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For ultimate EV performance, it's no longer sufficient for a brand to merely give its electric vehicle a drive motor on the front axle to add to the one at the back. As Audi's two SQ8 e-tron models showed between 2023 and 2025, ideally you'd want three motors. The result is more power, more grip and better handling: it's all good. But does it create a good used buy if you're seeking a high -performance large electric SUV?
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History
You probably won't have heard of Audi's e-tron S, a large luxury high performance version of the brand's e-tron electric model. The S version arrived in 2020 with a bit of tech the EV sector hadn't previously seen. Offered in SUV and sleeker Sportback firms, the e-tron S was the market's first EVs to use three electric drive motors, one on the front axle and two at the rear. The result, predictably, was explosive performance.
Even more significantly, having two motors on the rear axle allowed Audi to further reinvent the EV version of its quattro four wheel drive system, drive at speed able to switch not only from front to rear but between each of the back wheels. So grip and traction were never in doubt. Audi reckoned this system set a fresh standard for the way a big EV could handle and they weren't wrong. But customer take-up was slow. So in 2023 the Ingolstadt brand revitalised this model and gave it a new name, the SQ8 e-tron. It was a worthy effort to try and save this design but ultimately, it didn't pay off and production ended in 2024 and the car was not replaced.
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What you get
Two SQ8 e-tron body styles were offered, the Sportback or the standard SUV. You might not think the styling changes made here over this model's e-tron S predecessor to be that dramatic but they were enough to usefully benefit the aerodynamics, which with the SUV body style were improved from 0.28 to 0.26Cd. That had less to do with the cosmetic updates and more to do with added under-body spoilers, mounted under the MLB Evo platform to direct air away from the wheels.
The smarter grille (which was illuminated on the top 'Vorsprung' version) also has electronically-controlled cooling ducts and is set within a reprofiled S-specific bumper. The LED headlamps feature intelligent Matrix functions (an orientation light for country roads and a lane light complete with a direction indicator). And feature Audi's clever 'Digital Light' system on the top 'Vorsprung'-spec variant. In profile, the SUV version has a boxier silhouette; unlike the Sportback variant, it also comes with roof rails. The tail lamps were revised over the old e-tron S, above another restyled S-specific bumper.
Inside up-front, if you happen to have tried the old e-tron SUV, it seems much the same though Audi insisted at this SQ8's launch that it was different though, primarily in its eco-friendliness. Carpets (like the sound deadening material) are made from recycled fibres, the seatbelt buckles are moulded from reused automotive plastic waste and where microfibre upholstery features, it's sourced from recycled plastic bottles. All of it supporting Audi's claim at the time that this was a completely carbon neutral vehicle. Otherwise, it's as you were with the old e-tron S: this SQ8 e-tron model is set apart by Valcona leather-rimmed Super sport seats with diamond stitching and SQ8 embossing.
The cabin probably won't feel as futuristic as in a rival top BMW iX or Mercedes EQE SUV from this period - or even Audi's own RS e-tron GT quattro; but then it wouldn't do because all those cars are clean-sheet designs based on bespoke EV platforms. This one is rather less EV-unique underneath, so perhaps it's not surprising that, at first glance, it feels just like any other large Audi to sit in up-front; mainly because of the familiar three-screen format, with upper and lower ones on the centre stack, respectively 10.1 and 8.6-inches in size; and Audi's usual 12.3-inch 'Virtual Cockpit' display facing you through the restyled three-spoke steering wheel. This SQ8 variant gets an extra, more focused 'e-tron Sport' layout to add to the two usual layout options - 'Classic' and 'Sport'.
In the rear seat with the SUV body shape, entry's a little easier than with the Sportback version. And once inside, the SUV model gives you 14mm more headroom - which will help six-footers considerably. Out back with the SUV body style, the powered tailgate rises to reveal a decently-sized 660-litre boot - that's 45-litres bigger than the alternative Sportback body shape. There's also a useful under-floor storage area. Bright silver tie-down floor points and an impractically-covered silver boot sill also feature. Fold down the rear bench (which folds conveniently in a 40:20:40-split) and 1,637-litres of capacity is freed up. That's 70-litres more than with the SQ8 Sportback e-tron body shape. That's not quite all because as with all Q8 e-trons, you get an extra little carriage compartment at the front where the engine would normally be, though it's mostly taken up by the charging leads. You could put a laptop or a small bag there though.
