2021 Audi Q8 Premium Plus

“Welcome to the 8th Dimension” The Audi Q8, Audi’s flagship SUV, is artistically styled, meticulously engineered, and just as comfortable off-road as it is in the city.

Why it Matters: Audi’s wait-and-see approach to jumping into the luxury SUV market is a huge gamble. Launching ten years after BMW released the X6, and three years after the release of Mercedes-Benz’s GLE-Class Coupe, Audi is banking the new face of the Q-Line has broad enough shoulders to carry the brand into a new era.

By the Numbers: The 3.0 liter turbocharged V6 gas-electric hybrid engine cranks out 335 horsepower and 369 foot-pounds of torque. In conjunction with the eight-speed automatic transmission with quattro all-wheel drive, the Q8 launches from 0 to 60 in 5.3 seconds, 0.6 seconds faster than the 2021 Porsche Cayenne. In the U.S. the Q8’s top speed is 130 mph, due to an electronic limiter. Towing capacity is 7,700 pounds.

Highs:

Exterior Design: The prominent fenders and athletic shoulderline taper to a gently sloping roofline. It’s the perfect combination of sophistication and meanness. Among the malformed designs of its competition, the Q8 looks like a piece of modern art - smooth, elegant, and angry.

Interior Design: Sleek, sweeping lines permeate throughout the vehicle. The dashboard is essentially one large screen, but one would hardly even know. Unlike Tesla, the screen is integrated into the design, making the user experience feel free and uncluttered.

Driving Experience: The V6 engine and eight-speed automatic transmission with quattro all-wheel drive gives the impression you are glued to the road, no matter the speed. Coupled with advanced driver assistance systems, an adaptive damping suspension, and an electromechanical progressive steering system, the Q8 handles just as well in the city as it does off-road. Road noise is minimal within the cabin and the heated and ventilated seats offer a whole new realm of comfort.

Lows:

Center Console: Too shallow to be functional (we’re looking at you Keeping Up With The Kardashians), the center console is large enough to hold a phone and not much else.

Verdict: Audi went for the jugular with the Q8, and the X6’s dismal 2020 sales numbers are proof Audi’s gamble paid off. Expertly designed, meticulously crafted, and playfully engineered, the Q8 is not your dad’s Jeep Wagoneer. It is infinitely better. At home on the street, on the track, and on the trail, the Q8 is a rare triple threat. Wherever your journey takes you, even if that is to the end of the rainbow, the Q8 can take you there and back in rugged luxury.

Alex TheHoward - Team ModernChassis

Model reviewed: 2021 Audi Q8 Premium Plus

Price: $73,145

Reference: “Welcome to the 8th dimension.”

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