Audi Q8 - ahead. But is he correct?

Coupe-style SUVs are a fad? The most recent of these is the Audi Q8. Will the history of ridiculed inventions, without which we cannot imagine our lives, repeat itself?

When bicycles began to look more and more like what we know today around 1890, they were considered… fashion. More than a decade later, headlines in newspapers such as the Washington Post heralded the impending end of this "trend." Bicycles were out of favor because they were "impractical, dangerous, and impossible to improve or develop." Has this "fashion" gone? Just look around.

Cars were being criticized around the same time. Critics told them they would end soon, believing that they would never cost as much as the average blacksmith could afford. And then Henry Ford came and showed where the opinion of his critics...

There are also inventions that were originally considered stupid fashion. These are movies with sound, laptops, answering machines or even nail polish.

History supposedly teaches. However, the German philosopher Georg Hegel had a different opinion, saying: "History teaches that humanity has learned nothing from it."

So what is now considered fashion? SUVs, especially in coupe style. The newest Audi Q8. Will the history of inventions that were first ridiculed repeat itself again?

Audi Q8 - looks like a boar!

Listen Q8 based on the MLB Evo platform. It shares this technical solution with the Q7, as well as the Porsche Cayenne, Volkswagen Touareg or even the Bentley Bentayga and Lamborghini Urus. However, upon discovering that Listen Q8 such a sporty Q7 would be an abuse.

Listen Q8 it is unlike any other SUV. This is the flagship model. It was he who set a new stylistic direction in the brand and should stand out the most.

Until it hit the market Q8, all Audis had a single-frame grille with horizontal ribs, possibly in the form of a honeycomb. Q8 at the moment it has a grille, which already appears on new SUVs from Ingolstadt.

The greatest emotions cause the shape of the rear. As befits an off-road coupe, it looks very muscular. Unlike the BMW X6 or Mercedes GLE Coupe, the rear window is slightly more angled, but looks better in my opinion.

Listen Q8 It is 66mm shorter, 27mm wider and 38mm lower than the Q7. This is a huge car almost 5 meters in size.

There is only one problem. At the beginning we have to pay an additional 3 PLN. PLN, because otherwise we will get a version with sills, wheel arches and black plastic bumpers. Apparently the scale of the car is not very good, but does anyone buy such a version? I doubt - rather someone will be upset when he picks up his Q8 and it turns out that he forgot to select this option.

The Audi Q8 is not the same as the Q7.

The previous flagship of the brand - Q7 - has aged a little over 3 years, especially if you look at new Q8. Absolute minimalism reigns here. The number of buttons has been reduced to a minimum and everything is now centered around three screens - a virtual cockpit instead of a clock (already standard), a screen in the middle where we can find the main functions and multimedia; and a screen at the bottom that controls the air conditioning and vehicle functions.

These screens are even pleasant to use, because thanks to the so-called haptics, they react to touch with an impression similar to pressing a physical button. You probably know this from new phones.

It's just… I like the interior of the Q7 better. It was beautifully made from very good materials. There was no question of something crackling, but there was no question of scratching the piano black either.

Screens Listen Q8 however, it is plastic and the interior seems cheaper than the Q7. More modern, stuffed with electronics, so the price may be similar, but in the classic sense it looks less exclusive. Who likes what.

Of course, no one can complain about the amount of space in front or rear. The roof looks like a coupe, but doesn't take up headroom in the rear. I think this is the result of watching the competition - Audi could watch the market longer and check what buyers think about competitors' cars. In this car, such a problem does not arise - all passengers will be comfortable driving.

The trunk of the Q7 holds 890 liters. Listen Q8 At the same time, it is a little pale - it holds "only" 605 liters. As a consolation, after folding the sofa, we will have 1755 liters at our disposal. As standard, this is an electrically lifted sash, and as an option, we can order opening by moving the leg under the bumper, or ... electrically moving roller shutters.

