2022 Audi Q8

The 2022 Audi Q8 sits in a corner of the SUV market that is growing in popularity. This premium ride is classified as a mid-size luxury crossover SUV coupé and is powered by a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder gas engine mated to a 48-volt lithium-ion battery hybrid system. This handsome car competes with other coupe-style SUVs such as the Porsche Cayenne Coupe. As an equally luxurious but slightly less practical SUV than the Audi Q7, the Q8 offers loads of desirability for its starting price of $69,300. The Q8 rides beautifully and, on the open road, it makes for a convincing cruiser with enough performance on tap for most situations. It should be noted that the Q8 can feel sluggish in town, but it is a small issue, and the plush interior and generous amounts of tech make up for it. The infotainment system can get distracting but is easier to operate once you're used to it, and this mild-hybrid coupe-SUV also offers good interior space and is nearly as practical as a conventionally-styled SUV.

Audi has designed a decidedly handsome exterior for the Q8, which draws attention no matter where you go. This sleek SUV comes packed with a ton of exterior features from the base model upward. The Premium derivative features new 21-inch five-segment-spoke design wheels (up from last year's 20-inch items), full LED headlights with high-beam assist, LED tail lights, and a power rear liftgate. Premium Plus models look the same on the outside. The Prestige includes LED taillights with animation. The Black Optic package on the Premium Plus adds 21-inch W-spoke wheels, along with unique front and rear bumper inserts, black roof rails, and black trim around the side windows. The S line Style package (not available on the base trim) includes S line fender badges, illuminated door sill inlays, 21-inch five-W-spoke alloy wheels, and an S line exterior body kit. Via the S line Plus package, red brake callipers are added, housed in 22-inch wheels; this package automatically includes the Black Optic package too.

The Audi Q8 SUV is classified as a mid-size luxury crossover SUV coupé, and its dimensions are similar in size to that of the Porsche Cayenne Coupe. The Audi Q8 quattro rides on a 117.9-inch wheelbase and is 196.6 inches long, making it over two inches longer than the Porsche. Height comes in at 67.2 inches and width is 86.2 inches with the mirrors included and 78.5 without them. The track in the front is 66.1 inches, and 66.8 inches in the back. All trim levels weigh in at 5,004 pounds and offer a ground clearance, when loaded, of 5.75 inches.

Color options play a massive role in the overall styling of a car, and with the Q8 being such a beauty, it would make sense that Audi has bestowed this SUV with a great number of exciting paint colors that will suit every taste. The 2022 Q8 is offered with only one complimentary color, namely Carrara White; last year's no-charge Night Black is no longer available. For metallic colors, you'll have to cough up an extra $595. The metallic range includes Dragon Orange, Florett Silver, Galaxy Blue, Glacier White, Samurai Gray, Vicuna Beige, and Mythos Black, which replaces last year's Orca Black. On Premium Plus variants, the stunning Navarra Blue Metallic becomes available when you go for the S Line package, while Daytona Gray Pearl is added to the palette as well and costs $595. Navarra Blue is the color to go for here.

Performance is equal across the trim range, with each car benefiting from the same turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder power and eight-speed transmission. The total power output for this engine is a respectable 335 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, which gets sent to all four wheels via a quattro all-wheel-drive system. Power from this engine is ample once you start moving, and most will feel satisfied with what is offered here. The Audi Q8 SUV might weigh over 5,000 pounds, but it still has some get up and go: the 0-60 sprint takes only 5.6 seconds, which is a tenth of a second quicker than the base Porsche Cayenne Coupe. However, the more affordable BMW X6 is faster. The Q8 will continue on to a limited top speed of 130 mph. In most gears, the Audi feels faster than the Porsche, which is an impressive feat considering the fact that the Cayenne Coupe is lighter. Being an SUV, the Q8 offers a pretty decent towing capacity of 7,700 pounds, which should be enough to haul a premium caravan to Florida for the holidays.

From the base model, all the way to the top-tier Prestige, you get a single engine and transmission option. Under the hood of the 2021 Q8 SUV lies a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder gas engine mated to a 48-volt/9.6 Ah lithium-ion battery hybrid system and an eight-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission with quattro AWD. This mild-hybrid powertrain produces a healthy 335 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. Out on the open road, this combination offers smooth power delivery and strong overtaking abilities, which is exactly what this SUV was designed for. Still, unfortunately, there is a weak spot: in and around town at low speeds, the engine can feel hesitant and unresponsive, which gets frustrating when trying to take gaps in traffic or competing with Honda Civics away from the lights. Sure, the Q8 is a heavy car, but rivals such as the Cayenne Coupe don't suffer from the same issue and provide seamless power all the way through the rev range. The exhaust note is also very conservative, and we believe that it deserves a meaner growl. The experience here is satisfactory, but Audi USA needs to work on low-speed drivability.

