2024 Audi Q8 Facelift : Observations after a day of driving

The ZF8 Tiptronic gearbox, as always, does its job well, going through the gears quickly in comfort mode without making the shifts known. In the sportier settings, it holds on till higher rpms and does provide some quick shifts.

Driving the 2024 Audi Q8 Facelift

The Q8 continues to use the same powertrain as before - the EA839 3.0L V6 TFSI engine with 335 BHP and 500 Nm on tap. It also has a 48V mild hybrid system to assist. It comes with Audi Drive Select with six customizable driving modes. This engine is shared with the Q7 and the base variant of the Porsche Cayenne and other vehicles such as the S5, etc.

Get in and start the car and the engine comes to life with a murmur. It's a smooth and refined engine for sure. Moving off, the Q8 feels sprightly enough with not too much throttle needed to get it going. The 3.0L TFSI does its job diligently and seems to provide enough torque and power in city conditions to get around. It seems like it's just enough, but doesn't provide many thrills, or much aural drama. I'm sure the RS Q8 will take care of that, but I would've liked a little more sound in this one too.

On the open road, again the word I would use to describe this engine is sufficient. It does get to high speeds reasonably quickly, no doubt. In terms of performance, Audi claims a 0-100 km/h time of 5.6 seconds and a top speed of 250 km/h for the Q8. But while this powertrain is perfectly suited to the Q7, in the Q8 which one would buy to drive themselves most of the time, some more power and drama would be welcome. On the highway, there was more than enough torque for quick overtakes, etc and it didn't leave me wanting.

The ZF8 Tiptronic gearbox, as always, does its job well, going through the gears quickly in comfort mode without making the shifts known. In the sportier settings, it holds on till higher rpms and does provide some quick shifts. Overall, the engine and gearbox are paired well, and do what one would want, when one would want. So no complaints here.

One big change is the removal of the air suspension. The Q8 now has regular coil springs with dynamic damping. In comfort mode it does ride a bit better than one would think soaking up small bumps, but anything larger can be felt inside the cabin. This is thanks partly to the 21-inch wheels. At higher speeds, stability is good, but the ride is slightly busy. In terms of handling, when the dampers stiffen up, the Q8 does feel quite chuckable and holds its line well in corners, but the suppleness and refinement of the air suspension are missing. And when a cheaper product like the Q7 has it, to remove it from this model is a silly move if you ask me.

The brakes with their new red calipers do a fair job of stopping the Q8 from whatever speed it may be. Their feel is good too.

Overall this is a sensible vehicle. It is stylish and practical. But some features such as better seats and air suspension should have been included considering the price point at which the car is being offered. Other vehicles in the same price bracket provide those features, and may be better to drive and be driven in, but may not match up to the style quotient. At the same time, the Cayenne Coupe, which costs about 25 lakhs more, will possibly make a buyer for this want to stretch his budget. The Porsche brand value is far greater. However, I suspect Audi may give large discounts on the Q8 and that is when it will start being appealing.

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