Audi Q8 e-tron 50 Malaysia review – Cheaper than the BMW iX but at what cost?

Aug 5, 2024 1:52 pm

Looking for a premium mid-size all-electric SUV? Most Malaysians would first think of the BMW iX, and probably the Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV next. But what if you want something different, and prefer to own a car that’s a little less common on the road? Audi would happily sell you one of its Q8 e-tron SUVs, which could end up helping you save a bit of cash along the way too.

The specific variant we tested here is the Audi Q8 e-tron Advanced 50 Quattro, which is the entry-level model of the Q8 e-tron family. It costs RM402,790, inclusive of the Audi Assurance Package (AAP). This makes it one of the most affordable models in its segment, undercutting the BMW iX xDrive50 Sport and the Mercedes-Benz EQE 500 SUV by quite a bit (about RM100k!), although the Audi does pack lesser power and range than the cheapest iX and EQE SUV available here in Malaysia.

Before I move any further, let’s clear up some confusion you might have here. Despite the “Q8” in its name, the Audi Q8 e-tron isn’t the all-electric version of the much larger combustion engine-powered Q8. In fact, its size is actually closer to the Q5.

Audi has decided that moving forward, its internal combustion engine (ICE)-powered models will all carry odd numbers in their names, like the recently debuted A5, while its EV models will carry even numbers, such as the Q8 e-tron. Clear? Good.

Audi Q8 e-tron Advanced 50 at a glance:

Electric drive	Dual-motor all-wheel drive (AWD)
Maximum power output	340 hp
Maximum torque	664 Nm
Drivetrain	AWD
0-100 km/h	6.0 seconds
Battery capacity	95 kWh
Electric range (WLTP)	410 km
Max. AC charging rate	11 kW
Max. DC charging rate	150 kW
Price	RM402,790 (with AAP)

Audi Q8 e-tron exterior: Elegance made simple

The first word that popped up in my head when I first saw the Q8 e-tron was “conservative”, at least when compared to its two largest German rivals. But if looking understated yet premium is what you’re after, this could be something you would prefer.

The Q8 e-tron doesn’t have that obvious EV-like look to it either, which I believe is Audi’s intention when designing it in the first place. This could come as a good thing for those of you who want an EV that doesn’t shout “I am an EV!” all the time.

Just in case you find the Advanced 50 looking a little too plain, there’s also the Q8 Sportback e-tron Advanced 50. Want even more style and power? Just get the more expensive Q8 e-tron S Line 55 or the Q8 Sportback e-tron S Line 55.

Audi Q8 e-tron driving experience: Easiest to drive EV for first-timers

Now onto how it drives. Arif Chan mentioned how the Q8 e-tron is one of the most ICE-like EVs to drive in his first drive article. This stays true with the base-spec Q8 e-tron Advanced 50, making Audi’s all-electric models one of the best to drive EVs for first-time owners.

One of the main things one needs to get used to when driving an EV for the first time is regenerative braking. If that is something you can’t get used to just yet, you can simply turn the feature off with the Q8 e-tron and manually adjust between two levels of energy recuperation, which I wish all EVs could have. You can also set the regenerative braking settings to automatic, where the car will automatically adjust the level of regenerative braking based on conditions such as whether there’s a car in front of you.

This in my opinion is a much better implementation of regenerative braking than the fully automatic adaptive regenerative braking Tesla EVs come with. Having options is always better than having none right?

Like most Audi models, the Q8 e-tron drives well with excellent high-speed stability and cornering capabilities, in the context of an SUV of course. Its steering wheel also packs lots of feedback despite being relatively light, making zipping around the city an effortless affair.

The Audi Q8 e-tron Advanced 50 rides pretty well too, thanks to the Sport Adaptive Suspension system that’s fitted as standard throughout the Q8 e-tron lineup. You can also adjust the car’s throttle response, steering feel, and suspension settings by choosing from the various driving modes.

Powering the Audi Q8 e-tron Advanced 50 is the brand’s dual-motor all-wheel drive (AWD) setup that pushes out 340 hp and 664 Nm under boost mode, allowing a century sprint time of 6 seconds flat. This is certainly not slow by any means but is still nothing to shout about when compared to its rivals, especially in the world of EVs.

