SUV trades passenger capacity for more room and a sportier vibe
OK, I’ve never completely bought into the idea of four-door “coupes,” these stylistic fastback reinterpretations (detractors say aberrations) of the traditional sedan profile, though I will admit that some are certainly deserving of an admiring glance.
The “coupeification” of the sport utility vehicle is an even tougher sell, the sloped roofline skewing said vehicle more to sport at the expense of utility. Nonetheless, companies have embraced the concept. Which brings us to our test subject: the brand-new Audi Q8.
Not as extremely styled as some, the 2019 Q8 is based on the family-friendly, full-size, seven-seat Q7. It keeps the Q7’s wheelbase, although the fiveseat Q8 is wider, shorter, and lower, has shorter overhangs, and gets a wider track. There’s a bold octagonal grille up front, flanked by large air inlets. In profile, the roofline terminates in gently inclined D-pillars. The spoiler, wheel arch trims, door trim strips and diffuser are in a contrasting colour. The result is an SUV that is quite a looker, and this before Audi dressed up the tester even further with almost $20,000 in options. The added features include the S-line sport package ($1,000), 22-inch Black Optics wheel package ($1,000) and Black Optics package ($1,700).
Priced above the former flagship Q7, the Q8 ($81,200 to start for the Progressiv trim, $88,800 for the Technik) is motivated by Audi’s ubiquitous 3.0-litre turbo V6, putting out 335 horsepower and mated with an eight-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission and standard Quattro allwheel-drive system.
Also, like the A6, A7 and
A8 cars, the Q8 has a 48-volt mild-hybrid system that incorporates a lithium-ion battery and a belt-driven alternator/starter, aimed at recouping kinetic braking energy and allowing for a seamless coasting feature that sees the V6 decouple and shut down when conditions allow.
Clearly a model that will compete with the base versions of the BMW X6 and Porsche Cayenne, there’s a certain formality to the Audi, a latent conservatism that suggests a focus on comfort and luxury rather than overt sportiness. This is more an observation than a criticism, for there’s enough grunt under the hood to move the 2,270-kilogram Q8 to speed when required.
Yet, there was an issue with the normally unflappable nature of the turbo V6, at least in the tester, a momentary pause in acceleration when taking off from a stop when using light throttle.
Beyond that minor irritant, the Q8 was smooth sailing all the way. Actual fuel economy during my week with the crossover was 15.6 L/100 kilometres, with a fairly even mix of highway and in-town commuting.
Thanks to a shopping spree on the options list, the tester was fitted with all manner of creature comforts, from a $5,100 Bang & Olufsen audio system to front seats with heat, ventilation, and massage functions. And if you’ve plunked your butt into the driver’s seat of any late-model Audi, you’ll see a version of the “virtual cockpit,” which replaces the traditional instrument gauges for a configurable digital display.
In the Q8, it’s a huge 12.3-inch display, along with two more screens in the centre console, the upper one measuring 10.1 inches deals with infotainment, the smaller lower panel controls vehicle functions.
Audi’s decision not to fit the Q8 with a third row of seats means the cabin offers generous stretch-out space for all occupants. The rear seats are adjustable fore and aft, providing additional comfort. With those seatbacks folded down, the luggage compartment under the power rear hatch holds up to 1,755 litres (62 cubic feet).
The Q8, trading the Q7’s seven-passenger capacity for a sportier vibe and commodious accommodations for five, is a serious and mostly successful effort by Audi to appeal to the same fashionable demographic as its German rivals.