Overview
If you’re currently driving an Audi Q7 or Q8 SUV but are considering going EV next time around, the 2024 Q8 e-tron (previously known simply as the e-tron) will provide you with an easy transition. Its design and overall vibe are similar to the rest of the luxury automaker’s lineup, so the only element to adjust to is the powertrain. Two electric motors provide all-wheel drive and up to 402 horsepower. Acceleration is strong, but not as rushed as in rifle-shot rivals like the BMW iX, Jaguar I-Pace, or Tesla Model X. If you’re up for a quicker version Q8 e-tron, there’s an SQ8 e-tron (reviewed separately), which offers 496 horsepower. High-tech features dot the Q8 e-tron’s hushed cabin, which is something Audi loyalists have come to expect. There are two body styles to choose from—the standard Q8 e-tron and the sportier, fastback Q8 e-tron Sportback, but neither shout about their eco-friendliness—in fact, they couldn’t look more conventional. Whichever body style you choose, the Q8 e-tron comes with a battery pack that provides a usable real-world driving range that promises to be competitive with that of other luxury EV SUVs. Plus, it can be charged quickly at a public charging station if you’re traveling long distances.
What’s New for 2024?
For 2024 the e-tron and e-tron Sportback SUVs have been rechristened as the Q8 e-tron and Q8 e-tron Sportback, presumably to avoid confusion with other members of Audi’s growing EV lineup—all of which use some form of the e-tron name. To mark the occasion, Audi has given the SUVs a styling refresh that includes a redesigned grille, restyled lighting elements, and updated wheel designs. Both models now also sport a larger, 106.0-kWh battery pack, which should give the Q8 e-tron models more range and the ability to better compete with rivals. Last year, a higher-performance S e-tron model was offered, but that has been spun off as the SQ8 e-tron, which we review separately.
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Pricing and Which One to Buy
While we’ll let you decide which of the Q8 body styles suits you best, we would recommend sticking with the entry-level Premium trims since they offer a comprehensive suite of standard features at a reasonable—for a luxury EV SUV—price. The Premium trim is hardly base, as it includes 20-inch wheels, adaptive cruise control, an air suspension system, heated front seats with power adjustments, LED headlamps, a panoramic sunroof, four-zone automatic climate control, a heated steering wheel, and leather upholstery.
EV Motor, Power, and Performance
Beneath the Q8 e-tron’s heavily creased bodywork are two electric motors, one located at the front axle and the other at the rear. Together they provide electronic all-wheel drive, but the rear motor does most of the work. In regular driving situations, they make a combined 355 horsepower and 414 pound-feet of torque. However, putting the shifter into Sport mode briefly unlocks 402 ponies and 490 pound-feet of torque. Our driving impressions revealed that the Q8 e-tron was swift and composed. Its snappy acceleration is typical of electric vehicles, and the smooth, quiet ride quality confirmed its luxury bona fides. Its stopping system expertly blended its traditional friction brakes with the obligatory regenerative braking system. However, we were disappointed that its regen wasn’t aggressive enough to enable one-pedal driving. Still, the Q8 e-tron demonstrates traditional SUV characteristics with the ability to tow up to 4000 pounds.
More on the Q8 e-tron SUV
Range, Charging, and Battery Life
Audi says the Q8 e-tron’s 106.0-kWh battery pack should provide up to 300 miles per charge. If that estimation is correct, that would give the Q8 e-tron competitive range estimate versus rivals such as the I-Pace and the Model X. Every e-tron features a 170-kW fast charger that allows it to replenish 80 percent of its battery in about 30 minutes.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPGe
The EPA hasn’t released fuel economy estimates yet for the 2024 Q8 e-tron SUV but we expect they’ll be similar to the 2023 model, which was rated for up to 78 MPGe city and 79 MPGe highway. When we get a chance, we’ll test the Q8 e-tron on our 75-mph highway fuel economy route, which is part of our extensive testing regimen, and update this story with test results. For more information about the e-tron’s fuel economy, visit the
