Model research hub
Audi Q8
MotorTrend calls the 2026 Audi Q8 the brand's answer to stylish SUV-coupes like the BMW X6 and Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class Coupe. 6andauto says that while the BMW X6 leans toward sharper athletics and the Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe prioritizes isolated plushness, the Q8 carves out a distinct middle path between them. Kelley Blue Book says the 2026 Q8 comes in 3 trims, from the 55 TFSI Premium at a base MSRP of $76,895 to the 55 TFSI Prestige at $87,495, and that Kelley Blue Book users rate the 2026 Q8's reliability 5 out of 5 stars, far above average for a vehicle of its class.
Positioning against rivals
MotorTrend (opens in a new tab) calls the 2026 Audi Q8 the brand's answer to stylish SUV-coupes like the BMW X6 and Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class Coupe. 6andauto (opens in a new tab) says the BMW X6 leans toward sharper athletics and the Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe prioritizes isolated plushness, while the Q8 carves out a distinct middle path between the two.
Pricing and reliability
Kelley Blue Book (opens in a new tab) says the 2026 Q8 comes in 3 different trims, ranging from the 55 TFSI Premium at a base MSRP of $76,895 to the 55 TFSI Prestige at $87,495, and separately reports (opens in a new tab) that Kelley Blue Book users rate the 2026 Q8's reliability 5 out of 5 stars, far above average for a vehicle of its class.
Engine output
AutoPadre (opens in a new tab) says the Q8 offers a horsepower range from 335 hp in the Premium 55 TFSI quattro with a 3.0-liter engine up to 591 hp in the RS Base 4.0 TFSI quattro with a 4.0-liter engine.
Questions buyers ask
How is the Audi Q8 positioned against the BMW X6 and Mercedes GLE Coupe?
6andauto (opens in a new tab) says the Q8 carves out a middle path between the X6's sharper athletics and the GLE Coupe's isolated plushness.
How is the 2026 Audi Q8 priced?
Kelley Blue Book (opens in a new tab) says from $76,895 for the 55 TFSI Premium to $87,495 for the 55 TFSI Prestige.
Research map
Every major decision path.
The 2027 Audi Q8 is built around 3.0L turbo V6 with 48-volt mild-hybrid assist, rated at 335 horsepower across its full-size luxury SUV body style.
Explore this topic →02Trims and equipmentThe 2027 U.S. lineup has 3 trims.
Explore this topic →03Towing and capabilityThe 2027 Q8 seats 5 and is a Full-size luxury SUV.
Explore this topic →04Safety and ownershipNHTSA recalls, complaints and crash ratings for the 2027 Q8.
Explore this topic →Current model year
2027 Audi Q8
Every Q8 trim shares the same 335-horsepower mild-hybrid turbo V6; the three trims separate by climate control zones, audio and luxury equipment. The S line exterior is now standard for MY2027 (previously an available package).
Read specifications, trims, answers and sourcesModel-year archive
4 indexed Audi Q8 model years.
| Model year | Trims | Open record |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 Audi Q8 | 2027 record → | |
| 2026 Audi Q8 | 2026 record → | |
| 2025 Audi Q8 | 2025 record → | |
| 2020 Audi Q8 | 2020 record → |
Background and safety record
What public sources say about the Audi Q8.
The Audi Q8 is a mid-size luxury crossover SUV made by Audi that was launched in 2018. It is being produced at the Volkswagen Bratislava Plant.
- Awards
- Q8 won Auto Zeitung's Auto Trophy 2020 award under Luxury SUV category.
- Marketing
- As part of the Q8 launch, in May 2018, Audi started a cinematic-styled miniseries that teased the Audi Q8 in five short episodes. The car made its first full appearance in the fifth episode, presented on a special microsite and shown to the public at the Audi China Brand Summit in Shenzhen.
Source: Audi Q8 (Wikipedia); safety and recall figures from NHTSA.
Audi Q8 at a glance
- Production
- June 2018 – present
- Model years
- 2019–present
- Assembly
- Slovakia: Bratislava (Volkswagen Bratislava Plant)
- Class
- Mid-size luxury crossover SUV
- Body style
- 5-door coupe SUV
- Layout
- Front-engine, four-wheel-drive
- Platform
- Volkswagen Group MLB Evo
- Electric motor
- 48-volt system Belt alternator starter (BAS): MHEV, 100 kW Induction motor, AC induction motor: PHEV
- Battery
- 17.3 kWh lithium-ion (PHEV)
- Electric range
- 17 mi (60 TFSI e)
- Transmission
- 8-speed Tiptronic automatic (ZF 8HP)
- Drivetrain
- PHEV (Q8 55/60 TFSIe)
- Wheelbase
- 2995 mm
- Length
- 4986 mm
- Width
- 1995 mm
- Height
- 1705 mm
- Curb weight
- 2145 kg
- Designer
- Sascha Heyde and Maurício Monteiro Dos Santos under Marc Lichte
NHTSA rated the 2025 Audi Q8 overall 5 of 5 stars, front crash 5 of 5 stars, side crash 5 of 5 stars, rollover 4 of 5 stars.
