We just picked up the Q8 Sportback version last weekend of 2023. I've always been an Audi fan, while not the best on paper it ticks my boxes. Only had it less than a week but the only complaint I have is the cup holders are inadequately sized for my travel coffee mug. There are options out there to make things fit. There were some amazing lease deals that really knocked the price down.
At 60 degrees Fahrenheit I get about 280 miles at 100% charge with mixed city and highway driving, usually exceeding speed limit by 10 MPH. At 30 degrees I get about 230 miles which is an 18% reduction.
Great review. These days, you can get the lower mileage, previous version of the e-tron for next to nothing. You can get a low mileage 2019 Prestige for around $40k. I have a 2019 after driving a 2020 Tesla Model Y LR, and then a Hyundai Ioniq 5 Limited, and I love this car. On road trips, driving in efficiency mode and at reasonable speeds (I.e. 60 - 65mph), I’ve gotten 240 to 260 miles, which is more than I got with the Model Y LR on road trips. Audi is super conservative on range when you turn on Efficiency mode in highway driving. It makes a huge difference. Rest of the time, I get around 210 in summer and around 190 in winter (garage kept). I do live in a high traffic area, so plenty of opportunities to regen unfortunately. Anyway, I highly recommend the old one to folks looking for insanely great luxury at a bargain price.
You know, it's always hard to tell. Automakers are still bruised from the past couple years. We all thought Lyriqs, Blazer EVs and Equinox EVs would be flooding the market by now...
What if the PPE is delayed? What if they announce a better platform before the PPE launch date? Are you going to "wait" for that one too? I personally prefer driving a current car that I can actually buy today. Manufacturers promise a lot of great future developments that all sound great. I don't want to be waiting forever for that "better" product. Yes, if the "better" product eventually comes, then I will upgrade to it. But in the meantime, life must go on.
I have the 2019 eTron, and I love it. This one is too close to the 2019 for me to take it seriously. The 210ish range of mine works great for my needs. But it is an electron guzzlers considering the size of the battery. Only once did I panic about running out of juice while on a road trip to Joshua Tree NP, and I had 30 miles left when I got to charger. Advice: learn your cars “true” range based on how you drive. Plan ahead on long trips by learning where/ when to juice up.
Even though I don't really care about most new cars today and have stopped watching reviews from all other channels I always watch every video Tom produces regardless of the vehicle on my TV because Tom has a good narrating voice, cinematography is on point, info is what matters and not useless information used as a filler for run time and I like the PNW scenery (hopefully Tom can incorporate more of it in his videos in the future like when you went to the beach and dug up clams) One car I do care about and haven't seen a review yet is the new gen WRX, when is it happening Tom?
For $10k more than the EV9, this seems very very nice. Granted it's smaller and there are other issues, but it appears this does the luxury part right.
Yup, tough to shoot cars. But one of the BEST things about your videos is that I will never see a soiled, dusty, or dirty surface - SUCH a welcome change from just about everybody else. I know, some people won't care - but it's just so much nicer to see the car well presented, looking better than most vehicles straight from PDI. Thanks Tom. You have spoiled me - now, every time I see other channel's reviews with dirty dusty parts of the car, I think to myself, I can't wait for Tom's review.
Tom, I have a question: I am in my mid-60s and have never owned, or driven, a vehicle with anything more than a digital clock. Would it be hard for me to operate all the digital features & functions of a vehicle such as this?
Well, how are you with a smartphone? The menu structure and flow are similar. Maybe jump into a friends or family member’s vehicle and nose around for a half hour. Or explain your situation to a salesperson. It’s smart to test drive the vehicle AND the interface these days.
Part of the problem with EA chargers is that there are even 150kw chargers to begin with. When you’re on a road trip and need to charge, you’re going to take the one that is open. You’re not going to wait for a 150 to free up while letting a 350 sit vacant. CHAdeMO aside, if they were all 350k units nobody would even have to think about it which stall to pull into.
That "problem" is hardly unique to EA. In fact most of the charge terminals I see are 150, including Tesla. I think the real issue is education. I encountered a Chevy Bolt owner that went straight to a 350 terminal with 150s available. So I asked him why. He was adamant that the 350 station charged him three times faster. After 10 minutes I walked over and pointed out his 45kW rate (at 25% charge). He said I was a dick.
You’re looking at it the wrong way up. Owners need to know their vehicles and know what their max charge rate is. The vast majority of current EV’s won’t see much difference between 150 and 350 chargers because they’ll top out at 170, 200, maybe 250. That’s under ‘ideal conditions’.
