The Just About Perfect Audi Q8 E-Tron | First Drive Review

A 114 kWh battery with Dual electric motors producing 408hp and 664 Nm of torque, when I sat in the driver's seat, I noticed how silent the car really was. One can't even figure out whether the car is on or not, which is a really strong point for an EV. I went straight on to test out the initial power punch, and let me tell you, it did not disappoint. But in a very different way.

 Usually, in most high-end EVs, the power delivery is so quick and strong that it jerks your neck backwards due to the G-force, and after a while, it loses pace, but the Audi Q8 e-tron 55 Sportback kept up with the pace, and even though its punch is strong it does not really make you feel that instant pressure which I really like as this is a luxurious car. It does an acceleration of 0-100kmph in 5.6 seconds, fully impressing me, keeping in mind its weight. It has a claimed range of 600 km, making it a strong candidate for customers. 

While driving over the speed breakers or potholes, I hardly felt any movement in the car; yes not denying that it's extremely smooth, but for sure very close to it, and you can glide through the air because the car comes with adaptive air suspension. With an electric motor on each axle, The all-wheel-drive Quattro works really well on all terrains and adjusts the delivery of power on each wheel, giving smooth stability and grip. Otherwise, the handling is smooth, and the steering does not have unnecessary play in it after its upgrades. The weight distribution and handling is precise and works well, especially when I go faster and also makes overtaking or driving on ghats and mountains much easier. Adding to that, the cruise control with a limited speed restrictor is a good touch to the car. There are various drive modes which help in different scenarios, from long-distance driving to city drives to driving at high speeds. The ride height adjustment feature is a boon for Indian roads as well as when I want to go for some off-roading or long drives.

With the upgrade in the battery range and power, the new 50 variant of both the Sportback and SUV carries the claimed range of 505 km and 491 km, respectively. For the 55 variant, the range of the SUV is 582 km and 600 km for Sportback. Fast charging at high charging stations comes around 31 mins for 10% to 80%.