Like most Audi vehicles, the Q8 Sportback e-tron puts an emphasis on smoothness. The adaptive air suspension is cushy without feeling sloppy, and the steering hardware was redesigned to deliver more feedback than before. It feels more connected than most gas-powered Audi models, including the conventional Q8. On the highway, the cabin is serene, with very little wind or road noise intruding.
As for the powertrain, dual electric motors combined to deliver up to 402 horsepower and 490 lb-ft of torque. We say “up to” because that output is only delivered in Boost Mode, which requires the car to be in Dynamic Mode with the pedal depressed beyond kick-down. In regular driving, it produces 355 hp and 414 lb-ft. This isn’t the type of EV that pins you back in your seat, hitting 60 mph in a relatively average 5.3 seconds. Buyers who crave more speed will want to hold out for the tri-motor SQ8 Sportback e-tron.
Audi, like Porsche, did not put a full one-pedal driving mode into this EV. There are three regen modes, but none can bring the car quickly to a stop and hold it there. Audi prefers to let the vehicle coast to a stop, and we must say this car can roll further than any other vehicle we’ve tested when you lift off the throttle. The Q8 e-tron also lacks a creep function, which is something most other EVs offer.