It seems to be raining down SUV Coupés in India with a new model entering every price bracket every month. Even the established models we had on sale are getting put under the knife for a mid-life facelift to keep the competition on its toes. Take the new Audi Q8 for example which was launched back in 2019. It looked unique, featured high-end tech in a precision-built interior and was rather lovely to drive. Four years on, Audi India feels they can do one better. Thus, what we have with us is the new and improved Q8, with an updated design and new features. However, are the changes significant enough for the rest to sit up and take notice? Let’s start with styling.
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Audi Q8 55 TFSI Quattro First Drive Review: Exterior Design & Features
Yes, there are updates to the design. However, you would be forgiven for missing them at first glance. At the front, the grille has been updated to accommodate a wider look. Replacing the six vertical, chrome-plated slats in the outgoing model, you now have staggered elements which are now set wider apart. Over that, the design for the air intake grill has changed, along with a silver-finished front spoiler which sits lower. The side profile also sees a change in the form of new 21-inch alloy wheels, which replace the standard 19-inch wheels in the outgoing model. Finally, step to the back and the final design that you will see on the MY24 Audi Q8 is the addition of a revised, silver-finished rear diffuser. While you may blink and miss the changes which have gone into the new Q8, the design updates do start to grow on you, once you do notice. Thankfully, the Audi Q8 looked rather futuristic when it came out and looks rather contemporary in its newest iteration.
Over the change in its styling elements, the MY24 Audi Q8 also gets a new Sakhir Gold colour option to further enhance the appeal. It looks a bit beige or sandy in colour but on paper, atleast, looked the best and most vibrant out of the other seven options available. Then we come to the feature addition and this one is important because it really elevates the use and practicality of the Q8, too. The MY24 model now features Audi’s excellent HD Matrix headlights with laser beam technology. To add to that, the LED taillight has also been upgraded and now features OLED elements for better illumination. A particularly nice touch was the ability for users to choose different preset light signatures for the front DRLs and rear tail lights, adding a touch of personalization. While we never got to fully test the Matrix headlights at night, it showed us a glimpse of its excellent performance in an underground parking lot.
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Audi Q8 55 TFSI Quattro First Drive Review: Interior Design & Features
Well, similar to what we see outside, the changes to the interior have also remained minimal. The biggest highlight remains the three-screen setup which includes a 12-inch Virtual Cockpit instrument cluster, 10-inch MMI Navigation Plus infotainment system and 8-inch HVAC control unit. However, the new changes have brought it up to the level that the competition offers. First and foremost, you get a 17-speaker Bang & Olufsen surround sound system. I really liked the crisp and clear music quality it produced. Another addition, which is integrated into the infotainment unit is the new 360-degree parking camera. Moreover, the new Q8 also features Audi's Park Assist feature which ties in neatly to the new array of assist features you’ll get with this model.
Next, allow me to briefly touch upon the design and space on offer. In my opinion, the Q8 gets an extremely well laid-out cabin with excellent fit and finish. It is definitely a testament to German build and engineering. However, it is not as radical or futuristic looking as the new designs coming in from the likes of BMW and especially, Mercedes-Benz. Along with the eight exterior colour options, you have four interior upholstery colour options - Okapi Brown, Saira Beige, Black and Panda Grey. Our media unit, as you can see in the images, had a black paint finish outside and featured a Panda Grey upholstery finish inside. Unfortunately, it just did not leave a lasting impression in my memory. An SUV-Coupè is supposed to make a statement, get your colour combinations wrong and it can blend into the sea of traffic rather quickly.
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What did leave a lasting impression, though, is the space on offer at the back. The Audi Q8 is a car that not just puts function over form but also, comfort over performance. It has generous amounts of room for three passengers at the back and with the new 2024 model, you also have four-zone climate control to add to the practicality. Along with that, you have dual automatic sun blinds, un-SUV-Coupè-like large panoramic sunroof and dual 12V electric socket. My only gripe here is the lack of modern charging facilities like type-A or type-C charging sockets.
Audi Q8 55 TFSI Quattro First Drive Review: Performance & Handling
Yes, very much so. Mechanical specifications remain the same. You get a 3.0-litre V6 engine which makes 340bhp and 500Nm of peak torque. Now, pushing the vehicle from standstill does take a bit of effort given the 2-ton-plus weight. However, once it does, you will find it to be absolutely effortless in its performance. The torque comes in low and strong, and as such, you'll find yourself with the ability to travel at triple digit speeds with the engine just barely ticking over. It also makes roll-on acceleration and pottering around town at slow speeds an absolute breeze. However, what it doesn’t do outrightly, is thrill you. But, Audi claims an acceleration time of 5.6 seconds and that should be plenty for your daily dose of fun. Add to that, its ability to cruise at triple digit speeds for endless hours. What you have is a fun and practical SUV, with Coupè styling thrown in for good measure. It definitely makes for a great daily driver and fun weekend warrior. Overall, a pretty tractable powertrain, one that finds its footing in almost all situations you put it through.
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You'll also be rather impressed with the handling of the vehicle. The steering does feel heavy at slow speeds but weighs up well at speed. While the suspension does feel a tad firm on undulated roads, it absolutely soaks in bad roads and bumps without feeling too soft. The Q8 continues to feature adaptive damping technology and as a result, similar to the engine performance, it is pretty versatile in the comfort and handling department, too. Moreover, show it a corner and it hugs like its life depends on it. Agile and confidence-inspiring. You’ll love your long highway drives getting to the twisty bits and you’ll love it some more when you start hurling this thing into corners.
Audi Q8 55 TFSI Quattro First Drive Review: Verdict
To put it simply, if what you desire from your SUV-Coupè is to be more SUV than Coupè, then yes. Very much so. It still gets the edgy styling but you also get the space, practicality and easy driving manners, too. However, what can be a deal breaker for some is understated style and exterior colour options, understated interior design and lacking heart-in-mouth performance. The changes made to the new Audi Q8 are not game changers but definitely do solidify the choice for the right customer. It is really on the needs and choice of the customers. However, if you think about it, with multiple options to choose from in a segment as niche as an SUV-Coupè, who’s really winning here is us.
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