Audi Q8 – interior and tech
Fit and finish is first-rate, but compared to the latest from BMW, the tech is no longer cutting edge
When it arrived in 2018, the Q8’s cabin marked a leap forward in design and technology for Audi. Build quality was (and remains) exceptional, with precision switchgear and tight tolerances throughout. It was cutting edge, too, with Audi’s digital Virtual Cockpit dash combining with a central touch display and lower climate control panel with pressure-based haptics.
While the inherent qualities of the Q8’s interior remain, the facelift really hasn’t changed much to keep pace with more comprehensive updates applied to the BMW X6 and Porsche Cayenne in recent times. In fact, the design, layout and tech are almost exactly as they were, which has allowed rivals to close the gap – and in some cases jump ahead of the Q8.
Upgrades for the facelift include an expanded range of infotainment apps, including Spotify and Amazon Music, as well as – try to contain your excitement – lane change and vehicle distance warning displays in the digital dash. Standard equipment includes Valcona leather upholstery, heated sports seats up front, the aforementioned Virtual Cockpit and a 360 degree parking camera. You also get Audi’s Navigation Plus system integrated into the HMI, which is relatively easy to use but could be more logical in terms of menu layout.
There are no physical climate controls, but having them on a separate screen does make them easier to access. There’s also an audible and haptic signal every time you push to select something on the screens, which helps avoid accidental touches.
On the whole, the environment is less high-tech and more clinical than you’ll find in a BMW X6, but the Q8 still feels like a premium, quality product. It’s just a slight shame that Audi hasn’t taken the opportunity to move the game on in any meaningful way.
