Audi Q8 e-tron Sportback review: reliability & safety rating
The Q8 e-tron is no longer a brand-new car, but Audi doesn’t have the best reputation for customer satisfaction
| Euro NCAP | Adult protection | Child protection | Safety assistance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 stars (2019) | 91% | 85% | 76% |
Audi has a very good reputation for quality and reliability, even if this wasn’t backed up by real-life owners in the most recent Driver Power satisfaction survey. All is not lost, however, as electric-car owners in general are reporting fewer mechanical issues, and given the fact the standard e-tron has been on sale in one form or another for almost five years now, we don’t expect any major reliability problems.
Whichever way you look at it, however, the Q8 e-tron Sportback is one of the safest cars on sale. With a full five-star Euro NCAP rating when the pre-facelift car was tested back in 2019 – plus strong individual scores in each of the individual categories – there are few safer ways to transport your family.
Audi Q8 e-tron Sportback reliability & problems
Finishing 22nd out of 29 car makers in the 2022 Driver Power owner satisfaction survey will be cause for concern for Audi, even if the result did place it ahead of arch-rivals Mercedes. Audi owners were particularly disappointed with their cars’ ride and handling, and they thought the infotainment systems could do with improvement – not issues we’d level at the quiet, comfortable and tech-filled Q8 e-tron Sportback.
Value for money was another area of dissatisfaction, though quality and cabin finish drew plenty of praise. It’s worth noting that in general, electric cars tend to be more reliable due to the fact there are fewer moving parts and therefore less to go wrong.
Safety
This Sportback variant hasn’t been individually evaluated by independent crash-test body Euro NCAP, but the conventional SUV has – posting an enviable five-star rating when it was assessed in 2019. It scored top scores in all categories, including an impressive 91% for adult occupant protection. This is helped by a strong list of safety kit – the e-tron managed 76% in the Safety Assist category – including autonomous emergency braking, lane-departure warning, a plethora of airbags and of Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive.