Audi Q8 e-tron charging & range: 22 kW AC should be made standard with premium EVs

Thanks to its 95 kWh battery, the Q8 e-tron Advanced 50, on paper, is claimed to be capable of travelling as far as 410 km (figure announced upon launch) on a single charge, according to the WLTP test cycle. But how does it perform in real life?

Well, I travelled a total of 173 km throughout two and a half days through 65% of city traffic and 35% of highway drives with mixed driving styles, and have consumed about 46% of juice. This essentially translates to an energy consumption rate of 25.25 kWh/100 km. So if you are usually lighter on your foot, you should be able to squeeze out more range than I did.

Based on this short test, a quick math calculation shows that I should be able to travel close to 300 km with 80% of charge, or 375 km with a full battery capacity. So if driving range is your main priority, you might want to go for the more powerful and expensive S Line 55 range which also comes with more driving range, or go for its two German rivals mentioned above, which could easily do above 500 km or even 600 km, at least on paper. You might argue that the Q8 e-tron’s shorter range is due to it having two motors, but even for a dual-motor SUV, its range is still relatively low. The Mercedes-Benz EQE 500 SUV with a smaller 90.56 kWh can get more range at 552 km (WLTP), despite featuring a dual-motor setup as well.

So, the Audi Q8 e-tron Advanced 50 might not be the best in terms of performance or driving range. Is it able to redeem itself in the charging department against the BMW and the Mercedes-Benz? Well, I am sad to report that the answer is not really.

For starters, the Q8 e-tron Advanced 50 can handle AC charging at a maximum rate of 11 kW which could top up its battery from flat to full in slightly over nine hours. You will have to splurge for the S Line 55 variants to get 22 kW AC charging, which can help cut down the charging time to just six hours. Both the BMW iX and Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV in Malaysia come with 22 kW AC charging as standard.

As for DC charging, the Audi Q8 e-tron Advanced 50 can be charged at a maximum rate of 150 kW, which can juice up the car from 10 to 80% in around 31 minutes. The S Line 55 models can handle 170 kW of DC charging, but due to their larger 114 kWh battery, charging from 10 to 80% takes the same amount of time. As for the BMW iX and Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV, their maximum DC charging rates are rated at 195 kW and 170 kW respectively.

	Audi Q8 e-tron 50	BMW iX xDrive50 Sport	Mercedes-Benz EQE 500 SUV
Electric drive	Dual-motor AWD	Dual-motor AWD	Dual-motor AWD
Battery	95 kWh	111.5 kWh	90.6 kWh
Range (WLTP)	410 km (WLTP)	630 km (WLTP)	547 km (WLTP)
Max. AC charging rate	11 kW	22 kW	22 kW
AC charging time	9 hours and 9 minutes	5 hours and 30 minutes	4 hours 45 minutes
Max. DC charging rate	150 kW	195 kW	170 kW
DC charging time	31 minutes (10-80%)	35 minutes (0-80%)	32 minutes (0-80%)

Audi Q8 e-tron Advanced 50 interior: Classic Audi interior

Audi has for a long time been known for its minimalistic interiors (well not at the level of the Tesla), and it is no different with the Q8 e-tron. In fact, its interior here looks very similar to the one found in the internal combustion engine-powered Q8. Like its exterior, you will like the Q8 e-tron’s interior if looking simple and elegant is what you prefer over flashier designs. And unlike other modern cars, you still find things like clicky multifunction buttons on the steering wheel, a physical gear selector, and an aircon control panel located just below the touchscreen infotainment display. The latter requires you to actually press in like with a physical button, which some might find unnecessary but is useful in preventing false touches.

My complaint with the Audi Q8 e-tron’s interior, especially with the Advanced 50 variant has to be the overuse of not-so-great plastics, something one shouldn’t deal with when paying RM400k for a car. Another issue with the Audi Q8 e-tron lineup is its rear passenger space. The seats are comfortable but leg and knee room aren’t great, especially with the huge centre tunnel in the middle.

Audi Q8 e-tron Advanced 50 verdict: Best premium EV SUV for Audi fans

All in all, the Audi Q8 e-tron is a great EV if you like the way it drives, looks, and the way Audi builds its EVs in general. However, if you’re just looking for a premium EV SUV in general with no specific brand preferences, other options such as the BMW iX could be a better option for you, while giving you more in almost every aspect.

Audi is also considering of discontinuing its Q8 e-tron series globally due to low demand. So if you’re a fan of it, you might wanna grab one quick before it gets removed from Audi’s shelf.

GALLERY