South Africa has recently welcomed the brand new four-door Audi Q8, Audi’s competition for the Porsche Cayenne, Mercedes GLE, BMW X6 and the Range Rover Sport. Anti-theft wheel bolts and loose wheel warning are standard, including an additional front underbody guard. The Q8 is also lower, shorter and wider than its Q7 model.
Since the Q8 is Audi’s flagship SUV, it is no surprise this Audi is available with a turbocharged petrol engine and the following turbodiesel. The top of the range Audi Q8 is the 55 TSI, which has a 3,0 litre turbocharged V6 that produces up to 250Kw and 500NM, of which Audi claims a 0-100 sprint in just under 5,9 seconds, however, the Q8 has an electronically limited top speed of 250kph. Interestingly the Q8 is accessible with two engines, the second one being the Q8 45 TDI with a 3,0-litre turbocharged diesel engine, allowing the premium SUV to crank out 183kW and 600Nm. The Audi Q8 also has an 85-litre fuel tank.
The Q8 has a spacious cabin, rear bench which can be folded down and a boot capacity with up to 1 755 litres of carrying luggage or cargo. The Q8 has an MMI (Multi-Media Interface) touch-response system- as a standard feature, especially for ventilation, heating and air condition as well as comfort functions and text input into the MMI. The vehicle has a lower 8.6-inch display to manage these controls. There are also comprehensible symbols on the MMI stand for the digital precision from the Audi for high-level integration when operating features such as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
With regards to off-road capabilities, the SUV not only features a hill descent control but a 254mm ground clearance, short overhangs and a Quattro permanent all-wheel-drive system which aids stability in any weather conditions.
In terms of pricing for the Audi Q8, it is interesting to know that all Audi Q8 models have a 5 year Audi Freeway plan of 100 000km- which is then summed up into the Q8 45 TDI Quattro Tiptronic (rating at R1 439 000) and the Q8 55 TFSI Quattro Tiptronic (rating at R1 388 000). (Prices correct at time of publication.)
If you want a luxury family vehicle then the Q8 should be shortlisted in the premium SUV segment. The strong engines available and amount of options to choose from makes the Q8 one of the ultimate five-door vehicles in South Africa. Overall Audi’s approach to Q8 has been well thought out, Audi has paid attention to detail and what the customers want from a premium SUV. Audi also released the Q8 at the perfect time, as the market for sports SUV’s is growing currently in SA.
If you’re looking for more information on other SUVs available in South Africa, be sure to check out our reviews section. Every month, we review two of the latest models available in South Africa – everything from your top end SUVs to small, practical cars for first-time drivers. Happy reading!
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