Hi Tom, I am a Bolt owner who can sympathize with your frustration about Bolt owners being parked at 350kW stalls, but it isn’t going to keep me from using one if it is the charger that is available when I show up to a charge station. Keep in mind that you don’t know what was open for charging at the time when you roll up on a Bolt at a 350kW stall. Blame cheap-ass EA for not upgrading ALL of its cabinets at any given charge station, not the Bolt owner who often doesn’t have a choice, and has zero incentive to wait for a slower charger.
I think we all understand that scenario. But I've also talked to some Bolt owners about this and have encountered a few that swear their cars charge MUCH faster and they're going use those 350 terminals. Sigh...
It's good that it finally has decent range. I like the looks on the outside and the inside is mostly good, but I think it's aging. I've never been a fan of the screen for the climate controls. Physical controls are easier to use while driving and I think they are more satisfying to use as well.
I feel like the Audi leans more toward luxury and comfort, the Genesis dials a bit more sport and firmness in. It's not a huge difference. The Audi's air suspension raises it up more than the GV for rugged terrain.
Also, Tom, please comment on this vs RZ450 in terms of the luxury experience, as I am more interested in those comparisons than I am of range and charge speed. Currently happy with my own Bolts range and charging speed, but want a true luxury ride now that I can afford one (used market is getting decent now!)
I feel like the Genesis has the edge over the Lexus. The G has move inviting materials, it looks and feels more luxurious and screen graphics telegraph a higher level of sophistication. The RZ has an upscale look but it feels more basic.
That’s a good looking wagon with a nice interior. The Q8 etron seems absurdly inefficient to go just 220-250 miles on 106kWh. A lot of newer EVs have passed the Audi with better tech for more range and faster charging. Maybe you’d do alright to get a used one a year or two from now.
I like these for interior design. A minus though for all the black exterior trim. Bright metal for me. I want some interest vs. monotones. The price is just too high, though.
Thanks for trying to educate about etiquette. Tom, congestion fees and idle fees are far more effective than trying to teach etiquette. Could you do me a favor and lobby EA for additional fees to discourage bad behavior, even for those with free charging plans? I do.
Looks nice. Too many screens, but I like that the driver's instrument panel can be used for navigation, this is what these flat screens should be used for. I would prefer a hybrid. I would not even think of buying an EV until the stable market for cheap reprocessed batteries emerges. If my phone battery dies two years after I bought it, and my MacBook shuts off while showing 30% charge, I cannot trust EVs. Not yet.
We just picked up the Q8 Sportback version last weekend of 2023. I've always been an Audi fan, while not the best on paper it ticks my boxes. Only had it less than a week but the only complaint I have is the cup holders are inadequately sized for my travel coffee mug. There are options out there to make things fit. There were some amazing lease deals that really knocked the price down.
Stats are one thing but character can't be measured on a spreadsheet. But yeah, I'm not a fan of the center console.
I have the new Q8 etron and have owned many Audi and BMW vehicles. Many of the German cars have poor cup holders.
At 60 degrees Fahrenheit I get about 280 miles at 100% charge with mixed city and highway driving, usually exceeding speed limit by 10 MPH. At 30 degrees I get about 230 miles which is an 18% reduction.
Thanks! I’ve loved your videos way before even the New York Times! You’ve always been my favorite car reviewer!
Tom, I love your reviews, especially when you include quirky things like your friend's reaction to the light show. Great review, keep it up!
Great review. These days, you can get the lower mileage, previous version of the e-tron for next to nothing. You can get a low mileage 2019 Prestige for around $40k. I have a 2019 after driving a 2020 Tesla Model Y LR, and then a Hyundai Ioniq 5 Limited, and I love this car. On road trips, driving in efficiency mode and at reasonable speeds (I.e. 60 - 65mph), I’ve gotten 240 to 260 miles, which is more than I got with the Model Y LR on road trips. Audi is super conservative on range when you turn on Efficiency mode in highway driving. It makes a huge difference. Rest of the time, I get around 210 in summer and around 190 in winter (garage kept). I do live in a high traffic area, so plenty of opportunities to regen unfortunately. Anyway, I highly recommend the old one to folks looking for insanely great luxury at a bargain price.
I am waiting for the Q6 etron, PPE architecture and the more modern interior. Do you think we might get to drive it in 2024 here in the States?
