Skip advert
Advertisement

Audi Q8 – performance and 0-60mph time

The Q8 has a decent turn of pace in all its forms, with even the diesel reaching 62mph in 6.1sec

Evo rating
RRP
from £73,825
  • Well built; refined; painless to drive
  • Forgettable dynamics; cabin is no longer cutting edge

Although it’s far from a necessity for the Q8 to be fast, every model has a decent turn of pace. In fact, even the 50 TDI, which uses a 3-litre V6 diesel engine, will cause some hot hatches trouble off the line – it gets to 62mph in 6.1sec and runs to a 150mph top speed. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

The petrol 55 TFSI also uses a 3-litre V6, and though it’s not as torquey as the diesel, its higher peak power cuts the 62mph sprint down to 5.6 sec, with the top speed limited to 155mph. 

Aside from the S and RS models, the 55 TFSI e is the most powerful Q8 you can buy, coming with a petrol V6 supported by an electric motor. The extra weight of the hybrid system means it's not quite as quick as the pure-petrol 55 TFSI, but it still reaches 62mph in 5.7sec and reaches a 149mph top speed. 

Beyond the figures, the hybrid element does bring a useful hit of electric thrust at low speed to mask any lag in the powertrain, allowing the Q8 to sprint briskly off the mark before the V6 gets into its stride. Once up and running, however, the hit from the e-motor is less impactful, and V6 strains a little more when shifting the e TFSI’s mass (2415kg) along. There’s plenty of grunt for effortless everyday driving, but the 389bhp peak figure flatters it somewhat. 

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Ford Focus ST (Mk3) – the car world's greatest misses
Ford Focus ST Mk3
Features

Ford Focus ST (Mk3) – the car world's greatest misses

We’d hoped the 2015 Focus ST would share a good dose of its little brother’s magic. Sadly, it didn’t
28 Apr 2025
The Ferrari 296 Speciale has arrived, and it could be the most thrilling Ferrari ever
Ferrari 296 Speciale – front
News

The Ferrari 296 Speciale has arrived, and it could be the most thrilling Ferrari ever

The 296 Speciale is the latest in Ferrari's line of mid-engined road racers, packing 868bhp and LaFerrari-beating pace on track
29 Apr 2025
Gordon Murray Automotive T.50 2025 review – the ultimate analogue hypercar
GMA T.50 front
Reviews

Gordon Murray Automotive T.50 2025 review – the ultimate analogue hypercar

The GMA T.50 is the car we thought would never come: Gordon Murray's sequel to the ultimate hypercar, the McLaren F1
26 Apr 2025