Should You Buy? 5 Pros & Cons of Audi Q8 2020

The Audi Q8 is a mid-size luxury crossover SUV manufactured by the German company Audi. The Q8 was launched in 2018 and is still in production. Like the 2019 model, the 2020 Q8 is available in three trims. The base Premium, the mid-trim Premium Plus, and the top-spec Prestige.

What’s new?

BROWSE USED AUDI Q8 MODELS from $63,290

Some previously optional features are now offered as standard, and two (S Line and Black Optic) new appearance packages are now available. And as a follow-up to the 2019 Q8, in 2020 Audi introduced an all-new, high-performance RS Q8. Apart from these, not much changed between the 2019 and 2020 Q8 models.

The 2020 Q8 is a two-row five-seat car that is very similar to its seven-passenger Q7 sibling. But being a five-seat car with almost the same wheelbase as the Q7 has enabled the Q8 to boast a spacious interior with plenty of legroom and headroom that enables tall occupants to comfortably sit in any of the car’s five seats.

Let’s take a look at the 5 pros and 5 cons of the 2020 Q8. We take this initiative to simplify your decision-making when you shop for your next car. Please follow through

5 Pros

It’s Offered With Plenty Of Standard And Optional Features

BROWSE USED AUDI Q8 MODELS from $63,290

 The 2020 Q8 comes with several standard features found on the base Premium trim which include leather upholstery, an MMI infotainment screen with dual (10.1-inch upper screen controls radio, navigation, and smartphone connectivity while the 8.6-inch lower screen controls climate functions and other controls) touchscreens, a 10-speaker stereo, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, four USB ports, Amazon Alexa, satellite radio, HD Radio, navigation, a Wi-Fi hot spot, a Virtual Cockpit with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster,  heated and 8-way power-adjustable front seats, an adaptive air suspension, a panoramic sunroof, proximity keyless entry, tri-zone automatic climate control, a power liftgate, and alloy wheels.

The Premium Plus medium trim adds a 17-speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo, a quad-zone automatic climate control, and a surround-view parking camera system.

The top-spec Prestige trim gains a head-up display, premium leather upholstery, a leather-wrapped dashboard and console, power rear-window sunshades, traffic sign recognition, rear cross-traffic alert, blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, power soft-closing doors, and intersection assist.

Cozy Ride And Seats For All

BROWSE USED AUDI Q8 MODELS from $63,290

The 2020 Q8 is not the largest Audi crossover there is, but it’s the coziest. The Q8 is closely related to the Q7 enjoying almost a similar wheelbase but without the third row. With this arrangement, second-row occupants in the 2020 Q8 are treated with one of the most spacious rear seats in the segment with plenty of legroom. 

The front seats are spacious, comfortable, and supportive with more than a dozen adjustable configurations. For those with long legs or long torsos, the Q8 offers plenty of stretch-out room, and the standard panoramic sunroof doesn’t bite out the available headroom. 

Premium models get cooled, heated, and massaging front seats, while rear outbound seats have the massaging function as an option.  The rear seat also has a slide fore and aft function of about four inches for more legroom or cargo space. 

First-class Cabin

Inside, the 2020 Q8 is engulfed in leather, comfort, and touchscreens, the absolute luxury car, a true trifecta of today. 

All Q8s are fitted with premium materials, that include real wood ornaments and leather upholstery. The high-end Prestige trims come with a dashboard covered with soft and deluxe leather.

The Q8s cabin feels luxurious, thanks in part to its premium fit and finish, bright aluminum and chrome accents, and soft leather finishes.

Good Safety Rating

The 2020 Audi Q8 has a highly rated safety scorecard. 

The IIHS rated it a “Top Safety Pick” in 2019 and gave it a five-star overall safety rating. Coupled with great available active safety options and good active safety tech, the only area in which the Q8 performed poorly is on outward visibility. Another safety area that the 2020 Q8 performed well as tested by the IIHS is on a crash test where it earned the highest rating of “Good” in all six crash tests and a “superior” rating on its front crash prevention systems.  

Trims with the Matrix-design LED projector headlights were rated as Top Safety Picks. In forward visibility rating, the Matrix-design LED headlights earned the second-highest rating of “Acceptable”, and the regular headlights were lowly rated as “Poor”.

The NHTSA gave the Q8 an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with 5 stars in side crash tests and the frontal and 4 stars in the rollover test.

Standard safety features in the Q8 include Audi Pre Sense Basic, Audi Pre Sense Front, lane departure warning, front and rear parking sensors, and automatic high-beam headlights.

Available Advanced Driver Aids

Standard driver aids on the 2020 Q8 include automatic lane-departure warnings and emergency braking. Its automatic emergency braking system was rated in 2019 by the IIHS as “Superior” in forward collision avoidance with other cars, but there were no tests for pedestrian safety. Other additional safety features include active lane control, adaptive cruise control, rear side-impact airbags, and blind-spot monitors. 

5 Cons

Falls Short Practically Compared To The Q7

BROWSE USED AUDI Q8 MODELS from $63,290

The 2020 Q8 is a luxury SUV based on a similar platform to its equally luxurious midsize SUV the Q7. Both come with the Quattro all-wheel drive system as standard and several other comparable features. But the two-row Q8 was built with comfortability in mind, while, the Q7 was built with practicality in mind as it comes with three rows with seven seats, better cargo room, and lower estimated ownership costs.

A Distractive Infotainment System

Audi made a bold decision by opting to go for a full touchscreen infotainment system on its latest offering, but the interface is controversial. Some users found the system distracting and easy to fingermark, although it looks neat and intuitive.

Poor Fuel Economy

BROWSE USED AUDI Q8 MODELS from $63,290

The 2020 Q8 comes fitted with a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine coupled with a 48v mild-hybrid system with a combined output of 335 hp and 369 lb-ft. Even with its mild hybrid system, the Q8‘s efficiency is poor compared to similar cars in its category with equivalent engines. It is rated at 8 km/l combined (7 city/9 highway) is 0.9-1.28 km/l less.

High Priced

The 2020 Q8 is an expensive car, with its price making it off-limits to many buyers. Compared to the Q7 that it’s based on, the Q8 costs more than its similarly equipped and more practical sibling, the Q7. But this seems to be the trend in most coupe variants, with sales in this segment over the last decade proving that some buyers are ready to cough up large amounts for the newest style. If you fall in this category, then the 2020 Audi Q8 with its sporty dynamics and relative practicality is a top model to consider.

Challenging Outward Vision

The 2020 Q8 has limited outward visibility which is due to the impediment caused by the rake of the front windshield for forward visibility and the rear glass does reduce your rearward view. And the thick front and rear roof pillars don’t make it any better.

Conclusion

The coupe-like SUV offering from Audi is a car with composed handling, pleasing performance, plenty of luxury, elegant, and a roomy cabin. Apart from that, it’s a car with a few compromises and a high price. With that said, we conclude by saying that the Q8 is a car worth the price, and if you can afford it, don’t hesitate in making it your own.

We at BE FORWARD have a stock of 100+ used Audi Q8s listed for sale. Check out our list to find your next car.

BEST VALUE USED CARS FROM $410

GET DISCOUNT ALERTS (90% OFF OR MORE)

SIGN UP FOR REWARDS

Written by: Samuel H. Mponezya

Leave a Comment

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.