Front view of the Audi Q8 premium SUV/Korea Times Photo: Lee Min-hyun
Lee Min Hyun
The Audi Q8 premium SUV exudes an overwhelming presence at first glance, with its dignified yet refined silhouette hinting at the vehicle’s inherent powerful driving performance.
The Q8 55 TFSI Quattro successfully blends a sporty, luxurious identity with masculinity, and I experienced this first-hand by driving the car for three days in Seoul and nearby cities.
Arguably the most important feature of Audi’s top-of-the-line SUV is its appearance, which combines the distinctive lines of a sporty coupe with masculinity and elegance.
As expected, the luxury SUV delivered strong performance: the vehicle is equipped with a V6 petrol engine and can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.9 seconds.
Side view of the Audi Q8 premium SUV/Korea Times Photo: Lee Min-hyun
Drivers looking for an exciting driving experience and spaciousness will be pleased with this car. Its driving response is quicker and more powerful than any other mainstream car. Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive system also evokes the dynamic emotions drivers feel on the road.
Despite being athletic in nature, the driving experience this car offers can be summed up in two words: soft yet sturdy. Acceleration is smooth, but at a certain speed level, the vehicle feels stable, ensuring a safer drive. The braking system also reacts quickly, and pressing the brake pedal helps to quickly slow down the massive vehicle, which weighs over two tonnes.
Even when driving on the highway at speeds of over 120 kilometers per hour, there was almost no noise outside the car, and the drive from Seoul to Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, which took hours, was comfortable.
Rear view of the Audi Q8 luxury SUV/Korea Times Photo: Lee Min-hyun
The Q8 has an output of 340 horsepower and relatively good fuel economy of 8.2 kilometers per liter.
The back seat was roomier and more comfortable than any other luxury sedan in this price range, and the interior was undeniably spacious, with more than enough room for a family of four to stay comfortable even on long drives.
Audi Q8 SUV interior / Korea Times Photo by Lee Min-hyun
The Q8 55 TFSI quattro model is priced here at 126.8 million won ($95,000), a price that remains competitive as rival SUVs such as the BMW X6 and Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe are priced at a higher price point than the Q8.
The vehicle also comes equipped with cutting-edge features such as adaptive air suspension, which can adjust the vehicle’s ride height by up to 90 millimeters depending on road conditions.
