2021 Audi RS Q8
The 2021 Audi RS Q8 holds the Nürburgring lap record for an SUV. It’s even quicker than the Lamborghini Urus around the Green Hell, which is shocking when you realize the two share a common platform. The even bigger surprise comes when you drive the RS Q8 on the street and realize it’s just as livable and comfortable as a regular Q8 doing day-to-day tasks. That’s not the case with many other high-performance, “track-capable” SUVs, yet somehow, Audi is still running rings around them on the ‘ring. This makes the RS Q8 the smartest high-performance, coupe-ified crossover to get because it's still actually good at doing crossover things. Instead of compromising in areas like ride comfort, transmission smoothness or off-road capability in favor of the singular pursuit of sportiness, the Audi embraces its roots. And remember, it still manages to set fast lap times! While 0-60 mph times and lateral grip make for some good fun, being able to sop up frost heaves and ensuring a jerky shift doesn’t spill your chai latte are also important attributes. After all, what good is your carbon fiber trim and red stitched leather if it’s covered in coffee stains? People drive these cars to work, the grocery store and to drop their kids off at private school (one can only assume). Being a joy to drive in those dull situations and on your favorite backroads doesn’t feel like too much to expect from a car approaching $140,000. And boy is it a riot on a good road. The RS Q8 behaves more like a bully and bruiser than a precision instrument. Its 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 makes 591 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque, which is good for a 3.7-second 0-60 mph sprint. Launch control is a theatrical experience. Release the brake, and the front rises up as though you just went from zero to full throttle on a boat. It rises enough to raise concerned thoughts like, hmm, I really can’t see much of the road in front of me at all, each time you launch. It then catapults and blitzes down the road, feeling like a boisterous handful the whole time. Those big 295-section-width tires find the odd imperfection on the worst undulating roads when you start pushing. It doesn’t tramline like a Shelby GT350 or other big-tire sports car, but a small correction here and there is necessary when you mat it on a road especially full of dips and rises. You won’t notice any such disturbances if the roads you’re on are surfaced/leveled properly, but that isn’t always the case when you head out to less traveled areas. In the vast majority of circumstances, you’ll lay the hammer down, Quattro all-wheel-drive will skillfully sort out torque, and you’ll effortlessly by whisked away without any extra tugs on the wheel. That initial heave upwards to the sky is out of character for how the RS Q8 comports itself in corners. Audi uses its trick active roll stabilization system (also found in …
Full Review
The 2021 Audi RS Q8 holds the Nürburgring lap record for an SUV. It’s even quicker than the Lamborghini Urus around the Green Hell, which is shocking when you realize the two share a common platform. The even bigger surprise comes when you drive the RS Q8 on the street and realize it’s just as livable and comfortable as a regular Q8 doing day-to-day tasks. That’s not the case with many other high-performance, “track-capable” SUVs, yet somehow, Audi is still running rings around them on the ‘ring. This makes the RS Q8 the smartest high-performance, coupe-ified crossover to get because it's still actually good at doing crossover things. Instead of compromising in areas like ride comfort, transmission smoothness or off-road capability in favor of the singular pursuit of sportiness, the Audi embraces its roots. And remember, it still manages to set fast lap times! While 0-60 mph times and lateral grip make for some good fun, being able to sop up frost heaves and ensuring a jerky shift doesn’t spill your chai latte are also important attributes. After all, what good is your carbon fiber trim and red stitched leather if it’s covered in coffee stains? People drive these cars to work, the grocery store and to drop their kids off at private school (one can only assume). Being a joy to drive in those dull situations and on your favorite backroads doesn’t feel like too much to expect from a car approaching $140,000. And boy is it a riot on a good road. The RS Q8 behaves more like a bully and bruiser than a precision instrument. Its 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 makes 591 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque, which is good for a 3.7-second 0-60 mph sprint. Launch control is a theatrical experience. Release the brake, and the front rises up as though you just went from zero to full throttle on a boat. It rises enough to raise concerned thoughts like, hmm, I really can’t see much of the road in front of me at all, each time you launch. It then catapults and blitzes down the road, feeling like a boisterous handful the whole time. Those big 295-section-width tires find the odd imperfection on the worst undulating roads when you start pushing. It doesn’t tramline like a Shelby GT350 or other big-tire sports car, but a small correction here and there is necessary when you mat it on a road especially full of dips and rises. You won’t notice any such disturbances if the roads you’re on are surfaced/leveled properly, but that isn’t always the case when you head out to less traveled areas. In the vast majority of circumstances, you’ll lay the hammer down, Quattro all-wheel-drive will skillfully sort out torque, and you’ll effortlessly by whisked away without any extra tugs on the wheel. That initial heave upwards to the sky is out of character for how the RS Q8 comports itself in corners. Audi uses its trick active roll stabilization system (also found in …
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Retail Price
$114,500 - $114,500
MSRP / Window Sticker Price
| Engine | V-8 |
| MPG | Up to 13 city / 19 highway |
| Seating | 5 Passengers |
| Transmission | 8-spd w/OD |
| Power | 591 @ rpm |
| Drivetrain | quattro all wheel |
| Curb Weight | 5,490 lbs |
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