Audi Q8 e-tron Sportback long term review, 13,800km report

Just as I got my hands on Autocar India’s long-term Audi Q8 Sportback e-tron for a fortnight, our housing society WhatsApp group buzzed with a message of interest: “Tata Power has set up eight EV chargers in our complex.” The inauguration, complete with a puja and the ceremonial breaking of a coconut, concluded with our Q8 e-tron being plugged in for a ‘muhurat’ charge! The setting up of the EV chargers was a big deal, as I learnt. Resistance from the society administration and unclear rules had made it difficult for new EV owners to get a charger installed at their parking lots, forcing many to rely on chargers already installed by the earliest adopters. As for me, the EV charger at the office (very kindly installed by Audi) is my go-to charging solution, but having such points right at my doorstep is a huge, huge plus.

I’m not a typical EV user from the running costs point of view (my daily commute is all of 10km), but I do love electrics for the silence. The Q8 e-tron is exceedingly calming and comes across as particularly quiet, even in the noise-free world of EVs. The peace is so addictive that I often don’t bother with music at all, for no fault of the Bang & Olufsen sound system, mind you. The hush isn’t limited to the powertrain alone but also road, wind and suspension noise. The Q8 e-tron’s suspension gets my vote, too. You hear a distant thud on the worst of Mumbai’s roads, and the damped sensation is of a lot of layers between the surface and you. It rides with a whale-like heft you’d associate with a luxury car, some up-and-down movement notwithstanding.

Silent powertrain and superb noise insulation equal a soothing experience.

With some of Mumbai’s road projects finally opening to the public, I’ve restarted heading out for aimless drives after a good few years. What a joy! And it’s over these runs on the Coastal Road that I’ve really gelled with the Q8 e-tron’s easy-going nature. It’s relaxing to drive despite all the power at your disposal, and I love it for just that.

What needs some chill are the parking and proximity sensors. Because when you inevitably find yourself in bumper-to-bumper traffic, they buzz as if there’s a heat-seeker missile headed for you. I switch the system off more often than I should.

Over-sensitive proximity sensors sound a warning before it’s usually warranted.

What’s also a bit disappointing is the efficiency. I’ve been averaging 3.7km/kWh over my city drives. The huge 114kWh battery still enables a 400km+ real-world range, but the Q8 e-tron is very firmly on the gas guzzler (volt guzzler?) end of the spectrum.

I still have lots of running before my next charge, but I’m happy to know that now it’s just an elevator ride away.