambient noise is nicely isolated.
Interior
7.5/10
How’s the interior? Audi's bold decision to go full touchscreen on its latest infotainment interface is controversial. Some of our team found the interface distracting and easy to smudge, while others liked the clean look and operation. We were more united in our dislike of the Q8's limited visibility. The rake of the front windshield and rear glass does shrink your view out, and the front and rear roof pillars are on the thick side.
The Q8 offers plenty of room, though. The space up front is generous even if the lower roofline gives the impression of less headroom than there is. The rear seating is surprisingly opulent, with excellent legroom, lots of toe clearance and ample headroom. The wide rear bench can hold three adults in agreeable comfort.
Technology
8/10
How’s the tech? The MMI interface isn't for everybody, but you can't deny that the Q8's cabin tech looks fully modern and comes with plenty of features. We like that it supports wireless smartphone integration, and the Digital Cockpit instrument panel is both useful and crisp-looking.
We're less impressed by the voice control system, which isn't as full-featured as what Mercedes' MBUX system offers. It needs to be able to handle more functions, especially since Audi buried nearly all controls in the distracting infotainment system. The Q8's driver aids work well, but Audi's decision to make adaptive cruise control part of an optional midtrim package is irksome.
Storage
8/10
How’s the storage? The Q8's design preserves most of the cargo space and offers people something attractive and cool to look at. The optional air suspension allows you to lower the rear for easier access to a wide cargo area. The split seats fold flat and provide a decent 30.5 cubic feet of cargo space. Storage is scarce for small items aside from the sizable door pockets. Car seat anchors hide behind removable covers, and the ample legroom ensures car seats of any size will fit.
The optional towing package gives the Q8 a towing capacity of 7,700 pounds, which is generous for the class. A trailer maneuver assist feature automatically guides the trailer while you're reversing — the driver swipes to control it on the lower MMI infotainment display.
Fuel Economy
6/10
How’s the fuel economy? Despite the mild hybrid powertrain, the Q8 is less efficient than much of its competition with comparable engines. Its rating of 20 mpg combined (18 city/23 highway) is about 2 mpg lower than most. We measured 19.5 mpg on our highway-heavy test loop, which is slightly lower than we anticipated. This may be due to the use of Sport mode to offset its sluggishness in Normal mode.
Value
7/10
Is the Q8 a good value? The Q8 exudes quality from the inside out. It's not just nice materials — the execution of the design and attention to detail also make the Q8 feel special. One interesting design detail is the use of frameless windows in the mold of a sports car. This is a rare feature for an SUV, yet the doors are solid and airtight.
That impressive build quality comes at a fairly steep price. Our fully loaded test vehicle came within a whisper of $100,000, which is quite a lot for a V6-powered midsize SUV. Audi's warranties are average for a luxury automaker.
Wildcard
8.5/10
The Q8 scores big points with its sporty styling, and thankfully it has the performance chops to back it up. Still, you're not going to be outrunning sport sedans in this thing even though it looks like you could. But you will have one of the coolest-looking SUVs in the lineup for school drop-offs.
2023 Audi Q8 trim level differences
Audi offers the Q8 in three trim levels: Premium,Premium Plus and Prestige. A turbocharged 3.0-liter V6, aided by a 48-volt hybrid assist system, produces 335 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. This is the only engine available in the Q8, and it's attached to an eight-speed automatic transmission powering all four wheels.
Which Q8 trim does Edmunds recommend?
The Premium Plus trim hits the sweet spot in the Q8 lineup. It includes the long list of standard features found in the base Premium trim as well as the contents from the Convenience package. Features such as front seat ventilation and a heated steering wheel add extra comfort, and the 17-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system will impress almost anyone. Adaptive cruise control with lane keeping is also included for safer highway driving.
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.
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.
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.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2023 Audi Q8, so we've included reviews for other years of the Q8 since its last redesign.
Uses sensors at the front and rear of the SUV to warn of an imminent collision and prepares the cabin. Can automatically apply the brakes too.
Audi Adaptive Cruise Assist
Maintains a driver-set distance between the Q8 and the car in front.
Audi Emergency Assist
With adaptive cruise control and lane keeping engaged, it can detect an unresponsive driver and bring the Q8 to a safe stop with the hazard lights flashing.
NHTSA Overall Rating
5 out of 5 stars
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver4 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover15.9%
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
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