Don’t Look Now, but the Mid-Size Audi RS Q8 SUV Is Actually a Lamborghini in Disguise

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front three quarter view, gray suv parked on mountain road at dusk with hills.

Audi

MSRP

HIGHS

Awesome motive force, impressive ride-handling balance, Urus-rivaling performance at a nearly $100,000 discount.

LOWS

Hushed exhaust note falls flat, the less-powerful Audi SQ8 offers a better performance-to-price ratio.

VERDICT

With 631 horsepower and sedate looks, low-key speed is the Audi RS Q8's compelling modus operandi.

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EPA MPG

16 Combined

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Seating

5 Seats

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Powertrain

Gas

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Drivetrain

All-Wheel Drive

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Limited Warranty

4 Years/50,000 Miles

By Austin Parsons

Overview

With its origami-folded sheet metal and booming exhaust, the Lamborghini Urus SUV is probably a little too brash to chauffeur clients to a business lunch. Not so, the Audi RS Q8. Under its hood lies the same twin-turbo V-8 as in its rampaging Italian relative, but its demure sheetmetal allows it to blend in with regular traffic. Talk about a sleeper.

The RS Q8's 3.1-second 60 mph sprint time and 190 mph claimed top speed put it in a league with the performance-SUV elite, but the RS Q8's real skill is adaptability. With precise steering and an adaptive air suspension that effectively balances cornering capabilities with on-road comfort, the RS Q8 can switch from docile to demented on a dime. Inside, you'll find a tech-luxe interior that merges high-quality materials with advanced tech, including a dual touchscreen infotainment setup, an all-digital gauge cluster, and plenty of other gadgets. And all of this comes in at a price that undercuts the Urus by over $100,000. Talk about a value.

Expert Tip: It’s hard to admit, but most people probably don’t need a 631-hp super SUV. If you can settle for "just" 500 ponies and want to save around $40,000, take a look at the RS Q8's slightly less spicy brother, the Audi SQ8.

What's New for 2027?

Changes are minimal for the 2027 model year. A new RS Design Plus package is now available, which adds blue interior stitching and matching brake calipers. All RS Q8s also now come with standard dual-pane acoustic glass on the side windows for better sound insulation.

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Engine, Transmission, and Performance

Engine: 631-hp twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Drivetrain: all-wheel drive

The RS Q8 Performance's twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 produces 631 horsepower compared with the SQ8’s 500 horses. The powertrain pulls like a freight train, but we wish it had a brutish exhaust tone to match. The RS Q8’s engine pairs with Quattro all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission, and there's also a 48-volt hybrid system working behind the scenes to improve fuel efficiency. The Performance also comes standard with a mechanical center differential and an electromechanical active roll stabilization system that uses electric motors to add more roll stiffness into the suspension system as needed in hard cornering.

When we drove the RS Q8 Performance on both the road and the racetrack, we found it to deliver impressively balanced handling, ludicrously quick acceleration, and lots of grip. It can also settle down when you want to cruise, as it delivers a pleasant ride when you put the suspension in its softer settings.

0–60-MPH Times

C/D 60-mph Test: 3.1 seconds

In Comparison: The RS Q8's 3.1-second 60 mph dash just about matches that of the hundred-grand-more-expensive Lamborghini Urus that we tested previously, which hit 60 in 3.0 seconds.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

C/D 75-mph Highway Fuel-Economy Test: 22 mpg
EPA City Rating: 14 mpg
EPA Highway Rating: 20 mpg

EPA fuel-economy estimates for the RS Q8 are a dismal 14 mpg city, 20 mpg highway, and 16 mpg combined. That's the price you pay for the RS Q8's epic performance. The RS Q8 did overachieve in our real-world 75-mph highway fuel economy test, though, with a 22-mpg result. For more information about the RS Q8's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

First Row: The RS Q8's five-seat cabin is mostly the same as the Q8's, although it has some special trim pieces and sportier, more aggressively bolstered front seats to hold you in place while cornering. There are also RS logos sprinkled throughout.

Second Row: Passenger and cargo space carry over unchanged from the regular Q8 model, which means plenty of legroom and headroom for adults in the second row.

Cargo Capacity: In our testing, the Q8 held eight carry-on suitcases behind its rear seat and 23 in total with the rear seat folded. With identical dimensions to that model, the RS Q8 should be able to store an equal number of carry-ons.

Infotainment and Connectivity

Infotainment: 10.1-inch touchscreen
Connectivity: Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Audio System: 17-speaker Bang & Olufsen Premium Sound System w/3D Sound

The Audi Virtual Cockpit digital gauge cluster and dual-touchscreen MMI interface have certain RS-specific displays that can show information such as torque and power output, lap times, and g-forces. Other than that, the RS Q8 offers the same technology offered in the Q8, including standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, navigation, and SiriusXM satellite radio.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

Audi offers several driver-assistance systems on the RS Q8 as standard, including adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist.

Standard Safety Features: automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control

For information about the RS Q8's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites.

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Audi offers an average standard warranty when compared with other premium brands.

Limited Warranty: four years or 50,000 miles
Powertrain Warranty: four years or 50,000 miles
Complimentary Maintenance: three years or 30,000 miles

C/D Test Results and Specs

Each year, we put hundreds of vehicles through our rigorous instrumented testing regimen. If the data in the chart below is for a different model year, that's because this vehicle hasn't changed since we last tested it, and the test results remain accurate.

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Specifications

Specifications

2025 Audi RS Q8 Performance
Vehicle Type: front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door wagon

PRICE
Base/As Tested: $137,495/$155,440

ENGINE

twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 32-valve V-8, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection
Displacement: 244 in3, 3996 cm3
Power: 631 hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque: 627 lb-ft @ 2300 rpm

TRANSMISSION
8-speed automatic

CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: control arms/multilink
Brakes, F/R: 17.3-in vented, cross-drilled, carbon-ceramic disc/14.6-in vented, cross-drilled, carbon-ceramic disc
Tires: Pirelli P Zero PZ4
295/35ZR-23 (108Y) Extra Load A0

DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 117.9 in
Length: 197.7 in
Width: 79.0 in
Height: 67.5 in
Passenger Volume, F/R: 53/52 ft3
Cargo Volume, Behind F/R: 60/33 ft3
Curb Weight: 5394 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 3.1 sec
100 mph: 7.9 sec
1/4-Mile: 11.5 sec @ 119 mph
130 mph: 14.0 sec
150 mph: 20.5 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 4.2 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 2.5 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 3.0 sec
Top Speed (mfr claim): 190 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 142 ft
Braking, 100–0 mph: 283 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.98 g

C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 13 mpg
75-mph Highway Driving: 22 mpg
75-mph Highway Range: 490 mi

EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 16/14/20 mpg

C/D TESTING EXPLAINED

More Features and Specs

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