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In-depth reviews

Audi Q8 Sportback e-tron review: a solid and ever-so-slightly sportier premium SUV

Having had the automotive equivalent of a fresh haircut, the Sportback is simply an Audi Q8 e-tron with ‘just a bit off the top’

Overall rating

4.0 out of 5

Fuel Type:
Electric

Pros

  • Classy interior
  • Excellent refinement
  • Big battery offers good range

Cons

  • Expensive to buy
  • Jaguar I-Pace better to drive
  • Not as practical as standard SUV
RangeWallbox charge timeRapid charge time
266-342 miles9-11hrs 30 mins (0-100%, 11kW)28-31mins (10-80%, 150-170kW)

Audi Q8 Sportback e-tron verdict

As if a luxury electric SUV from a renowned brand like Audi needed any more street cred, the Q8 Sportback e-tron delivers on the Sportback promise of more stylish looks while offering very few practical compromises in the process. 

Given that the electric Q8 was already the size of a small aircraft carrier, few will mind the slightly reduced headroom and boot space. The price hike over the standard SUV isn’t that huge, either, while the Q8 Sportback e-tron retains the Q8’s relaxed driving manners and beautifully-appointed interior. Don’t let the coupe looks fool you, a BMW iX is much sportier to drive, but for a car that ultimately will spend its life driving between private schools and Waitrose, we think the Audi has got its target audience well-catered for.

Range details, specs and alternatives

The Audi e-tron was launched in 2019, at a time when big, luxurious, electric SUVs were few and far between. But since then, the market has been flooded with equally premium alternatives – cars like the BMW iX, Mercedes EQE SUV, Lotus Eletre and Tesla Model X.

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Those new rivals quickly chipped away at the Audi e-tron’s competitive edge, so in late-2022, the German marque completely revamped its zero-emissions range-topper. As well as inheriting the ‘Q8’ moniker, Audi’s high-end EV was given a choice of bigger batteries, plus a subtly updated look and extra standard kit. With a starting price of less than £70,000, it even looks like reasonable value for money.

Alongside the standard Q8 e-tron, Audi also offers the Q8 Sportback e-tron – a sleeker, coupe-style SUV with a little less rear headroom and a slightly smaller boot. In reality, though, it’s one of the more practical cars of this type. The Sportback commands a premium of £2,500 across the Q8 range – a small uplift when you consider the car’s overall cost.

The lineup now kicks off with the Q8 50 Sportback e-tron , which gets a 95kWh battery and a range of up to 290 miles. In entry-level Sport spec you get 20-inch wheels, matrix LED lights, adaptive air suspension and a completely digital dashboard. S line costs a little more and brings 21-inch wheels, privacy glass and sportier styling, plus Valcona leather upholstery with ‘S’ logos.

Black Edition switches out much of the chrome trim for darker flashes, and swaps the S line’s graphite wheels for gloss black rims. As before, Vorsprung tops the range and leaves no option box unchecked. There’s 22-inch wheels, digital lights, soft-close doors and a panoramic roof, plus four-zone climate control, and even virtual door mirrors.

Each of these models is also available in Q8 55 e-tron spec, ushering in a larger 114kWh battery for up to 342 miles of range. The triple-motor SQ8 gets the same big battery, but range drops to just shy of 300 miles. 

Click here to see why you can trust DrivingElectric reviews, or for a more detailed look at the Audi Q8 Sportback e-tron, read on for the rest of our in-depth review…

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Richard is editor of DrivingElectric, as well as sister site Carbuyer.co.uk, and a regular contributor to Auto Express. An electric and hybrid car advocate, he spent more than five years working on the news and reviews desk at Auto Express and has driven almost every new car currently on sale.

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