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2019 Audi Q8 Is the Current King of SUV Coupes, UK Review Suggests

Tired of seeing the hunchbacks of Stuttgart and Spartanburg? Well, Ingolstadt has just what you need the Audi Q8.
2019 Audi Q8 Is the Current King of SUV Coupes, UK Review Suggests 1 photo
Photo: YouTube screenshot/CarWow
This mode is designed as a rival for the Mercedes GLC Coupe and BMW X6. It's designed to be a lifestyle choice, a bold statement that says "I have more money and style than you," a bit like an iPhone with wheels.

We've spent our fair share of time with the Q8, and it's considerably more than a Q7 with a chopped roof. Audi needs to be applauded for not trying to save money in the design department like its German rivals are doing.

Mat Watson from Carwow compares its front end to a mouthpiece you get at the dentist, and that fair... probably a bit disgusting too. But if you think big grilles and fake intakes make an SUV look sporty, you'll probably find the Q8 appealing.

While it looks like it could have a fist fight with the Lamborghini Urus to which it's closely related, the Q8 is only available with a 3.0 TDI, the V6 you also find under the VW Touareg's hood. This delivers 286 HP and 600 Nm (442 lb-ft) of torque, which is enough to launch from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.3 seconds.

Later on, the Germans have promises a 340 HP 3.0 TFSI, which should debut in a few months, and a V8. By that, we suspect the 4.0 TDI with 435 HP that will power the SQ8, though an RS Q8 with at last 600 HP is also on its way.

The Q8 costs about £13,000 more than the Q7 in the UK, but it does offer a lot more kit. For example, the double-screen dashboard is way more advanced, and it gets standard air suspension to help with cornering. Also, we'd like to put a price on the beauty of those frameless doors.

Even though it's not available with seven seats like its practical brother, there's limo-like room in the back. And because the roof isn't as sloped as in the BMW X6, headroom is good too.

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About the author: Mihnea Radu
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Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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