2024 Audi SQ8 e-tron Review Roundup: The EV That Makes Us Forget About ICE?
The new 2024 Audi SQ8 e-tron has plenty of performance on tap in a straight line and corners, but all of that does come at a price.
With Audi – like many automotive brands – fixated on transitioning away from internal combustion engines and toward an all-electric future, there have been many questions, doubts, and concerns raised about such a risky and controversial move. On the performance side of the equation, we enthusiasts are obviously concerned as to whether or not an EV can truly give us the same feeling that an ICE model does, with those visceral engine sounds, vibrations, and, well, just pure joy. There’s no question that EVs can be incredibly quick, but it’s pretty much everything else that can be a bit lacking. However, according to early reviews for the new 2024 Audi SQ8 e-tron, we may be at least getting a little closer to making an all-electric vehicle that’s as thrilling to drive as its traditional ICE counterparts.
First up, we have Caleb Miller of Car and Driver, who calls the 2024 Audi SQ8 e-tron “unexpectedly playful,” in spite of its large size and hefty curb weight. On curvy roads, the crossover “displayed some mass-defying athleticism,” he notes, which is obviously aided by its three electric motors churning out 496 horsepower and 718 pound-feet of torque. However, while the new SQ8 e-tron’s 4.2-second 0-60 time isn’t anything shocking in today’s world, it’s’ the car’s handling prowess that shines. “The surprising sprightliness and dynamic connection afforded by its tri-motor setup leaves us excited for the future of electric performance cars,” Miller says.
Next up, we have Christian Seabaugh of MotorTrend, who agrees with Miller’s assessment, noting that the revised model’s “torque-vectoring setup pays dividends when enjoying the SQ8 e-tron on our favorite back roads,” as its “quickened steering combines with the stiffened suspension and torque-vectoring system to make the Audi feel far smaller than it is.” On top of that, the SQ8 e-tron provides a nicer cabin to ride around in than some of its rivals, too. “Draped in leather and carbon fiber, the Audi is a lovely place to spend some time,” Seabaugh notes.
As for Reese Counts at Edmunds, he agrees with most of these sentiments. “This is still a big, heavy SUV, but the third motor makes it feel smaller and more nimble than you might expect, and it’s a genuine improvement over the somewhat milquetoast driving dynamics in the standard Q8 e-tron,” though he also adds that “the brakes felt stiff and wooden in both routine and spirited driving. The pedal doesn’t bite well and feels uneven.” He does enjoy the crossover’s quiet, comfortable cabin, however, ultimately calling it “a reasonably well-rounded all-electric SUV.”
For a more EV-focused assessment, we can turn to Scooter Doll at Electrek, a site that focuses specifically on all-electric models. He too praises the SQ8 e-tron’s performance, as well as its incredibly quiet cabin. However, things like performance in EVs often come at the expensive of range, which is one of his few quibbles, as the 2024 Audi SQ8 e-tron gets just 218 miles of range with the 22-inch wheels or 253 miles with the 20-inchers. “Performance-wise, it’s more than adequate, but the sacrifice to range you have to make for the powertrain performance doesn’t seem worth it to me. I’d rather take the 300 miles on the Q8 e-tron personally. That said, it’s still an Audi through and through.”
Regardless, it’s pretty clear that the 2024 Audi SQ8 e-tron is a bit of a breakthrough in terms of handling prowess for an EV of any kind. Generally, the hefty weight of the battery packs present in these cars often relegates them to one-truck pony status, but in this case, the SQ8 e-tron is equally fun in the twisties – just like a traditional ICE performance model – and that’s something worth celebrating.
Photos: Audi
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