The combustion-engined flagship of the Q series received a host of updates for 2024. From the refreshed exterior design to HD Matrix LED headlights and OLED taillights, plenty of stuff has changed over the 2023 model.
These goodies, however, aren't particularly affordable. It's only natural for the Q8 to sell at a premium over the Volkswagen Touareg, but £75,500 in the UK market is quite a dramatic increase over the pre-facelift model. Once listed at just over £60k, the Q8 is really pushing it with the 2024 model's price.
Not currently available to configure in the United States, the Q8 for the United Kingdom converts to $93,670 at current exchange rates. By comparison, the pre-facelift 2023 model is listed stateside with a starting price of $72,800 (sans destination charge).
What are you getting for your hard-earned pounds sterling? For starters, a badge that reads 50 TDI. Rather than a 5.0-liter turbo diesel, 50 represents a vehicle with outputs ranging between 210 and 230 kW. That's 281 to 308 horsepower. As for the 3.0-liter V6 hiding under the hood, the numbers are 286 ps and 500 Nm (282 horsepower and 368 pound-feet). Higher up the spectrum, the UK market receives the new Q8 in the sportier 55 TFSI and SQ8 specifications.
55 signifies 245 to 275 kW, or – in this case – 340 ps and 500 Nm. Although peak torque mirrors that of the 3.0 TDI, the 3.0 TFSI packs a few more ponies from 1,370 revolutions per minute through 4,500 revolutions per minute as opposed to 1,500 to 3,000.
Photo: Audi
It's also quicker, clocking 5.6 seconds to 62 miles per hour (100 kilometers per hour) compared to 6.1 seconds for the fuel economy-oriented turbo diesel. The TFSI also enables a higher top speed, namely 155 mph (250 kph; electronically limited) as opposed to 150 mph (just over 241 kph) for the Q8 50 TDI.
Both sixers are joined by quattro Torsen-type permanent all-wheel drive, an eight-speed automatic (ZF 8HP), and 48-volt assistance. The mild-hybrid system includes a small battery and a belt alternator starter, with the latter designed to recuperate up to 8 kilowatts. The BAS also improves fuel economy by up to 0.5 liters for every 62 miles (100 kilometers), and between 34 and 99 miles per hour (55 to 160 kilometers per hour), it allows for engine-off coasting for up to 40 seconds at a time.
The SQ8 starts at £97,245 for the so-called Black Edition. Joined by the Launch Edition and Vorsprung, the performance-oriented version packs a twin-turbo V8 developed by Audi and Porsche. Downtuned from the no-nonsense V8 of the RS Q8, the engine in the SQ8 churns out 507 ps and 770 Nm of torque (500 horsepower and 568 pound-feet).
If you are in the market for an SQ8, ignore the Black and Launch editions. The Vorsprung is the one to have because of eAWS, an electromechanical active roll stabilization system powered by a supercapacitor. Two electric motors reduce body movements on uneven roads, with said motors rated at 1.5 kW (2.0 ps or 2.0 mechanical ponies) each.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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