VW is also desperately waiting for it.
You know, it's always hard to tell. Automakers are still bruised from the past couple years. We all thought Lyriqs, Blazer EVs and Equinox EVs would be flooding the market by now...
@@DrivenCarReviews flooding (with SW issues)
What if the PPE is delayed? What if they announce a better platform before the PPE launch date? Are you going to "wait" for that one too? I personally prefer driving a current car that I can actually buy today. Manufacturers promise a lot of great future developments that all sound great. I don't want to be waiting forever for that "better" product. Yes, if the "better" product eventually comes, then I will upgrade to it. But in the meantime, life must go on.
I finally saw my first Lyriq last week (in Seattle). It was in the Costco parking lot where you do your TP test.
Just saying...good one Tom! Always loving the footage and presentation.
Detailed and comprehensive as usual,thanks!
It’s so great that you put EV charging etiquette in your videos! Thanks for helping the EV transition Tom!
Cannot agree more about the cupholder. It was something I was hoping they would address in the refresh.
I have the 2019 eTron, and I love it. This one is too close to the 2019 for me to take it seriously. The 210ish range of mine works great for my needs. But it is an electron guzzlers considering the size of the battery. Only once did I panic about running out of juice while on a road trip to Joshua Tree NP, and I had 30 miles left when I got to charger.
Advice: learn your cars “true” range based on how you drive. Plan ahead on long trips by learning where/ when to juice up.
Still the best reviewer on UA-cam 😀 love these videos from Tom.
Even though I don't really care about most new cars today and have stopped watching reviews from all other channels I always watch every video Tom produces regardless of the vehicle on my TV because Tom has a good narrating voice, cinematography is on point, info is what matters and not useless information used as a filler for run time and I like the PNW scenery (hopefully Tom can incorporate more of it in his videos in the future like when you went to the beach and dug up clams)
One car I do care about and haven't seen a review yet is the new gen WRX, when is it happening Tom?
I don't like to annoy my friends often and Mariko is camera shy. So there's that. Happy you enjoy the reviews though.
Thanks!
Thanks Randall! All the best in 2024.
To you and Martin as well Tom!
Love the charging station etiquette portion of the video!
Great review as usual! 👍🏾
Please more EV 😊. I watch your films from Germany. 👍🙂 Many greetings frome here.
For $10k more than the EV9, this seems very very nice. Granted it's smaller and there are other issues, but it appears this does the luxury part right.
Yup, tough to shoot cars. But one of the BEST things about your videos is that I will never see a soiled, dusty, or dirty surface - SUCH a welcome change from just about everybody else. I know, some people won't care - but it's just so much nicer to see the car well presented, looking better than most vehicles straight from PDI. Thanks Tom. You have spoiled me - now, every time I see other channel's reviews with dirty dusty parts of the car, I think to myself, I can't wait for Tom's review.
Am a current Audi owner of a Q .. SUV when am ready to buy into an EV this is my first choice 💯🤜🏾🙌 great review as always Tom ❤
Tom, I have a question: I am in my mid-60s and have never owned, or driven, a vehicle with anything more than a digital clock. Would it be hard for me to operate all the digital features & functions of a vehicle such as this?
Well, how are you with a smartphone? The menu structure and flow are similar. Maybe jump into a friends or family member’s vehicle and nose around for a half hour. Or explain your situation to a salesperson. It’s smart to test drive the vehicle AND the interface these days.
Part of the problem with EA chargers is that there are even 150kw chargers to begin with. When you’re on a road trip and need to charge, you’re going to take the one that is open. You’re not going to wait for a 150 to free up while letting a 350 sit vacant. CHAdeMO aside, if they were all 350k units nobody would even have to think about it which stall to pull into.
That "problem" is hardly unique to EA. In fact most of the charge terminals I see are 150, including Tesla. I think the real issue is education. I encountered a Chevy Bolt owner that went straight to a 350 terminal with 150s available. So I asked him why. He was adamant that the 350 station charged him three times faster. After 10 minutes I walked over and pointed out his 45kW rate (at 25% charge). He said I was a dick.
I agree with this aspect as well.
You’re looking at it the wrong way up. Owners need to know their vehicles and know what their max charge rate is. The vast majority of current EV’s won’t see much difference between 150 and 350 chargers because they’ll top out at 170, 200, maybe 250. That’s under ‘ideal conditions’.
