Jill Keene takes full advantage of a weekend’s test drive in an Audi Q8.
Being used to driving a two-seater sports car, the overall dimensions of the Q8 50 TDI Quattro Vorsprung Tiptronic were quite a surprise when first stepping up into the cockpit. However, given the car’s excellent visibility, all-round parking assistance features and superb handling, I soon felt totally at ease. The Q8 has ample space for five passengers, so having loaded the SUV to its full capacity with friends, we headed for Suffolk’s winding country lanes to try out its performance.
The 3.0 litre V6 diesel engine offers plenty of power at a touch when needed, achieving 0-62mph in 6.3 seconds with a top speed of 152mph. A silky-smooth eight-speed automatic gearbox, adaptive air sport suspension and super sport seats all combine to give a supremely comfortable, quiet ride. The car also features a veritable treasure trove of technologies including dual-touchscreen controls, MMI navigation plus, voice control and a Bang & Olufsen premium sound system.
£84,690 OTR for this model
www.audi.com
