The Car Connection Expert Review
Likes
- Classy looks
- Luxurious interior
- Comfortable, spacious cabin
- Powerful SQ8
Dislikes
- Climate touchscreen a bit annoying
- No one-pedal mode
- Dramatic range hit with biggest wheels
- Expensive with options
Buying tip
features & specs
The 2025 Audi Q8 E-Tron offers a delightfully anodyne personality, at least by electric SUV standards.
What kind of vehicle is the 2025 Audi Q8 E-Tron? What does it compare to?
The Q8 E-Tron and its sportier SQ8 E-Tron sibling are five-seat, all-electric crossovers that took the place of a model previously called E-Tron. They’re offered in both traditional SUV and sleeker Sportback styles, and they square off against the Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV, hte Rivian R1S, and the BMW iX.
Is the 2025 Audi Q8 E-Tron a good SUV?
Yes, these are fantastic electric SUVs with terrific driving dynamics, a great safety record, and an EPA test-estimated driving range as high as 300 miles. They score a TK out of 10 on the TCC scale. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
What's new for the 2025 Audi Q8 E-Tron?
After last year’s revamp, the Q8 E-Tron sees minor tweaks to its standard and optional equipment, plus a new Magnesium package with gold matte wheels and blacked-out exterior accents. It’s quite fetching.
The Q8 E-Tron comes in two bodies: one that looks either like a tall wagon or a squat SUV, and one with a sleeker, more hatchback-like roofline. Both are attractive, if hardly groundbreaking. The same is true inside, where the all-business cabin has a decidedly non-EV feel that we find exceptionally appealing compared to the sterility of, say, a Tesla Model X.
All versions of the Q8 have a 114-kwh battery, though just how this SUV uses its electrons depends on the motor count. With 402 hp, the standard Q8 E-tron moves along fairly quickly and offers exceptional grip from its dual-motor, all-wheel-drive setup. The SQ8 E-Tron delivers a phenomenal response to throttle application at highway speeds thanks to its hefty 718 lb-ft of torque. The SQ8 has a second motor out back to better shuffle power between each rear wheel, which is particularly nice during hard cornering.
Q8 E-Trons offer up to 300 miles of estimated range in sleek Sportback form; subtract 15 miles for the boxier SUV body. The SQ8 checks in at 253 miles regardless of body style, or just 218 miles with available 21- or 22-inch wheels.
Curiously, there’s no one-pedal mode on offer here, though the regenerative braking has a reasonably progressive and natural feel.
These SUVs have spectacular interiors that feel as though they were lifted right out of Audi’s gas lineup. Look for comfy seats front and rear (though only for five passengers) plus beautiful materials. Cargo space suffers only slightly with the sleek-looking Sportback; neither model is particularly spacious out back, but they have adequate space for a weekend’s worth of luggage for four passengers.
The Q8 E-Tron is one of our highest-rated vehicles for safety. Its IIHS and NHTSA scores are top-notch, and it includes or is available with lots of driver-assistance tech including systems that allow for hands-off driving and parking.
How much does the 2025 Audi Q8 E-Tron cost?
The Q8 E-Tron starts at $76,095 for the base Premium trim level, or about $3,400 more for the Sportback with its unique styling and a few feature tweaks. The range can climb to north of $100,000 from there.
Even the base Q8 E-Tron Premium is pretty well-outfitted, though, with its leather seats, big sunroof, and standard hands-off driving tech.
Where is the 2025 Audi Q8 E-Tron made?
In Brussels, Belgium.
2025 Audi Q8 e-tron Styling
The 2025 Audi Q8 E-Tron models offer incognito all-electric luxury style.
Is the Audi Q8 E-Tron a good-looking car?
They’re pleasant, if somewhat conservative. The Q8 E-Tron and Sportback look just about like any other Audi, right down to their shield-style front fascia that emulates gas models’ grilles. They’re proportioned to fit between the A6 Allroad wagon and the hulking gas-fueled Q7. We rate the lineup at 7 out of 10 for style.
Both models look the same up front with the latest version of an Audi design language that, frankly, hasn’t changed much in the last few decades. From the side, the standard Q8 has flared haunches below a fairly conventional greenhouse. The Sportback’s roofline slopes backward with more drama, at the expense of cargo space. There’s nothing revolutionary to either design, but that may be just fine if all you’re not looking to make a big styling statement.
If anything, SQ8s make a bigger punch with their dressier body kits, but they’re not over-the-top.
The Q8 E-Tron models have a clinically organized look that’s nonetheless downright warm and inviting compared to Tesla’s cabins. There’s some brightwork mixed in among the various touchscreens, panels covered in soft vinyl, and, on many trims, real wood. The overall look doesn’t suggest an EV, which again makes these nice transition models for shoppers not looking for something revolutionary.
2025 Audi Q8 e-tron Performance
Rapid, silent, and capable, the Q8 E-Tron range is a delight to drive.
The 2025 Audi Q8 E-Tron boasts terrific acceleration paired with a comfortable, quiet ride and adept handling. These models earn an 8 on the TCC scale.
Is the Audi Q8 E-Tron 4WD?
Yes, thanks to dual electronic motors that power each axle independently. Each motor can determine just how much power needs to go to a wheel just as it — or another — begins to skip. The system favors the rear motor in normal driving in Q8s, while SQ8s have a Dynamic mode that actuates twin rear motors individually for even sharper grip when cornering.
How fast is the Audi Q8 E-Tron?
The standard model is quick, while the SQ8 E-Tron is blindingly quick at higher speeds — something we can’t say about every EV.
