2025 Audi Q8 and SQ8 is a Passionate Way to Haul the Family

[@robertjohnston9009]

Tom, as always a great video. Two areas of modern cars that I’m sure run into all the time are the different driver assist systems and gear shift setups when one jumps from car to car. My wife has a ‘23 Lexus RX350 and I have a ‘24 Audi A6. How the driver assist systems operate and how to adjust/turn them off/on are very different and even though I’ve driven each car a lot, it still catches me off guard sometimes. With respect to the shift mechanisms, I yearn for the days of PRNDL. One time I took my wife’s RX to the car wash and had a momentary panic when I couldn’t recall how to shift it to “N”. It’s different from my Audi. I guess this is all the price of modernity. Funny, I have none of these problems when I jump into my delightfully analog’73 Alfa Romeo Spider (which I bought new)…

[@X2p5423videolover]

Grear video Tom. As always. It appears the check engine light is on. A introduction to future things to expect 😊 on the first example Q8.

[@HelloHello-fd2pk]

I want to thank you so so so so much for your hard work My Sir

[@sanzalejandroelement]

Not really my kind of car, but seeing it is you the journalist reviewer, hard to let pass, as always great work M. Voelk

[@citibear57]

My first brand-new car (a '75 Chevy Nova coupe) was in a color called Sandstone. 50 years later, here is a luxury Audi SUV in a nearly identical color. Hmm, my Nova was ahead of its time ...and it turned heads. Maybe people were just checking 18 year old me out? Nah! 😂

[@samsharma9207]

Good looking car on the outside and interesting approach to lighting, but wow that interior looks so dated now. And, they continue to have acres of piano black just waiting for micro-scratches.

[@pf6797]

I love piano black. It’s become so cool to hate it; makes me love it more. Stop being so greasy and careless with your fings and things.

[@mdjak3686]

Totally agree.

[@samsharma9207]

@@pf6797 Not about being greasy. The slighted brushing of anything against it causes scratches on it. Cars aren't art to look at. They need to have some durability to their materials.

[@DrivenCarReviews]

High quality PB doesn't scratch like the stuff in lower priced cars FWIW.

[@Kev199117]

I strongly disagree. I drive a 2021 Audi Q7 and I absolutely love its interior. It's very refined and ergonomically pleasing. I think it's going to age very well.

[@ericb9881]

Tom, love your videos, but wanted to challenge one way you framed this car. You argued that if someone wanted something more "practical" that you might want to choose the Q7. Unfortunately, you and so many other auto journalists have fallen into the manufacturer's marketing speak that bigger=practical. But as you note in so many of your EV videos, you should look at their lifestyle and your needs and get what works for you. A bigger car has lots of negative trade offs and for many people won't be the more practical option. The biggest item I've needed to haul home in the past decade or so was a box of flat packed patio furniture, and managed that in a Fiat 500. Admittedly the hatch was bungied down, but otherwise my smaller cars have been more efficient, easier to find parking, easier to navigate narrow streets... you know more practical.

[@DrivenCarReviews]

I'll push back on this. For starters, there's no "manufacturer's marketing speak that bigger=practical". Practicality is in the eye of the buyer and it's different for everyone. In this case, a third row makes the Q7 more practical for many families compared to the Q8. It's why the 7 outsells the 8 two to one. There's no meaningful increase in size between the two, the 7 is 1.5 inches longer while the 8 is 1.5 inches wider. Also, these are hardly the largest vehicles on the road. Great that you can make the 500 work for you. A family with three kids would have issues.

[@tommihelich2613]

Tell you what Tom….the person who comes up with a way to make a car sound like a V-12 with increasing speed, piped through the audio system, will make a fortune. Perhaps “Big Sounds of the Drags” would be a good choice. Especially in the new electric cars.

[@DrivenCarReviews]

Dodge is working on that. Of course it is.

[@Nate-zy5ce]

There are multiple things they could do better to make these more user friendly, like something as small as putting sides on the inside of the glove compartment so you can put more stuff in there and not have it all slide out the sides when you open it, making it more difficult to close too, but all in all they are beautiful vehicles. Being 6' 2 1/2" tall, I just wish the driver had more headroom. Oh, and I wish I could get the fully loaded Prestige of either with thicker rubber, smaller wheels like 21" or even better 20". I might rationalize the 22"rs, maybe, though I will absolutely not get 23"rs.

[@DrivenCarReviews]

At least the glove box is lined. And yeah, the 23s might be a bit much.

[@Nate-zy5ce]

@@DrivenCarReviews Yeh. The main reason I didn't buy a new Q8 or SQ8 in late 2021 or early 2022 was because I would only get the Prestige, fully loaded, and that forced me into the 22"rs. I could have gotten the Q8 with 21"rs if I did not get the blackout and s line packages, but I wanted it all, and that forced me into the 22"rs. Oh well. And now they're pushing 23"rs. That thin amount of rubber might be fine on perfectly maintained roads and highways, but not on the rougher roads and highways here in mountainy ski country, here I want as much rubber as I can get, and 23"rs, even 22"rs, just aren't enough. And forget about dirt roads. These may be sports suv's but they're still supposed to be suv's. Come on Audi, give us the options of whatever wheel and tire size we want. I bet you'd sell a lot more.

[@DrivenCarReviews]

@@Nate-zy5ce FWIW, I paid close attention to the ride quality on the low profile tires and was impressed that sharp bumps were isolated. Our tolerances might be different though. Best of luck finding the ride of your dreams.

[@Nate-zy5ce]

@@DrivenCarReviews That's a good point. I will be sure to do some test driving when the time comes. In general I prefer thicker rubber tires for the reasons stated, but maybe Audi has figured that issue out to some degree. Thanks for the insights and the solid video.

[@HemantNigamm]

How does SQ8 cabin noise compares against Q8 in different driving mode? Assuming both have prestige package.

[@DrivenCarReviews]

Mostly the V8 exhaust note which is deeper and more soulful.

[@CrankyOldNerd]

Huh, I thought the even numbers were going to be the electrics only, kinda confusing with the Q8/SQ8 e-tron as well.

[@YS_35]

Q8 launched with a very laggy gas pedal making the V6 feel sluggish. Did that get fixed?

[@DrivenCarReviews]

I didn't find it laggy at all and I was driving at altitude.

[@HyperionLogic]

Can't get over the generic styling and eye popping price tag. Judging by the falling sales for the Q8 and Audi in general, the market seems to agree.

[@denault3985]

Audi always look good but are they dependable?

[@nintendoatarikiller]

Customizable soccer team background tells you exactly who this car is for. 😂 It's a Chelsea tractor for rich footballers

[@bradleyleswoga7238]

Still waiting for rsq8

[@TinLeadHammer]

Meh. Should have been a $50K wagon, not a $75K crossover. Digital dash, yet the map is on the side screen? Pfft.

[@beri232]

Great looking cars inside and out but I’ll never buy one. I love my $$$ too much and hate to see it vanish after 3 years!

[@neelkrishna]

totally valid but I think these hold value better than you'd expect - cars are only getting worse looking and with smaller engines, people will always want this

[@beri232]

@@neelkrishna I’ve had interest in European brands for ages…. It is PRECISELY the resale and service costs that keeps me away from them. I buy my vehicles and keep them for between 5-8 years before selling them.

[@jackz4149]

@@beri232then you should get a Cayenne S, its reliable and retains its value

[@beri232]

@@jackz4149 I would love a Cayenne or a Macan.

[@mcertem3714]

The best looking car in this video is the 1980's Quattro at 1:33.

[@DrivenCarReviews]

Loved those in the day. The overhang though...