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What to look for
We've not come across any issues with the tri-motor system, but you're going to need to be aware of a number of issues if you commit to an Audi SQ8 e-tron, these mainly centring around charging, software, suspension, braking and efficiency. Let's start with the battery stuff. Some owners have reported issues with the charging system stopping the car from charging correctly. We also heard of over-heating charging cables - and there was a recall from Audi related to the 220V/240V compact charging cable potentially over-heating when used in concert with an incorrectly sized or overloaded plug outlet. They have also been reports of water entering the high voltage battery in a few cases.
On to infotainment. Some buyers have experienced problems with the infotainment system freezing or becoming unresponsive and there have also been connectivity glitches and software update errors. As for driving stuff, well we've heard of suspension creaking caused by worn bushings or dry joints. And a few owners have experienced brake regeneration lag, affecting driving smoothness and running cost efficiency. Some owners have complained that this car's real-world driving range is significantly lower than the official figures, particularly on motorways and in colder weather.
We've heard of issues with the electrical warning lights, problems with the 12V battery, issues with the steering rack and shaft connection and, in a few cases, there have been leaks from the sunroof. You might want to steer clear of models fitted with the virtual side mirrors, but if you're tempted, try before you buy.
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Replacement parts
(approx based on an SQ8 e-tron 50 quattro 2023) - Ex Vat - autopartspro.co.uk) A pollen filter costs in the £19-£42 bracket. Front brake pads sit in the £30-£98 bracket for a set; for a rear set, it's around £28-£81. Front brake discs sit in the £50-£151 bracket. Rear brake discs sit in the £60-£145 bracket. A wiper blade is in the £7-£13 bracket. A set of shock absorbers can sit in the £98-£290 bracket depending on the brand you choose.
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On the road
Back in 2023 when this car was launched, it had been over forty years since Audi had redefined performance driving with its quattro all wheel drive system. With this SQ8 e-tron model, you could argue that the brand redefined it once again - for a very different era. In most of its production period after all, this was the EV market's only electric vehicle to use three drive motors. The larger electric motor that on a conventional Q8 e-tron sits at the rear was here moved to the front, freeing up space for twin smaller motors to sit on the back axle, allowing torque vectoring and fully variable torque distribution between the rear wheels for considerably enhanced cornering agility.
Compared to an ordinary Q8 e-tron, the difference here is that you get real confidence through tighter, twistier turns, thanks to the electronic torque vectoring system's ability to individually control the amount of drive fed to each individual rear wheel with pinpoint accuracy, based on the grip and load active on either side of the car as you drive through each corner.
It's sort of like a mechanical limited slip differential, except that here, there's nothing but software linking the two rear motors - and they respond up to 25% quicker. While all this is going on, wheel selective torque control on the front axle uses the discs and pads to gently brake the inside front wheel as you turn, further helping to rotate the car into the turn as the rear tyres edge towards their limit. The only disappointment, as with the more ordinary Q8 e-tron models, lies with the relative lack of steering feel, a familiar Audi issue, though the variable-ratio 'Progressive' rack is certainly accurate. If only though, it gave you the same confidence as the drive system, what a car this would be.
Extra motive power in this SQ8 e-tron model means a higher output of course - up to 435PS with 808Nm of torque; or, with the 'S' mode engaged for overtaking, 503PS, with a thumping 973Nm of torque. Enough to simply hurl this Audi at the horizon; 62mph from rest is recorded at 4.5s, but it feels quicker than that because the pulling power is so instant, tailing off only as you edge close to the 130mph maximum. Drive more sensibly and a claimed range of up to 276 miles is supposed to be possible.
You'll want to know about this model's charging system. With that 114kWh battery (106kWh of which is usable), charging performance is rated at 170kW. At a public fast charger powering at up to 170kW DC, your SQ8 e-ton should charge from 10-80% in around half an hour. For a home wallbox or a public AC charger, the SQ8 e-tron charges with 11 kW AC from empty to 100% in 11 hours, 30 minutes. If that's not enough, Audi offers an optional AC charging upgrade of up to 22kW, which reduces that time to six hours.
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Overall
So what's the bottom line here? Well having a twin motor system on the rear axle and a single motor up-front doesn't just deliver huge performance and impressive traction. It also significantly enhances the fine level of control that can be used to thread this SQ8 e-tron model through a series of corners at speed. Delivering a level of agility you simply wouldn't expect from anything this big and heavy.
It's difficult to think of another large EV model line from this period that was more in need of this kind of dynamic enhancement than the standard Audi Q8 e-tron and Q8 e-tron Sportback range, which in their more straightforward forms can feel a little flat-footed compared to rivals. The SQ8 e-tron models though, are very different. Don't choose the ordinary version without trying this one. It's as simple as that.
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