We like
Characterful V8 soundtrack, physics-bending ability to cruise comfortably or demolish a back road, more engaging than a car this big and capable has a right to be

Room for improvement
Feeling torn about whether it is a profligate waste of resources that shouldn’t exist and being glad it – and the talent to create it – does exist

Overview

THE RS Q8 Performance arrives as the new pinnacle of Audi’s SUV range, wielding the most powerful internal combustion engine in the brand’s history – a 471kW/850Nm twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8.

 

For context, this unit is closely related to that used in the Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT (also 471kW/850Nm), Bentley Bentayga Speed (478kW/850Nm) and Lamborghini Urus Performante (490kW/850Nm). Audi even managed to shave two seconds off the Porsche’s Nurburgring record.

 

At $255,800 before on-road costs and options, Audi’s flagship performance SUV somehow manages to look like a bargain given how well it stacks up against the aforementioned exotica, sitting above the standard RS Q8, which returns in facelifted form at $230,900 + ORC.

 

The duo provides Ingolstadt with a two-pronged assault on the large super-SUV segment against the likes of the BMW X5 M Competition and Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S.

 

We tested the new Performance variant, which came with a handful of options including the standard 23-inch forged alloy wheels finished in matt black (no-cost option), carbon twill inlays ($2300) and anthracite grey Audi rings ($700), pushing the as-tested price to $258,800 + ORC.

 

Standard equipment is comprehensive, featuring ceramic front brakes with red callipers, dynamic all-wheel steering, active roll stabilisation, RS-specific adaptive air suspension and those massive 420mm front rotors with 10-piston callipers – claimed to be among the world's largest brakes on any production vehicle.

 

Inside, the RS Q8 Performance features Valcona leather upholstery with honeycomb quilt stitching, a flat-bottom RS steering wheel with customisable RS mode buttons, and Audi's latest top-tier infotainment system with twin touchscreens measuring 10.1 and 8.6 inches.

 

The digital instrument cluster gains an RS-specific layout with round dials that can turn white for that racing heritage look, while the Bang & Olufsen 3D Premium Sound System with 17 speakers provides the soundtrack when the sports exhaust and reduced sound deadening serve up a bit too much V8 bellow.

 

Driving Impressions

For all its snarling exhaust theatrics, the RS Q8 Performance features the restrained aggression hot Audis were once known for, before the bodykits of its RS-badged passenger cars went a bit over the top.

 

The revised grille with its honeycomb pattern, deep front bumper and those massive 23-inch wheels wrapped in Pirelli P Zero tyres project serious intent to those in the know without excessive showboating.

 

Our test began with a short drive from Brisbane airport to a memorable introduction at Lakeside Raceway, where we were given the opportunity to unleash the RS Q8 Performance's accelerative potential in a controlled environment – specifically, a drag race-style acceleration run down the main straight.

 

The launch control procedure is refreshingly straightforward: select Dynamic mode, plant your left foot firmly on the brake, floor the accelerator until the digital dash confirms launch readiness, then release the brake and hold on.

 

What follows is full of sonorous V8 drama and the horizon-twisting sensation of a 2.3-tonne behemoth squatting on its haunches as it rockets forward, all four P Zeros clawing at the tarmac in unison as those eight force-fed cylinders deliver the full 850Nm from just 2300rpm.

 

Snapping up a gear before we’ve gathered our senses, the eight-speed auto sinks revs deep into the V8’s sweet spot, developing a hard-edged timbre reminiscent of the dearly departed naturally aspirated 4.2-litre V8 of the B8-generation RS4 and, having overcome the inertia of launching forward, the Q8 gathers momentum with ever more determination.

 

We’re across the line, the fat oval tailpipes crackling on the overrun and the digital dash reporting a 0-100km/h time of 4.1 seconds, against Audi’s claimed 3.6s.

 

Not bad considering we were driving into a strong, cold headwind, the same force of nature that had littered the scenic country roads between Lakeside and Kilcoy with fallen twigs and small branches.

 

Out here, the RS Q8 Performance revealed a more nuanced character. It can settle down to a comfortable, refined luxury cruiser at the touch of a button – although V8 rumble and road roar serve as ever-present reminders that this is far from your ordinary suburban grocery-getter.

 

The revised suspension delivers a surprisingly compliant ride in Comfort mode and though the massive wheels and low-profile tyres can't completely disguise sharp impacts, the 48-volt active roll stabilisation combined with rear-wheel steering rewards the driver with an eager and oh-so-satisfying tuck-in to bends even at the cautious speeds the challenging road conditions required.

 

Dynamic mode hunkers down the air suspension by 25mm, giving the car a giant hot-hatch appearance and noticeably firmer feel, without being disruptively aggressive.

 

Mechanical grip is immense and the all-wheel drive system’s sophisticated torque distribution feels unshakeable on public roads while that rear steer and roll-quelling suspension do an incredible job of concealing the RS Q8's considerable mass at speed and mask its 5022mm length when manoeuvring.

 

At nearly two metres wide, this should be a stressful car to thread along narrow, leaf-litter-strewn roads but decent visibility and well-matched control weights made it easy to place and contributed to a sense of shrinking around the driver.

 

The ceramic front brakes and steel rear rotors seemed to deliver a pretty good compromise compared to the wooden but grabby experience carbon-ceramics can deliver when not warmed up by spirited driving.

 

Probably an unnecessary expense come maintenance time for most owners, these stoppers will serve track-goers well and were likely a large part of the reason this car holds the SUV bragging rights at the ’Ring.

 

Inside, the RS Q8 Performance successfully balances visible performance intent with a luxurious finish.

 

The seats are supremely comfortable, providing plenty of lateral support without feeling restrictive, although we could take-or-leave the unconvincing optional carbon inlays fitted to the example we drove.

 

Audi's MMI system remains among the best in the business, with logical menu structures and responsive touchscreens. The addition of haptic feedback helps reduce the need to look away from the road, while the head-up display keeps critical information in your line of sight.

 

Rear seat accommodation is generous as befitting a vehicle this size and the subtly tapering roof line affects space above the parcel shelf more than headroom.

 

The rear bench is designed to provide a pair of sculpted seats beside a flatter central position, giving the look of a four-person vehicle with the option to carry a fifth.

 

At 605 litres expanding to 1755 litres with the rear seats folded, boot space is adequate but more akin to a capacious medium SUV than the large segment – and footprint – this car occupies.

 

Fuel consumption during our test averaged a slightly shocking 18.8L/100km given the few opportunities for stretching the V8’s legs, though we did see closer to the claimed 12.2L/100km combined figure during steady motorway cruising from Brisbane to Lakeside.

 

And that’s the rub. We’re glad of the opportunity to experience a car like this, although not sure that it needs to exist.

 

Then again, it feels engineered by people who care about driving and has character in spades despite offering a level of performance that is inaccessible on public roads and, for that matter, on the track with a mere mortal at the controls.

 

Crafting a car this big and this fast without the result feeling aloof unless close to the limit is the crowning achievement of the RS Q8 Performance.

 

It can be fun and engaging even without tapping into its full sledgehammer potential, while being comfy and refined as a daily driver.