Hi Tom, I am a Bolt owner who can sympathize with your frustration about Bolt owners being parked at 350kW stalls, but it isn’t going to keep me from using one if it is the charger that is available when I show up to a charge station. Keep in mind that you don’t know what was open for charging at the time when you roll up on a Bolt at a 350kW stall.
Blame cheap-ass EA for not upgrading ALL of its cabinets at any given charge station, not the Bolt owner who often doesn’t have a choice, and has zero incentive to wait for a slower charger.
I think we all understand that scenario. But I've also talked to some Bolt owners about this and have encountered a few that swear their cars charge MUCH faster and they're going use those 350 terminals. Sigh...
It's good that it finally has decent range. I like the looks on the outside and the inside is mostly good, but I think it's aging. I've never been a fan of the screen for the climate controls. Physical controls are easier to use while driving and I think they are more satisfying to use as well.
Thanks for the review, Tom! How do you compare the ride quality between this Q8 e-tron and Genesis GV70?
I feel like the Audi leans more toward luxury and comfort, the Genesis dials a bit more sport and firmness in. It's not a huge difference. The Audi's air suspension raises it up more than the GV for rugged terrain.
Also, Tom, please comment on this vs RZ450 in terms of the luxury experience, as I am more interested in those comparisons than I am of range and charge speed. Currently happy with my own Bolts range and charging speed, but want a true luxury ride now that I can afford one (used market is getting decent now!)
I feel like the Genesis has the edge over the Lexus. The G has move inviting materials, it looks and feels more luxurious and screen graphics telegraph a higher level of sophistication. The RZ has an upscale look but it feels more basic.
didnt outofspec show it was zero change in range?
That’s a good looking wagon with a nice interior. The Q8 etron seems absurdly inefficient to go just 220-250 miles on 106kWh. A lot of newer EVs have passed the Audi with better tech for more range and faster charging. Maybe you’d do alright to get a used one a year or two from now.
Yes, I thought the same of the 2020 model. Just saw one of those with 30K miles for $36K. Tempting....
@@DrivenCarReviewsDon't do it Tom...😎
@@DrivenCarReviews do it. Your PHEV Cadillac needs replacing.
@@anthonyc8499Needs replacing? Why? The car's running fine. In another video he said he'll keep it alongside any new EV he buys.
@@strangerdanger8462 if I hadn't heard Tom say he'd keep the Caddy then it makes sense that he'd replace it with something else.
Just to avoid any misunderstandings, this is the exact same Q8 E-tron as delivered during the whole 2023?
I like these for interior design. A minus though for all the black exterior trim. Bright metal for me. I want some interest vs. monotones. The price is just too high, though.
Thanks for trying to educate about etiquette. Tom, congestion fees and idle fees are far more effective than trying to teach etiquette. Could you do me a favor and lobby EA for additional fees to discourage bad behavior, even for those with free charging plans? I do.
18:05 Thank you Tom.
Wow, battery tech is improving fast.
Just got a notice about possible motor failure so that can be added as part of its cons
Toyota's replacing 110K V8's so there's that
The Audi-Oh system?? 📻👏🏻👏🏻
When EVs have to use the same excuse as George Castanza, “IT’S COLD JERRY”. 😂
18:52 Tom, you can NOW get a good CPO e-tron for $40-45K. Screaming bargain.
I just saw a used one for $36K but sold before I could check it out.
Looks nice. Too many screens, but I like that the driver's instrument panel can be used for navigation, this is what these flat screens should be used for. I would prefer a hybrid. I would not even think of buying an EV until the stable market for cheap reprocessed batteries emerges. If my phone battery dies two years after I bought it, and my MacBook shuts off while showing 30% charge, I cannot trust EVs. Not yet.
Where are Tesla fanboys?
To summon them, you have to call something a “Tesla-killer.”
Too bad it gets years of free charging - cue the hogging at EA stations. 1000 kWh would make more sense.
Good video. Parking accuracy …not so good.
I was in a hurry to edge out an ID.4 for the space.
We'll let it slide since the video was so thorough
like the car but the price is an issue
Do both front seats get massage?
Yes, says my wife.
The range is still too short
I-Pace beat E-tron to market by 11 months.
Yes, this is true.
Just sad the RS model adds nearly nothing to justify the added cost.
There is no RS model for this. You must be thinking of the S model.
$90k, you gotta be kidding me, no thanks,
Seems like the iX is better for the money. Non withstanding esthetics.
Thanks!
Thanks man! Mach appreciated
Thanks!
Thanks middlerj!