The 2022 Q8 manages to balance a tall ride height with impressively sporty driving dynamics for a unique overall driving experience. As can be expected, it's not as pleasing to drive around a corner as Audi's range of sedans, but it still puts up an impressive performance. Ride comfort is good, especially when the vehicle is fitted with the optional air suspension system, and even with the massive optional 22-inch wheels, bumps get soaked up without any major complaints. The Q8 proves to be quite the agile handling crossover, and its quick steering responses are a boon for tight city traffic and parking. It also comes in handy if you ever decide to take this beauty off-road. Grip in the rain and on dirt tracks is excellent thanks to Audi's legendary quattro AWD system, which inspires confidence on any road surface, but throw this bulky SUV into a corner with too much gusto, and you'll be greeted with mild understeer. The brake pedal feel is good at cruising speeds but failed to impress at lower speeds due to inconsistent performance. Independent reviews claim that the Q8 will stop from 70 mph in just 170 feet.

The Q8 is a large car, and that usually means an expensive fuel bill, especially when you consider that this Audi SUV is powered by a large capacity turbocharged gas engine. The EPA rates that the Q8 will manage a best figure of 18/23/20 mpg on the city/highway/combined cycles. This is not bad when you compare it to the competition: the Porsche Cayenne Coupe will match that number with 19/23/20 mpg. A diesel solution could have helped bring the numbers down. Thankfully, the Q8 is fitted with a large 22.5-gallon fuel tank, which allows it to drive for up to 450 miles on a single tank of gas.

Step inside the cabin of the 2022 Q8, and you'll be greeted with premium materials and opulent luxury. This is one of the best interiors in the class and can stand up to competition from Mercedes-Benz and Porsche any day of the week. Fine leather and real wood inserts are found across the interior, and the tech levels are also up to standard. The base model of the range features a power panoramic sunroof, leather eight-way power-adjustable heated seats with four-way lumbar control for the driver, and three-zone automatic climate control. The Premium Plus adds four-zone automatic climate control and a multicolor contour/ambient LED interior lighting package. The Prestige also gets a leather upper dashboard, heated rear seats, and power rear window shades.

Unlike the Q7 which boasts a 3rd row of seats, this SUV can officially carry five adults, but you could squeeze a few more in the spacious trunk if need be. Don't let the coupe body style fool you: the Q8 offers a ton of space for both the front and rear passengers, with a legroom figure of 41.6 inches in the front and 40.2 in the rear. The headroom is also more than enough for six-foot-tall adults in the front and rear. The seats are sumptuous in the way that they support the two front passengers and should prove to be extremely comfortable over the long haul. The driving position is rather commanding, which is excellent in traffic and for driving off-road, and accessing the front seats is easy thanks to some large front doors. Getting in the rear is also a cinch due to the ample head and legroom, and you don't have to worry about squeezing into a 3rd-row seat here.

The inside of the Q8 is a classy affair, and Audi has selected only the finest leather and wood grain materials. The base model's seats can be upholstered in your choice of Black with Rock Gray cross-stitching, Okapi Brown, Saiga Beige, or Pando Gray with Rock Gray cross stitching. A black dashboard and Lunar Silver headliner applies in all cases. There are three inlay options: Fine Grain Ash Natural Brown Wood, Lava Brown Eucalyptus Natural Wood, or High-gloss Gray Oak Wood. The Prestige model comes with perforated Valcona leather in Sardar Brown when you opt for the Design Selection package, and you also get Basalt Gray Eucalyptus Natural Wood inlays and, other extras, and the entire Luxury Package that add a combined $5,950 to the base price. The Luxury package adds an Alcantara headliner and a full leather package, including the center console, instrument panel, and door armrests, as well as dual-pane acoustic glass.

You're not going to be left wanting here. The 2022 Q8 offers a generous amount of trunk and overall cargo space for large families and adventurous couples. Open up the tailgate, and you'll be greeted by a spacious 30.5 cubic feet of space, which is more than enough for a week's worth of groceries for a family of four. If more space is required, then the sliding, split-folding 40/20/40 rear seats can be dropped. This means 60.7 cubic feet of space. The Porsche Cayenne Coupe, on the other hand, can only manage 22 cubic feet with the seats upright, and 54.3 cubic feet when folded. That makes the Q8 highly competitive in this category.

Small items are stored in the slim door pockets, cramped glove box, or narrow nook below the center armrest. Cupholders are provided for both front- and rear-seat occupants.

