If we’re judging EVs by the coolness of their names, there is perhaps a clear winner in the market – It is Audi’s e-tron series. Well, it didn’t start out as a series in the first place, but the car you see here is what pretty much started it all for the brand – the Audi Q8 e-tron (Sportback), formerly known as the Audi e-tron.
Admittedly, “e-tron” is a rather cool name and one would easily associate it with a futuristic appeal. It simply adds a prefix to the famous Sci-Fi movie’s name and has also become quite synonymous with Tony Stark from Iron Man – talk about successful product placement.
Cool name aside, what is the Audi Q8 e-tron like in the flesh? Well, we drove the Audi Q8 Sportback e-tron S Line 55 Quattro on a trip to Ipoh and here’s what we think about it…
Exterior: An anti-thesis to weird-looking EVs
To the unfamiliar, the Audi Q8 e-tron 55 looks just like the usual petrol car. It still has a grille and it doesn’t look weird in any way – no potato-shaped side profile, no comical grille, no fish-like appearance, no flush door handles, and no weird wheel designs either.
What really catches your attention on the outside of the Audi Q8 e-tron 55 is its “wing cameras”, which we will address in just a bit. Another clever thing on the Q8 e-tron 55 is its charging ports, which have motorized covers, and appear on both the right and left sides of the car.
Simply put, if you’re trying to be inconspicuous with your EV purchase, the Audi Q8 e-tron 55 is one of the more subtle options out there – just like how some of us would prefer it anyway. It did turn heads as we were driving, but that’s mainly due to the red body colour anyway. Have it in one of the typical Audi shades and it becomes the perfect “stealth wealth” car.
Interior: Invaded by screens, but still manages to keep things together
Bad news for lovers of analogue systems, as the Audi Q8 e-tron 55 has not escaped the “screen invasion”. Together with the side view cameras, there are 5 screens in total for the driver and front passenger to look at.
Despite that, the Q8 e-tron still manages to tone it down by making them less obvious. The head unit, for example, is not a massive floating screen that takes centre stage on the dashboard. Compared to the vents above it, it’s not even what you would call relatively large. To add to that, the “third screen” on the dashboard is an HVAC control unit that is placed underneath the head unit – well below your line of sight.
Cabin materials feel high quality and things generally feel solid in the cabin on the Q8 e-tron 55. Ergonomics are spot on although the gear selector design and movement may need some getting used to.
Sitting in the Q8 e-tron 55 is also pleasant as the cushion strikes a good balance between firm and soft. The front seats have a slight bolster to them, and the general support that it provides is decent.
Driving: One of the most ICE-like EVs to drive out there
Having driven various electric cars already, yours truly find the Audi Q8 e-tron to be one of the most internal combustion engine (ICE)-like EVs out there. Not that it isn’t fast, but in the way that power is delivered – your passengers are less likely to feel nauseous and the regenerative braking doesn’t feel intrusive.
A dual-motor system is essentially a cheat code for making more power in electric cars and there’s no surprise that the Audi Q8 e-tron 55 is fast. The usual overtaking and merging manoeuvres are effortless, just as you’d expect from a dual-motor EV. The ride is firm and planted and you have the freedom to adjust the suspension characteristics thanks to the Sport Adaptive Suspension system.
Here’s a quick look at the basic performance figures of the Audi Q8 Sportback e-tron S Line 55:
| Audi Q8 Sportback e-tron S Line 55 | |
| Drivetrain | Dual-motor AWD |
| Combined output | 408 hp in boost mode |
| Total torque | 664 Nm |
| 0-100 km/h | 5.6 seconds |
| Top Speed | 200 km/h |
Side view cameras: A super-necessary novelty… or overkill?
What’s most interesting in terms of the driving experience of the Audi Q8 e-tron is its side view cameras. They may have not gotten much local attention, but are actually a noteworthy feature to talk about. Simply because they are a first for Malaysia.
What is it like to drive with the side view cameras? In one word – Weird. It can be nerve-wracking for the first-time driver as your eyes would frantically search for the typical side view mirror location, especially when you are merging. Reverse parking can also feel disorientating as your brain and eyes will be confused by the lack of depth of field.
But hey, all things take getting used to, and perhaps the best thing about the side view cameras is their excellent visibility even in heavy rain. Truthfully, it isn’t a super necessary feature, but it does play a role in creating fully autonomous vehicles for the future.
Battery and Charging – It’s about time all EVs come with 22 kW AC charging
Besides the Renault Zoe and Lotus Eletre, the Audi Q8 e-tron 55 is another EV that is capable of 22 kW AC charging. We’ve tried living with electric cars and since you’ll be mostly charging at home, you will appreciate 22 kW AC charging. It makes things a lot more convenient and you’d have a fully charged car even after plugging in for a couple of hours (versus the overnight charging of 11 kW AC charging).
The Q8 e-tron 55’s range isn’t exactly something to shout about as it is a pretty average number at 487 km. It is enough for the typical long-distance journey a Malaysian makes and during our drive to KL from Ipoh, there was no range anxiety whatsoever.
Essential EV technical specifications:
| Audi Q8 Sportback e-tron S Line 55 | |
| Battery capacity | 114 kWh |
| Range (WLTP) | 487 km |
| Max. AC charging rate | 22 kW |
| AC Charging time (22kW, 0-100%) | 6 hours |
| Max. DC charging rate | 170 kW |
| DC Charging time (170 kW, 10-80%) | 31 minutes |
Verdict on the Audi Q8 e-tron
If it’s a non-weird-looking EV that you’re looking for, the Audi Q8 e-tron 55 is right up your alley. But choosing to be “normal” also means that the Q8 isn’t getting the attention that it deserves. It offers what an EV should given the state of EV technology at the time of writing.
GALLERY
