2025 Audi Q8 Review

After many changes for the 2024 model year, the Q8 only gets one small change for 2025: basic traffic sign reading.

Pros 

• High-end inside.
• A lot of space for freight.
• A very good showing from the RS Q8.

Cons

• The gas mileage is terrible.
• Other cars are more fun to drive.
• Price of a flagship.

The engine in the Audi Q8 is a 3.0-liter V-6 turbocharged unit that makes 335 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. With eight speeds, the Quattro all-wheel drive system makes it easy to drive. Thanks to 48-volt hybrid-assist technology, the stop-start feature worked perfectly and quietly during our tests. The Audi seemed cautious in town unless we pressed the gas pedal hard, but it was quick enough to pass on the highway. Even though the transmission responded easily, the engine and transmission worked best in Dynamic mode, which required faster reflexes. We only want the engine and exhaust to make louder noises. While the Audi A7 can change lanes quickly and smoothly around corners, it’s still more fun to drive a car like this. With its straight input and low effort, the Q8 was easy to drive on long trips but dull on roads with turns. The wheels on our car were 22 inches, but 21-inch wheels are normal. Air suspension was an option. These huge rollers were quiet even when they were moving over rough ground. Our Q8 was quick and able to handle rough ground thanks to its four-wheel steering (part of the Adaptive Chassis package) and adjustable ride height. It was easy to change how hard the brakes worked at fast speeds, but it didn’t always work right in traffic. Still, it stopped the big crossover from 70 mph to zero in a respectable 170 feet during our emergency braking test.

More advanced features, like adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go technology and night vision with pedestrian recognition, are only available on higher trim levels. This is true even though the base model has many features that help the driver. Our test car had an extra 360-degree video system that let us drive through tight spaces without damaging the big wheels. The following are important safety features:

• Emergency brakes that activate automatically and standard forward collision alerts.
• Blind-spot detection and rear cross-traffic alert come as standard features.
• There is a lane-keeping assist and lane departure alarm.

As usual for Audi, the Q8’s cabin is both nice to look at and strong. The panels are properly lined up, and the materials are very good. The base model comes with a panoramic sunroof and heated front seats, but it doesn’t have four-zone climate control or a leather panel with contrast stitching, which are more high-end features. The highest model level is the only one that features upgraded leather seats, quieter dual-pane glass, and front seats with a massage function. Besides that, our test car had a head-up display and atmospheric lighting that could be changed. The Q8 has a beautiful shape and a lot of room inside for people. The driving position stays flexible even at a higher altitude, and the back seat can fit two people. The two-row Q8 has less storage room than the three-row Q7, but we were still able to fit eight carry-on bags behind the back seat. The number went up to 23 (two less than in Q7) when the split rear bench was folded almost flat. Because our test car had an optional air suspension system, the back end was lowered, which made it easy to put and take out bags. It’s not easy to store things in the Q8’s cubbies. Due to the small door pockets and narrow center-console bin, we couldn’t store many small things.

The EPA rates the Q8’s gas mileage worse than similar all-wheel-drive cars. According to the government, the Q8 can get 17 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway. The Q8 we drove on our highway fuel economy route got 28 mpg over 200 miles, which was much better than its EPA highway estimate. It got 29 mpg in a BMW X6 with the same parts.

Each Q8 has a state-of-the-art entertainment system with two large touchscreens built into the dashboard and center panel. In place of the easy-to-use rotary controller found in other Audi models, the screens answer to touch inputs with haptic feedback. Even though we quickly got used to its simple controls and big graphics, we couldn’t stop being distracted. Voice directions that respond and controls on the steering wheel that are easy to use provide other ways to operate. It comes with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a Wi-Fi hotspot, which is standard. Two separate Bang & Olufsen sound systems and wireless charging are available as options. We like the standard digital gauge cluster, which is also called the “Virtual Cockpit,” because it is easy to use and lets you change the settings.

On our test track, the Q8 took 5.3 seconds to go from 0 to 60 mph. A three-row Audi Q7 with the same engine and a little less weight could go from 0 to 60 mph in just five seconds.

The Audi Q8 can pull up to 7,700 pounds if it has a tow package.

We’d choose the Audi Q8 Premium trim level and add a few extras. A fully digital gauge panel, built-in navigation, leather seats, heated front seats, a panoramic sunroof, and a motorized tailgate are all standard features. It comes with 21-inch wheels, but for a sportier look, we would choose the Black Optic version. We would also add the Towing package and the Convenience package, which has features like wireless charging, rear cross-traffic warning, blind-spot monitoring, and more. The second one lets the Q8 pull up to 7,700 pounds safely.