Recent recalls (2 campaigns across the latest model years)
- December 2025, Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019-2026 vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may prevent the rearview camera image from displaying as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply… Consequence: A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- November 2025, Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2025 Audi RS Q8, Audi Q8, Audi Q7, and Audi SQ8 vehicles. The driver and front passenger seat belt buckles may be missing a rivet that secures the buckle to the seat belt… Consequence: A seat belt that is missing a rivet may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Owners filed 3 complaints with NHTSA for the 2025 Audi Q8, most often about engine (1), unknown or other (1), air bags (1).
Year by year
The Audi Q8 across 9 model years.
| Model year | Combined MPG/MPGe | EPA annual fuel cost | EPA records | NHTSA recalls | NHTSA complaints | NHTSA overall rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 Audi Q8 | 19 | $4,200 | 1 | |||
| 2026 Audi Q8 | 19 | $4,100 | 1 | 1 | 5 stars | |
| 2025 Audi Q8 | 19 | $4,100 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 stars |
| 2024 Audi Q8 | 19 | $4,100 | 1 | 3 | 22 | 5 stars |
| 2023 Audi Q8 | 20 | $3,900 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 stars |
| 2022 Audi Q8 | 20 | $3,900 | 1 | 3 | ||
| 2021 Audi Q8 | 20 | $3,900 | 1 | 7 | 30 | 5 stars |
| 2020 Audi Q8 | 18 | $4,300 | 1 | 3 | 27 | 5 stars |
| 2019 Audi Q8 | 19 | $4,100 | 1 | 5 | 108 | 5 stars |
Year-to-year changes
What changed in the Audi Q8, one model year at a time.
| Step | Combined MPG/MPGe, midpoint | Added | No longer listed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 to 2024 | 20.0 to 19.0 | Labels: Q8 quattro | Labels: Q8 |
| 2022 to 2023 | Labels: Q8 | Labels: Q8 quattro | |
| 2021 to 2022 | Labels: Q8 quattro | Labels: Q8 | |
| 2020 to 2021 | 18.0 to 20.0 | ||
| 2019 to 2020 | 19.0 to 18.0 |
Buying used
What the Audi Q8 recalls and complaints are about.
| Model year | Campaigns | Systems recalled | Warnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | back over prevention (sensing system) | None |
| 2025 | 2 | seat belts (front); back over prevention (sensing system) | None |
| 2024 | 3 | air bags (side/window); air bags (sensor); back over prevention (sensing system) | None |
| 2023 | 2 | air bags (side/window); back over prevention (sensing system) | None |
| 2022 | 3 | back over prevention (sensing system); equipment (electrical) | None |
| 2021 | 7 | suspension (rear); seat belts (rear/other); tires; 4 more | None |
| 2020 | 3 | power train (automatic transmission); fuel system, gasoline (delivery); back over prevention (sensing system) | None |
| 2019 | 5 | suspension (front); steering; fuel system, gasoline (delivery); 2 more | None |
| System | Complaints | Share of all complaints | Worst model year |
|---|---|---|---|
| electrical system | 74 | 39% | 2019 (43) |
| engine | 49 | 26% | 2019 (32) |
| power train | 48 | 25% | 2019 (43) |
| unknown or other | 19 | 10% | 2019 (9) |
| steering | 15 | 8% | 2019 (11) |
| fuel/propulsion system | 13 | 7% | 2019 (10) |
Trim by trim
Every 2027 Audi Q8 trim side by side.
| Trim | Drive | Engine | Horsepower | Torque (lb-ft) | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Combined mpg | Base price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 TFSI Premium | AWD | 3.0-liter V6 (MHEV, Turbo) | 335 | 369 | 4,949 | 7,700 | 19 | $78,195 |
| 55 TFSI Premium Plus | AWD | 3.0-liter V6 (MHEV, Turbo) | 335 | 369 | 4,949 | 7,700 | 19 | $83,395 |
| 55 TFSI Prestige | AWD | 3.0-liter V6 (MHEV, Turbo) | 335 | 369 | 4,949 | 7,700 | 19 | $88,795 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for the 2027 model year; base price is KBB's national base price where its list carries the trim by the same name. A dash means KBB lists no figure.
Specifications by year
Power, weight and towing for every Audi Q8 model year.
| Model year | Trims | Engines | Horsepower | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Fuel tank (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 3 | 3.0-liter V6 (MHEV, Turbo) | 335 | 4,949 | 7,700 | 22.5 |
| 2026 | 3 | 3.0-liter V6 (MHEV, Turbo) | 335 | 5,027 | 7,700 | 22.5 |
| 2025 | 3 | 3.0-liter V6 (MHEV, Turbo) | 335 | 5,026 | 7,700 | 22.5 |
| 2024 | 3 | 3.0-liter V6 (MHEV, Turbo) | 335 | 4,960 | 7,700 | 22.5 |
| 2023 | 3 | 3.0-liter V6 (MHEV, Turbo) | 335 | 4,960 | 7,700 | 22.5 |
| 2022 | 3 | 3.0-liter V6 (Turbo) | 335 | 4,960 | 7,700 | 22.5 |
| 2021 | 3 | 3.0-liter V6 (Turbo) | 335 | 4,960 | 7,700 | 22.5 |
| 2020 | 3 | 3.0-liter V6 (Turbo) | 335 | 5,004 | 7,700 | 22.5 |
| 2019 | 3 | 3.0-liter V6 (Turbo) | 335 | 5,004 | 7,700 | 22.5 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for each model year. A range covers every trim KBB lists that year; a dash means KBB lists no figure.
