SPECS 2019 Audi Q8 Prestige
Base Price/As Tested $68,395/$90,
Power (SAE net) 335 hp @ 5,000 rpm
Torque (SAE net) 369 lb-ft @ 1,370 rpm
Accel, 0-60 mph 5.9 sec
Quarter Mile 14.4 sec @ 97.6 mph
Braking, 60-0 mph 141 ft
Lateral Acceleration 0.83 g (avg)
MT Figure Eight 26.9 sec @ 0.69 g (avg)
EPA City/Hwy/Comb 17/22/19 mpgAudi Q
SUVOTY I Contender
Vehicle Layout Front-engine, AWD, 5-pass, 4-door SUV Engine/Transmission 3.0L turbo DOHC 24-valve V-6/8-speed automatic Curb Weight (F/R
Dist) 5,163 lb (54/46%) Wheelbase 117.9 in Length x Width x Height 196.6 x 78.5 x 67.2 in Energy Consumption, City/Hwy 198/153 kW-hr/100 miles CO
Emissions, Comb 1.02 lb/milePRO Sporty exterior design • Modern interior • Great cargo room
CON Falls short as flagship SUV • Hatchback or SUV? • Hard to see its valueAudi Q
Vehicle Layout Front-engine, AWD, 5-pass, 4-door SUV Engine/Transmission 2.0L turbo DOHC 16-valve I-4/8-speed automatic Curb Weight (F/R
Dist) 3,944 lb (57/43%) Wheelbase 105.5 in Length x Width x Height 176.6 x 72.8 x 64.1 in Energy Consumption, City/Hwy 177/125 kW-hr/100 miles
CO2 Emissions, Comb 0.88 lb/mileSPECS 2019 Audi Q3 S-Line
Base Price/As Tested $40,095/$44,
Power (SAE net) 228 hp @ 5,000 rpm
Torque (SAE net) 258 lb-ft @ 1,700 rpm
Accel, 0-60 mph 8.5 sec
Quarter Mile 16.5 sec @ 85.4 mph
Braking, 60-0 mph 125 ft
Lateral Acceleration 0.79 g (avg)
MT Figure Eight 28.4 sec @ 0.65 g (avg)
EPA City/Hwy/Comb 19/27/22 mpgtouchscreen infotainment
system—will make prospective
buyers feel like they’ve stepped
into a much more expensive
model. Our top-shelf Prestige
S-Line tester was well equipped
with a premium stereo, adaptive
cruise control, and a 360-degree
camera, justifying its $8,
premium over a base model.
The price becomes harder to
justify, however, when your eyes
dip below chest level, where
cheap plastic abounds. Multiple
judges called out the centerF
ollowing industry trends, Audi
has allowed its subcompact
Q3 crossover to grow into
something that can fit standard-
sized Americans.
The first impression is strong.
Familiar Audi exterior styling
is smartly tailored to the small
package, so much so that it was
often mistaken for the identically
hued and decidedly more expen-
sive E-Tron.
Similarly, the dashboard—with
its standard digital instrument
cluster and wide, framelessconsole. It’s plain and stark and
headed by a blank panel, where
the ignition button and volume
knob have been seemingly
dropped into a sea of plastic.
The judges had universal
praise for the enlarged, capa-
cious rear seat—bonus points for
USB ports and separate vents—
even if it comes at a cost to cargo
space. Audi’s implementation of
wireless Apple CarPlay is notably
better than BMW’s.
Opinions on driving perfor-
mance were mixed. Although thejudges agreed that its handling
felt light and nimble, they also
agreed it was prone to bounc-
iness on rough pavement. The
powertrain felt adequate but
potentially overmatched by a full
load of passengers and cargo.
Despite its vaunted Quattro AWD
system, the Q3’s off-road abilities
split the judges.
Instead of a tall A3, we got a
smaller, less expensive Q5. That’s
all well and good, but it doesn’t
move the needle much in its class.
Scott Evanswind noise and a surprising
amount of impact harshness.
In the sand and off-road, the
Quattro AWD system showed its
capability, but the ABS and trac-
tion control systems protested
when more grip was needed.
The Q8 has a tasteful design
and an elegant interior, but it
doesn’t bring anything unique to
the table. Miguel CortinaW
ith handsome exterior
design and a beautifully
styled interior, the Q8 is
ready to fight the growing group
of SUV coupes. Despite these
attributes, Audi’s flagship SUV
drew mixed reviews. Some judges
liked its sporty handling; others
criticized the Q8’s value and its
ability to deliver on its premise.
The Q8 is a looker from any
angle. Its octagonal grille and
the sharp lines on its hood go
well with its strong fenders and
character lines. But its fastbackprofile is less pronounced than its
competition.
The Q8 was one of the most
talked-about vehicles in this
year’s test. Like the rest of Audi’s
premium lineup, the Q8’s interior
got high marks. In addition to
having plenty of passenger and
cargo room, it was the tech-
nology that truly impressed the
judges. The instrument panel
shows Audi’s Virtual Cockpit with
Google Maps and navigation,
and there are two other screens
in the center console.The driving dynamics received
mixed comments. On winding
roads, some judges thought the
Q8 had a composed ride with
little body roll. With the optional
air suspension, it feels agile and
leans in nicely in the corners. But
other judges thought it didn’t live
up to its sporty styling. Although
the Audi had good high-speed
stability, judges noted a lot ofPRO Futuristic IP and console • Nimble handling • Big rear seat for its class
CON Lots of interior plastic • Bouncy ride • Merely adequate powertrainSUVOTY I Contenders
16 MOTORTREND.COM JANUARY 2020