The specs on the Q8 read like a real luxury car. All models are equipped with a power panoramic sunroof, leather seating surfaces, heated eight-way power-adjustable front seats, as well as safety systems such as Audi pre sense front, front/rear parking sensors, a digital driver's display, adaptive damping, Audi pre sense basic, and high-beam assist. The mid-range Premium Plus adds four-zone automatic climate control (up from three zones in the base model), contour/ambient LED interior lighting, ventilated front seats, and wireless charging. Prestige models introduce an upper dashboard, armrests, and center console trimmed in leather, as well as power rear sunshades, adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist, a head-up display, and traffic sign recognition.

Infotainment systems play a massive role in the overall user experience of any new vehicle, so it should come as good news that the MMI Navigation plus system with MMI touch response inside the 2022 Audi Q8 is a great one. The dashboard is dominated by a top 10.1-inch touchscreen and another smaller screen below for climate controls. This setup looks clean and functions just as well, but can become a distraction whilst driving. Each Q8 SUV comes with Audi connect with online services, SiriusXM radio with a 90-day trial subscription, Bluetooth streaming, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, an Audi smartphone interface, front/rear USB ports, navigation, Audi Connect Prime & Plus. While the Premium comes with Audi's standard sound system, the Premium Plus and Prestige models are fitted with a Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system that features 17 speakers and a subwoofer, as well as a 16-channel amplifier with 730 watts of power. This system sounds excellent when bumping Juicy by Doja Cat. If you're after an even better sound experience, Audi offers a 23-speaker Bang & Olufsen system for $5,000, but this option is limited to the Prestige.

The 2021 Q8 was recalled twice. One recall was for a malfunctioning seat-belt locking retractor and the other for nuts on the rear axle that may fail. The 2022 model has not been recalled yet. J.D. Power has given the 2022 Q8 an overall score of 74 out of a possible 100, with only 68/100 for quality and reliability. Audi will back the Q8 with a four-year/50,000-mile basic warranty and drivetrain warranty, an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty on hybrid and electric parts, and a four-year roadside assistance plan.

At this price range, it is to be expected that occupant safety has been prioritized in a big way, and when it comes to the Q8, that is true. This has to be one of the safest cars in its class, and a review by both the NHTSA and IIHS proves that the Audi Q8 will keep you safe in most situations. The NHTSA gave the 2021 model a full five-out-of-five stars and although the 2022 model has not yet been fully evaluated, it has already received a five-star rating for the frontal crash. The IIHS gave the 2021 Q8 a Top Safety Pick award and so far, the 2022 model has achieved "Good" in all the crashworthiness tests. Enough said.

The safety rating agencies clearly love the Q8, so there must be a good reason why this vehicle is so impressive. The secret lies in the Q8's numerous driver assistance systems that come as standard across the range. The base variant features eight airbags, including side-curtain airbags and new-for-2022 rear side airbags. Driver assistance features that are standard across the range are Audi pre sense front/basic/rear, front/rear parking sensors, high-beam assist, Audi side assist, and Audi pre sense rear, including rear cross-traffic assist and vehicle exit warning. The Premium Plus gets lane-keep assist and adaptive cruise control with traffic-jam assist from this year. The Prestige additionally includes a head-up display and traffic sign recognition. A night vision assistant with large animal and pedestrian detection is an optional extra on the Prestige at $2,500. The Executive Package adds features such as heated rear seats, Matrix-design LED headlights, leather armrests, and sunshades for the second row on the Premium Plus for $2,850.

Those looking for a premium, practical and powerful mid-size SUV don't have to look much further than the 2022 Q8. This elegantly styled SUV provides an excellent balance of all the elements that make up an appealing daily driver and doesn't do anything particularly bad. Inside the Q8, passengers are treated to a refined cabin that boasts leather surfaces and the latest Audi tech. Being an SUV by classification means that there is naturally a good amount of interior space; in fact, it is one of the class leaders, and the overall trunk and cargo space is impressive as well. New owners will appreciate the MMI infotainment system but should be aware that it can distract drivers. In terms of performance, the Q8 delivers enough go to satisfy most needs. It will sprint to sixty in the blink of an eye and overtake slow-moving cars without breaking a sweat. Starting at not much less than $70,000, the Q8 certainly isn't cheap but is competitively priced compared to its rivals, and we would recommend it any day of the week.

The 2022 Audi Q8 is available in three trims, which means three prices. The base model starts with an MSRP of $70,300. This price does not include tax, registration, or a destination fee of $1,095. Stepping up to the mid-range Premium Plus will cost you $74,200. Finally, the Prestige trim car goes for $80,400. Fully loaded, the Prestige will set you back over $100k. If the cost of a new Audi Q8 seems too high, you won't have any trouble finding a good used model for sale, and the 2021 Q8 is starting to look very attractive on the secondhand market.

