Audi Q8 Sportback e-tron review: a solid and ever-so-slightly sportier premium SUV
Having had the automotive equivalent of a fresh haircut, the Sportback is simply an Audi Q8 e-tron with ‘just a bit off the top’
Pros
- Classy interior
- Excellent refinement
- Big battery offers good range
Cons
- Expensive to buy
- Jaguar I-Pace better to drive
- Not as practical as standard SUV
| Range | Wallbox charge time | Rapid charge time |
|---|---|---|
| 266-342 miles | 9-11hrs 30 mins (0-100%, 11kW) | 28-31mins (10-80%, 150-170kW) |
Audi Q8 Sportback e-tron verdict
As if a luxury electric SUV from a renowned brand like Audi needed any more street cred, the Q8 Sportback e-tron delivers on the Sportback promise of more stylish looks while offering very few practical compromises in the process.
Given that the electric Q8 was already the size of a small aircraft carrier, few will mind the slightly reduced headroom and boot space. The price hike over the standard SUV isn’t that huge, either, while the Q8 Sportback e-tron retains the Q8’s relaxed driving manners and beautifully-appointed interior. Don’t let the coupe looks fool you, a BMW iX is much sportier to drive, but for a car that ultimately will spend its life driving between private schools and Waitrose, we think the Audi has got its target audience well-catered for.
Range details, specs and alternatives
The Audi e-tron was launched in 2019, at a time when big, luxurious, electric SUVs were few and far between. But since then, the market has been flooded with equally premium alternatives – cars like the BMW iX, Mercedes EQE SUV, Lotus Eletre and Tesla Model X.
Those new rivals quickly chipped away at the Audi e-tron’s competitive edge, so in late-2022, the German marque completely revamped its zero-emissions range-topper. As well as inheriting the ‘Q8’ moniker, Audi’s high-end EV was given a choice of bigger batteries, plus a subtly updated look and extra standard kit. With a starting price of less than £70,000, it even looks like reasonable value for money.
Alongside the standard Q8 e-tron, Audi also offers the Q8 Sportback e-tron – a sleeker, coupe-style SUV with a little less rear headroom and a slightly smaller boot. In reality, though, it’s one of the more practical cars of this type. The Sportback commands a premium of £2,500 across the Q8 range – a small uplift when you consider the car’s overall cost.
The lineup now kicks off with the Q8 50 Sportback e-tron , which gets a 95kWh battery and a range of up to 290 miles. In entry-level Sport spec you get 20-inch wheels, matrix LED lights, adaptive air suspension and a completely digital dashboard. S line costs a little more and brings 21-inch wheels, privacy glass and sportier styling, plus Valcona leather upholstery with ‘S’ logos.
Black Edition switches out much of the chrome trim for darker flashes, and swaps the S line’s graphite wheels for gloss black rims. As before, Vorsprung tops the range and leaves no option box unchecked. There’s 22-inch wheels, digital lights, soft-close doors and a panoramic roof, plus four-zone climate control, and even virtual door mirrors.
Each of these models is also available in Q8 55 e-tron spec, ushering in a larger 114kWh battery for up to 342 miles of range. The triple-motor SQ8 gets the same big battery, but range drops to just shy of 300 miles.
Click here to see why you can trust DrivingElectric reviews, or for a more detailed look at the Audi Q8 Sportback e-tron, read on for the rest of our in-depth review…