Model-year recall record
Audi Q8: which model years carry more or fewer federal safety recalls.
Fewer recalls than this model’s own average
- 2026 Audi Q8 : 1 recall on file (average across published years is 3.3).
More recalls than this model’s own average
- 2021 Audi Q8 : 7 recalls on file, most commonly affecting backup camera and seat belts.
| Model year | Federal recalls on file | Complaints on file | Recalls most commonly affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | not available | backup camera |
| 2025 | 2 | 3 | seat belts, backup camera |
| 2024 | 3 | 22 | airbags, backup camera |
| 2023 | 2 | 0 | airbags, backup camera |
| 2022 | 3 | not available | backup camera, equipment |
| 2021 | 7 | 30 | backup camera, seat belts, tires, suspension |
| 2020 | 3 | 27 | powertrain, fuel system, backup camera |
| 2019 | 5 | 108 | steering, suspension, fuel system, backup camera |
| 2018 | not available | ||
| 2017 | not available | ||
| 2016 | not available | ||
| 2015 | not available |
Method: recall counts and their affected components come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Recalls API, queried by exact make, model and model year. Complaint counts come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Complaints API, same query pattern. Data pulled 2026-09-04.
Known gap: the NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Audi Q8 model years 2022, 2026 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream, not returning a genuine zero. Those years are marked "not available" above instead of shown as clean; recall counts for those years are unaffected and come from the separate recalls API, which returned data for every year listed.
Check open recalls by VIN for one particular vehicle.
Q01Is there a best year to buy a Audi Q8?
Recall count alone can't answer that: it says nothing about a specific vehicle's price, mileage, accident history or maintenance record. What federal data can say: 2026 carried fewer recalls than this model's own average, while 2021 carried more. See the model-year table on this page for the exact counts and what they cover.
Q02Which Audi Q8 model years should I watch for recalls?
The 2021 Audi Q8 has 7 federal recalls on file, most commonly affecting backup camera, seat belts, tires. Always confirm the open/completed status of every campaign for the specific VIN: a recall on this list may already be repaired on the vehicle in front of you.
Q03Which Audi Q8 model years have the cleanest federal recall record?
The 2026 Audi Q8 has 1 recall on file: below this model's own average of 3.3. A shorter list on file as of this page's data pull is not a guarantee against a future recall.
Q04What are common recall-related problems on the Audi Q8 by model year?
2026: backup camera. 2025: seat belts, backup camera. 2024: airbags, backup camera. 2023: airbags, backup camera. 2022: backup camera, equipment. 2021: backup camera, seat belts, tires, suspension.
Q05Why do some Audi Q8 model years show "not available" for complaints?
The NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Audi Q8 model years 2022, 2026 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream instead of the count genuinely being zero. Recall counts for those years are unaffected; they come from a separate NHTSA endpoint that returned data for every year listed.
Diagnosing one of these symptoms? The recalled systems above map to this site’s own ownership desks: general, evidence-first guidance that applies regardless of whether the specific vehicle in front of you was ever part of a recall campaign: Brakes, tires and steering, Engine and cooling, Climate and electrical, Transmission and drivetrain, Buying, records and recalls.
2021 Audi Q8 owners specifically: see Climate and electrical and Buying, records and recalls and Brakes, tires and steering.
Compared with
Models this Audi Q8 is most often compared with.
Nearest Audi models
Other Audi models.
Frequent questions
Answers with their conditions intact.
Q01How many trims does the 2027 Q8 come in?
The 2027 Audi Q8 (full-size luxury SUV) comes in 3 trims: Premium, Premium Plus, Prestige.
Q02What are the 2027 Q8 trims?
The 2027 Audi Q8 trims are Premium, Premium Plus, Prestige, listed from the entry Premium up to the top Prestige.
Q03What engine or powertrain does the 2027 Q8 use?
The 2027 Audi Q8 is built around 3.0L turbo V6 with 48-volt mild-hybrid assist, rated at 335 horsepower across its full-size luxury SUV body style.
Q04How much horsepower does the 2027 Q8 have?
The 2027 Audi Q8 is rated at 335 horsepower (3.0L turbo V6 with 48-volt mild-hybrid assist).
Q05Is AWD or 4WD available on the 2027 Q8?
The 2027 Audi Q8 is offered with Standard AWD.