The base Q8 E-Trons have a dual-motor setup that puts out 402 hp and 490 lb-ft of torque, while SQ8 E-Trons add another motor out back for a total of 496 hp and, most impressively, 718 lb-ft of torque. The standard car hits 60 mph in about 5.5 seconds, while the SQ8 slices more than a second off of that. But where the SQ8 is even more impressive is in its high-speed reserve power. That wall of torque cascades to the wheels for spectacular, slingshot-like acceleration.
All models have a responsive feel with somewhat light but decidedly direct steering. These aren’t nimble feels, they are easy to maneuver in city streets thanks to a tight turning radius and a short steering ratio. The standard adaptive air suspension can raise or lower the body by a total of 3.0 inches for a low-slung highway efficiency or for traversing small moguls, like a grass parking lot.
These big SUVs stop quickly and confidently, with decent pedal feel for a regenerative system. They do not have a one-pedal mode, though.
Q8 E-Trons can tow as much as 4,000 pounds, though range will be dramatically impacted.
2025 Audi Q8 e-tron Comfort & Quality
The Audi Q8 E-Tron has an interior worthy of its price tag.
While it can only seat five passengers, the 2025 Audi Q8 E-Tron range boasts a beautiful cabin. It’s comfortable for four or five passengers, has a decent cargo area, and is outfitted with materials that exceed our expectations at these prices. The Q8 E-Tron range is an 8 on the TCC scale.
These feel like proper luxury vehicles with a quiet, solid driving experience, too.
The front seats offer plenty of adjustment and just-right padding, while rear-seat riders will find terrific legroom and kneeroom. The battery pack wedged beneath their seats barely makes its presence known. If you regularly carry taller passengers, the Q8 E-Tron is a better bet than the Sportback, which loses an inch or so of headroom.
Both models have similar cargo space. Figure about 28.5 cubic feet for the SUV body, and a foot or so less for the Sportback. Fold the rear seatbacks down and the regular E-Tron offers up a decent 56.5 cubic feet, while the Sportback has 54.5 cubic feet. Up front, the little “frunk” can hold the charging cord and perhaps a briefcase or backpack, but not much more.
2025 Audi Q8 e-tron Safety
The 2025 Audi Q8 E-Tron range is one of our highest-rated vehicles for safety.
How safe is the Audi Q8 E-Tron?
It’s an exceptional choice on our scale. The Q8 E-Tron range scores a perfect 10. The IIHS awarded last year’s models top awards in nearly every evaluation, netting the range a Top Safety Pick award. The NHTSA agreed with a five-star rating overall, albeit with four stars in the frontal impact evaluation.
Cementing the Q8 E-Tron’s rating are its lists of standard and optional features. Standard items include automatic emergency braking, active lane control, blind-spot monitors, automatic high beams, front and rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, and traffic-sign recognition. In certain cities the Q8 E-Tron can communicate with local infrastructure to let you know about the status of traffic lights. The driving-assistance system—Adaptive Cruise Assist—on the Q8 E-Tron allows for hands-off driving at highway speeds, and an optional parking system can wedge it into tight spots autonomously. A surround-view camera system is also available.
Outward vision is also quite good thanks to relatively narrow roof pillars and a fairly low beltline.
2025 Audi Q8 e-tron Features
The 2025 Audi Q8 E-Tron range lives up to its luxury billing in terms of features.
Audi offers a total of 10 Q8 E-Tron models and trims, each of which can be further equipped with various packages. None is basic, and all have terrific infotainment tech, netting them a 7 on the TCC scale.
The base Q8 E-Tron now runs $76,095 in base Premium trim, or $3,400 more for the Q8 E-Tron Sportback, which also comes with the S-Line body kit and slightly different interior trim. The base version is pretty well-outfitted with a 10.1-inch instrument cluster display, a 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen, and an 8.6-inch touchscreen primarily used for climate controls. It’s also outfitted with a big sunroof, an air suspension, eight-way power-adjustable and heated front seats, leather upholstery, and 20-inch alloy wheels.
Which Audi Q8 E-Tron should I buy?
Frankly, the Premium is probably good enough for most of us, though the $4,400 for the Premium Plus trim isn’t a hefty upcharge for cooled front seats, a surround-view camera system, matrix LED headlights, and Bang & Olufsen audio. This trim level is also where the SQ8 starts, though it’s outfitted slightly differently and it costs $91,495.
How much is a fully loaded Audi Q8 E-Tron?
The top Prestige trim tosses in softer leather seats, upgraded matrix LED headlights, massaging front seats, and automatic parking. It runs $86,495 in Q8 E-Tron form all the way up to $100,295 for the SQ8 Sportback E-Tron.
While Audi doesn’t offer a ton of customization, you can spend around $2,000 on a second charging point and around $3,500 on blacked-out exterior trim.
2025 Audi Q8 e-tron Fuel Economy
The 2025 Audi Q8 E-Tron is reasonably efficient by luxury SUV standards.
How efficient is the Audi Q8 E-Tron
It’s a pretty good choice, at least based on 2024 model-year estimates. We’ll update this space when we know more. All models have a 114-kwh (106-kwh usable) battery pack and either two or three motors. They’re rated as high as 39 kwh/100 miles, which is 2.56 mi/kwh and about mid-pack for an electric luxury SUV.
Range-wise, the Sportbacks are tops at between 296 and 300 miles based on EPA test estimates. The less aerodynamic standard model still offers a decent 285 miles. The SQ8 E-Tron models are estimated between just 218 and 253 miles; think twice about buying 21- or 22-inch alloy wheels, which have a dramatic impact on range estimates, taking them down as low as 218 miles.