Audi Q8 - prestige and economy?

We have tested Audi Q8 50 TDI version, i.e. with a 3-liter V6 diesel engine with a capacity of 286 hp. In addition to this version, 45 TDI with 231 hp, 55 TFSI with 340 hp will also appear in showrooms, as well as the SQ8 with a V8 diesel developing 435 hp.

Listen Q8 So up to 7 km / h it does not accelerate in less than 100 seconds. The tested diesel engine does this even in 6,3 seconds and accelerates to 245 km / h. Poor for almost 300 km? Yes, but that's because Q8 weighs up to 2145 kg.

But the dynamics are very good. Listen Q8 always willingly accelerates, keeping deceleration to a minimum, but this is also thanks to the 8-speed tiptronic. Permanent all-wheel drive creates a sporty feel by distributing 60% of the torque to the rear axle. In the event of an axle slip, the drive is capable of transmitting up to 70% of the torque to the front axle and up to 80% to the rear axle.

Listen Q8 it is also called "Mild Hybrid" i.e. equipped with a 48-volt electrical system. This is done to reduce fuel consumption primarily due to more efficient operation of the start-stop system. Does it limit? Audi reports fuel consumption in the city at 7 l/100 km, and on the highway it should be at least 6,4 l/100 km. I traveled mainly around the city and, to be honest, more often met values ​​​​in the region of 10 l / 100 km. You can drive more economically, but… I guess that's why you buy a powerful engine with 600 Nm of torque to enjoy its performance.

But as the idea of ​​an SUV implies, it is also being bought to fit our sports and other activities. I don't even talk about skiing because Listen Q8 with a load capacity of 745 kg and the ability to tow a trailer weighing up to 2800 kg, we can easily pull a boat, a small yacht or a large caravan.

We won't go crazy with a trailer, though, and the coupe-style bodywork suggests a slightly sportier driving style. With the diesel running in a tighter rev range, you won't feel the emotion that comes with spinning the engine up to high revs, but the acceleration is really strong. While we drive dynamic Listen Q8 he behaves quite sportily. It doesn’t roll in corners, the steering is direct, by the way, progressive, and the air suspension in Sport mode noticeably changes performance. Only really aggressive driving exposes the limitations of a large SUV - due to the large weight, the car will not brake in place, and it will take some time to change direction.

Only such Listen Q8 We buy for the exterior and interior, and no one expects it to take an uncompromising approach to that sporty side. I can say blindly that even the SQ8 will not be like that. Therefore, this colossus is best suited for a lively, but smooth and comfortable ride. Here pneumatics work and even isolate us from bumps in the road.

Must be expensive

Listen Q8 main costs 349 thousand rubles. zloty. In the beginning we add these painted bumpers for PLN 3 and we can already enjoy driving a car that will look at least half a million anyway.

Either way, we'll be approaching that half million at a relatively fast pace because some things are worth paying extra for. These are, for example, HD LED Matrix headlights for PLN 8860 45. The S-line package costs more than 21 zlotys, and for this price we get -inch wheels, air suspension, Alcantara upholstery and sports bumpers.

If we drive around the city more often, and this certainly will be, then it is also worth spending PLN 6 on a four-wheel steering system. This effectively improves the maneuverability of this colossus and makes driving in the city much less tiring.

The 50 TDI version costs at least PLN 374. 600 TFSI another PLN 55.

Audi Q8 - the least "coupe"

On the BMW X6 and Mercedes GLE Coupe — Listen Q8 It is distinguished by the fact that it is the least "coupe". It is the largest of the three, has the most interior space, and is closest in appearance to typical SUVs.

Q8 it's a way to stand out and also have a little car. It is practical, comfortable and a bit sporty. Of course, it also looks expensive, so we know what we are paying for.

And it makes us think that maybe coupe-style SUVs make more sense than you might think. They have exactly what you would expect from a car. And it even sounds logical - you just need to spend a certain amount of money on it.