The 2022 Audi Q8 lineup comprises three trims, namely Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige. All three share the same drivetrain, consisting of a mild-hybrid-assisted 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 engine with 335 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission and quattro all-wheel drive.

The base model is the Premium and standard features include 21-inch alloy wheels, a power panoramic sunroof, power-folding and heated exterior mirrors, and full-LED headlights with high-beam assist. Inside, it gets heated eight-way power front seats with a memory function, four-way lumbar adjustment for the driver, leather upholstery, LED interior lighting, and three-zone climate control. The 10.1-inch infotainment display incorporates Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and SiriusXM. Eight airbags are fitted, as well as Audi pre sense basic, cruise control, and parking sensors front and rear.

The mid-range Premium Plus adds to these features a multi-color LED interior lighting package, four-zone climate control, wireless phone charging, and ventilated front seats. The infotainment setup gains a Bang & Olufsen 3D audio system and added safety features include lane-keep assist and adaptive cruise control with traffic-jam assist.

The Prestige adds Matrix-design LED headlights, extended leather trim, and power rear sunshades. Additional safety equipment includes traffic-sign recognition and a head-up display.

Starting with the base model, new owners can opt for the $750 Black Optic package, which treats the exterior to five-W-spoke 21-inch alloy wheels, front and rear bumper inserts, black roof rails, and black trim around the side windows. The $1,150 Convenience package adds wireless phone charging, a heated steering wheel, and a top-view camera. The Premium Plus can be had with the $750 S line Style package, which includes S line fender badges, the S line exterior appearance package, illuminated door sill inlays, and five-W-spoke 21-inch alloy wheels. The S line Plus package includes everything from the Black Optic package mentioned earlier, plus 22-inch five-V-spoke alloys and red brake calipers. The $2,850 Executive package includes heated rear seats, Matrix-design LED headlights, leather armrests, rear sunshades, and more. For an extra luxurious experience, the Prestige model can be fitted with the $5,950 Luxury package. This package adds features such as massaging front seats, Valcona leather upholstery, an Alcantara headliner, and dual-pane acoustic glass. From this year, all-wheel steering is a standalone $1,500 option on the Prestige trim.

With a price difference of over $10k between the base model and the Prestige, Audi offers a solid spread of features over the three Q8 trim levels. New owners will be pleased that all three trim levels share the same powertrain, which makes the purchasing decision slightly more straightforward, and it will all boil down to how many features you're looking for. The Premium is no pauper and comes with a stack of new tech features that places it right next to its competition. Standard features such as front and rear parking sensors, three-zone automatic climate control, eight airbags, and Audi pre sense front are all notable features. For only $3,900 extra, we would go with the Premium Plus, which adds features such as a Bang & Olufsen sound system and a surround-view camera system. The Premium Plus offers the best value for money in terms of standard features, especially since lane-keep assist and adaptive cruise control have been added as standard features for the 2022 model.

As the name suggests, the Q7 slots in below the Q8 in Audi's SUV lineup. The Q7 is offered with two engine options: you get to choose between a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-pot developing 248 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque, or a turbocharged 3.0-liter six producing an equal 335 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. The 2.0-liter engine provides a superior gas mileage figure of 20/25/22 mpg on the city/highway/combined cycle. Performance from the 2.0-liter engine is impressive, but the 3.0-liter engine offers superior pulling power at a relatively small cost to fuel economy. Inside, the Q7 looks and feels similar thanks to its shared DNA and features, but it is worth noting the third-row seating on offer in the Q7, regardless of the fact that it's very tight back there. The Q7 dominates in terms of cargo space, with a total of 69.6 cubic feet of space behind the front seats. The Q7 starts at $56,900, which is a considerable $13,400 less than the Q8. Get the Q7 with the 3.0-liter engine if you want pace and space.

The Urus and Q8 share the same MLB Evo architecture, but that is where most of the similarities end. The Urus is an SUV with the heart of a supercar and offers performance in a different league to the Q8. The RS Q8 would be a better comparison in terms of power. Under the hood of the Urus lies a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 producing 641 hp and 627 lb-ft. This allows the Urus to sprint from 0-62 mph in 3.6 seconds. The Urus will get a dismal 12/17/14 mpg, though. It also features performance accessories such as carbon-ceramic brakes. This car is on a different level performance-wise. On the road, the Urus is surprisingly comfortable when it needs to be, and can match the Q8 for cruising capability, but is the sharper car to fling around the corners. The Urus features a more sports-oriented cabin compared to the Audi Q8 interior, but can't match it for standard features, and trunk and overall cargo space is also much less impressive. The Urus starts at over $200,000. Get the Urus if you want to race Ferraris from the lights while taking your kids to school.