Skip advert
Advertisement
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.

Advertisement - Article continues below
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

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…

Skip advert
Advertisement

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.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Electric car repairs, servicing and maintenance: a complete guide
Electric car repairs
Your questions answered

Electric car repairs, servicing and maintenance: a complete guide

How, where and when should you get your electric car serviced? And does the process differ in any way from combustion vehicles? Find out here…
14 Nov 2024
Top 10 best hybrid family cars 2024
Best hybrid family cars
Best cars

Top 10 best hybrid family cars 2024

If you’re not ready to go fully electric yet, you should consider one of these: the best hybrid family cars to buy in the UK right now
22 Nov 2024
Jaguar Type 00 finally revealed – dramatic concept maps out British brand’s luxury electric future
Jaguar Type 00 - front 3/4 static
News

Jaguar Type 00 finally revealed – dramatic concept maps out British brand’s luxury electric future

Jaguar has revealed the concept car on which its 'reimagining' as a super luxury electric carmaker is based
3 Dec 2024

More on Q8 e-tron Sportback

New Audi Q8 e-tron and Audi Q8 Sportback e-tron: prices, specs and range revealed
Audi Q8 e-tron
News

New Audi Q8 e-tron and Audi Q8 Sportback e-tron: prices, specs and range revealed

Audi’s facelifted flagship electric SUV now offers up to 372 miles of range thanks to bigger batteries, plus a tri-motor performance model
4 Dec 2022
Audi e-tron Sportback: Facelifted coupe-SUV readied for late 2022 launch
Audi Q8 e-tron Sportback
News

Audi e-tron Sportback: Facelifted coupe-SUV readied for late 2022 launch

Audi's e-tron Sportback electric coupe-SUV is set for an update in parallel with the standard e-tron SUV model later in 2022
5 Jul 2022
Twin test: BMW iX vs Audi e-tron Sportback
BMW iX vs Audi e-tron
Reviews

Twin test: BMW iX vs Audi e-tron Sportback

The striking-looking BMW iX takes on Audi’s sleek e-tron Sportback in a premium electric SUV showdown
25 Feb 2022