Three electric motors, 496 horsepower, standstill to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds. The 2024 Audi SQ8 e-tron is much more than the sum of those parts, even if they are excellent by themselves. We all know that electric vehicles can make big power and set fast acceleration times. Knowing the theory is fine; experiencing these things in practice is awesome. The story from the driver’s seat is that the SQ8 e-tron feels extremely fast, faster than those figures above might suggest. And it’s a joy to drive — responsive, composed, balanced, and refined — as we learned driving the Sportback version seen here.
Things Happen in Threes
The SQ8 e-tron is, of course, a higher-performance version of the Q8 e-tron midsize luxury SUV. The Q8 e-tron comes with two electric motors, 402 horsepower and all-wheel drive. The third motor in the SQ8 e-tron means each rear wheel has its own propulsion, while a single unit drives both front wheels. The exceptionally clever part is how Audi finesses power delivery between the motors to achieve incredible grip and speed.
There’s no sensation that such advanced engineering is taking place from millisecond to millisecond. Instead, there’s a flow from one corner to the next. Thrust on demand. I was lucky enough to drive the SQ8 Sportback e-tron on some familiar and favorite canyon roads. Through every bend, this luxury electric SUV provided more and more confidence to take the next turn a little quicker, to trust how all the elements — motors, suspension, tires, steering system — will work together in the successful pursuit of driving thrills. This is why the SQ8 e-tron exists. The only thing missing is exhaust noise, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
One Thing Not Happening
There’s another feature the SQ8 e-tron doesn’t have: one-pedal driving. This is a function found in many electric vehicles, where the level of brake regeneration means being able to slow or stop the car just by backing off the accelerator. It’s a cool addition, especially in city traffic. Audi justifies this absence by saying that drivers used to combustion-powered vehicles don’t have to learn anything new, they can just get in the SQ8 e-tron and drive it like a “normal” car. Here at Kelley Blue Book, we haven’t found getting used to one-pedal driving at all problematic, but we’ll accept the company’s point.
Caffeine and Current
The SQ8 e-tron is thrilling to drive. But there inevitably comes a time to stop blasting, find a charging station, and grab a coffee. Maximum range is 253 miles on 20-inch wheels. This drops to 218 miles on 22-inch wheels. It takes about 30 minutes for the battery to go from 10% to 80% when using the right DC fast charger. Enough time to order a cappuccino and wait for it to cool a bit before drinking. Audi also includes two years of free charging on the Electrify America network.
Package Deal
I’ve always been a fan of Audi’s S cars. Not just for the enhanced power, which is more than enough for anything that’s not a race track, but also for the well-chosen extra equipment. For example, the SQ8 e-tron has a brilliant Bang & Olufsen surround-sound system. And Audi interiors are among the finest available, so the SQ8 e-tron doesn’t disappoint here, either. Diamond-stitched leather upholstery is standard, along with fine materials, smart design, and not one but two touchscreens in the center console. The Q8 e-tron lineup has been freshly updated for 2024, in fact.
There’s a choice of body styles — regular SUV or Sportback. I deliberately chose a Sportback to find out how the rear space is for adult passengers. I’m average height, and it’s fine. There really isn’t much of a penalty in cargo space, either. So if your aesthetic tastes lean toward the Sportback, I won’t try and talk you out of it. It is a little pricier, though. The 2024 SQ8 e-tron SUV starts at $90,995 including the $1,195 destination charge, with the Sportback version coming in at $93,795.
The SQ8 e-tron doesn’t have this electric performance SUV sector to itself, although it does occupy a sweet spot in terms of power, sportiness and price. The BMW iX M60 has 610 horsepower and starts at $111,500. The Mercedes-AMG EQE SUV enjoys 617 horsepower and is only a couple of thousand below that. If there were an RS Q8 e-tron, that would be more of a direct comparison. But this comes back to how the Audi S cars have such an attractive package of attributes without going over the top.
Check this week’s Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price or see SQ8 e-tron models for sale near you.
