I encountered an Audi Q8 e-tron finished in Mythos Black Metallic at the Thai Motor Expo 2025, and it felt like spotting a car from a closing chapter. Production ended in February 2025 at Audi’s Belgian plant, so any “new” Q8 e-tron examples sitting unsold globally in late 2025 is part of the last wave of inventory, not a fresh batch rolling off the assembly line.
e-tron to Q8 e-tron
The Audi e-tron, the German automaker’s first pure-electric SUV, was renamed to ‘Audi Q8 e-tron’ following its late 2022 facelift. The electric midsize SUV was available at U.S. dealers beginning in 2023.
Looks current
I think the 2024 Audi Q8 e-tron looks like a proper German luxury SUV, with its robust crossover-type shape, a prominent Singleframe grille, and high-tech lighting. It may look conventional overall, but in my opinion, that’s the aspect that stands out about its exterior.
However, it was the Q8 e-tron Sportback that really made an impression on me when I got to spend time with it early last year. The shape maintains an SUV profile until the B-pillar, and the roof taper looks clean instead of forced.
When I first spent time with a Daytona Gray Pearl example, I felt that the build quality backed up the visual appeal. Panel gaps looked consistent, and the paint finish had the depth you expect at this price point.
Well-made interior
The Audi Q8 e-tron features a sumptuous interior with a sleek dashboard, a driver-focused cockpit, four-zone climate control, and premium materials like open-pore wood.
While most vehicles have two screens in the cockpit area, the Q8 e-tron has three: a 12.3-inch full HD display that serves a virtual instrument cluster, a 10.1-inch touch display for infotainment and vehicle settings, and an 8.6-inch touch display for text input, comfort functions, and the HVAC.
I liked the customizable layouts of the instrument cluster, especially the infotainment mode, which provides a detailed view of the navigation map. I smoothly surfed through its menus and made the desired selections using the physical buttons and scrollers on the steering wheel.
Comfy seating
From a comfort standpoint, the Q8 e-tron surprised me. As a six-foot-tall driver, I found front ingress and egress easy, and I had no headroom issues. The sloping roofline in the Sportback also did not create problems for me in the second row, which is not always true in SUV coupes.
The rear seat backrest does not recline, but the default angle felt comfortable. Legroom and knee room were fine. Under-thigh support could have been better, and three adults would be tight because of the rear console area and a small floor hump.
Usable performance
This final-spec Q8 e-tron is also a decent product mechanically, as it was updated just back in late 2022. The 402 hp dual-motor layout brings all-wheel drive, with a temporary boost function available for quick bursts, supported by the adaptive air suspension.
Fast charging peaks at 170 kW, and the 10-80 percent window is listed at about half an hour under ideal conditions. The 114 kWh battery sits in the sweet spot for a large luxury SUV, but the 272-mile range remains more “good enough” than class-leading in 2025 terms.
The car’s packaging had noteworthy features. The Sportback’s cargo floor sits high, which you notice when loading items, but usable volume is still good, and the space expands well with the rear seat folded. I also liked that it includes a spare tire, which is not a given anymore in this segment.
So long!
That is the Q8 e-tron story in late 2025. It still feels like a polished, luxury-focused EV with a commanding road presence and a cabin that feels built for long-term ownership, and now from an era that is closing.
An automobile engineer by training, I’ve analyzed the global car market since 2005, with a keen focus on EVs since 2008. My journey in online automotive publishing spans 17 years, during which I have reviewed cutting-edge automotive technologies and interviewed leading global CEOs and vehicle developers.
