Audi’s flagship electric SUV – the e-tron – has been updated for 2023 with revised looks, an updated list of equipment, and a new name: it’s now called the Audi Q8 e-tron.
Update: Since this guide was published we have driven the latest Audi Q8 e-tron. Click here to read our full Audi Q8 e-tron Review
2023 Audi Q8 e-tron: styling and interior
The most obvious change to Audi’s flagship SUV’s exterior is the badge – it now reads ‘Q8 e-tron’ to make it clear this is the company’s largest electric SUV. The rest of the changes are exactly what you would expect for a mid-life facelift with a fresher face (which now sports Audi’s new 2D badge design), new wheels and a tidier rear end. Go for a top-spec model and you get Digital Matrix LEDs, which can beam safety information onto the road surface in front of you.
As before, you can have the Q8 e-tron as a standard SUV or in Sportback configuration, the latter having a more stylish coupe-like roofline that comes at the expense of a little rear headroom.
Aero is important to improve the e-tron’s range, so features like wheel spoilers have been used to cut the car’s drag coefficient from 0.26 to 0.24 on the Q8 e-tron, with similar gains for the Sportback version.
Inside, the changes are even harder to spot. Just like the old model, the Q8 e-tron has more screens than a PC World shop window and a premium finish that allows it to compete with posh alternatives like the BMW iX and Mercedes-Benz EQC. Meanwhile, Audi’s green credentials are boosted by the use of recycled materials for the Q8 e-tron’s sound insulation, carpets and faux leather upholstery in some models.
2023 Audi Q8 e-tron: battery size, range and performance
Both the Q8 e-tron and Sportback are available with a choice of three power outputs and all models have all-wheel drive. Battery sizes range from 96kWh (Q8 e-tron 50) to 114kWh for the rest of the range, and all models can charge their battery from 10 to 80 per cent full in around 30 minutes using a fast public charger.
The 50 e-tron is the entry-level model and produces up to 340bhp in boost mode. It has a range of 281 miles for the standard model and 290 miles for the slippier Sportback, with 0-62mph taking a sprightly six seconds.
The 55 e-tron is next up. It has 408bhp and can travel 330 miles (standard model) or 343 miles (Sportback) between charges. Like the 50, the 55 is limited to a top speed of 124mph, but 0-62mph takes just 5.6 seconds.
The high-performance SQ8 gets a 130mph top speed fitting of its title, while 0-62mph comes up in just 4.5 seconds. The downside? Range drops to 284 (standard car) or 295 miles (Sportback). SQ8s are only available in high-end Black Edition or Vorsprung trim.
2023 Audi Q8 e-tron: price, release date and specifications
The Audi Q8 e-tron is on sale now with first deliveries expected in April 2023. Prices range from £67,800 for a 50 e-tron Sport, up to £114,500 for a range-topping SQ8 e-tron Sportback.
Even Sport models get a long list of equipment, with highlights including 20-inch alloy wheels, a faux leather interior, electrically adjustable and heated front seats, a 180W stereo with 10 speakers and subwoofer, a 360-degree parking camera and two-zone air-conditioning.
As you’d expect, S Line models look sportier and start from £72,800. To Sport trim, S Line adds a body kit, 21-inch alloy wheels and tinted windows on the outside. Inside, you get a real leather interior, with sports seats and a three-spoke sports steering wheel. S Line models also get cushy air suspension as standard.
Black Edition models start from £75,150 and, as their name suggests, swap the Q8 e-tron’s exterior chrome for shiny black plastics that give it a moody look. They get sportier-looking 21-inch wheels, headlights with an ‘e-tron’ logo and anthracite interior inlays.
Finally, there’s the Vorsprung which is essentially a Q8 e-tron with all the options. It gets Audi’s Digital Matrix LEDs as standard, soft-close doors, a steering wheel that is heated and electrically adjustable, leather on the doors and dashboard, plus a variety of assistance packs that mean the e-tron can drive itself on the motorway and in queuing traffic. The list is completed by a set of 22-inch alloy wheels. Unsurprisingly, the Vorsprung starts from just under £90,000.
Keep an eye on the CarGurus research page to read our test drive of the Audi Q8 e-tron in the coming weeks.