Audi RS Q8 – interior and tech

The RS Q8’s interior is almost identical to that of both the standard Q7 and Q8, and though it’s not as glitzy as what you’ll find in rivals from BMW or Mercedes, it is beautifully constructed and easy to use – so long as you don’t mind a touchscreen or two. Bespoke elements for the RS Q8 include RS Super Sport seats that are firm, supportive and comfortable, and optional carbonfibre and alcantara trim.

The Performance, meanwhile, is offered with optional blue trim inside, as well as brushed black aluminium accents. But unless you really dress it up, the RS Q8’s cabin does feel a little sterile next to some of its rivals, with swathes of gloss black trim and little in the way of sumptuous design and detailing. Some will prefer that to the ambient lighting-fest that is the BMW X6 M, though. 

The cabin technology is up to par, if no longer at the cutting edge, with less screen real estate and more basic graphics than you’ll find in an X6 M. You get a central infotainment touch screen backed up by a 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit dash, and though there aren’t many physical buttons, those that remain feel exceptionally high quality. And besides that, Audi’s pressure-based haptic touch pad for the climate controls is one of the better solutions out there, making accidental presses and swipes a less common occurrence. Just make sure to invest in a microfibre cloth if you’re averse to fingerprints.