2022 Audi RS Q8

Car and Driver (opens in a new tab) says Audi's most badass SUV is mostly unchanged for 2022 except for a few new standard driver-assistance features, including adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist, on top of the technology shared with the Q8: standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, navigation and satellite radio. The engine is a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 making 591 horsepower and 590 pound-feet.

An Audizine report on Audi's model-year 2022 Audi Sport updates (opens in a new tab) says the 2022 changes introduce new RS design packages for the RS 5 coupe and Sportback, RS 6 Avant, RS 7 and RS Q8. Motor1 (opens in a new tab) later reported a refresh was on the way with no expected powertrain change, leaving the RS Q8 at 591 horsepower while the updated SQ8 has 500.

NHTSA lists four recall campaigns for the 2022 RS Q8 and 4 owner complaints, two about the electrical system. All four concern the rearview image: 21V825000 covers a software error that can prevent the rear-view image from displaying when the car begins to reverse, 22V742000 a blank or black screen instead of the camera image in reverse, 22V806000 an infotainment main unit that can be damaged internally when the car is shut off, leaving the camera display inoperative at the next start, and 25V900000 a later software update for rear visibility. Dealers fix each free of charge.

Car and Driver calls the EPA ratings of 13 mpg city and 19 highway dismal, the price of the car's performance, and EPA lists 15 mpg combined at about $5,150 a year in fuel. Kelley Blue Book (opens in a new tab) shows estimated trade-in values of about $56,300 and private-party values of about $63,200, both a single figure because few examples are tracked. At that level the fuel bill alone is a meaningful ownership cost.

EPA rates the 2022 Lamborghini Urus at 14 mpg combined and $5,550 a year, the 2022 Porsche Cayenne at 16 to 21 and $3,700 to $4,850, the BMW X6 at 15 to 23 and $3,350 to $5,150 and the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class at 16 to 22 and $3,500 to $4,850. On EPA figures the RS Q8 is less efficient than the Cayenne and X6 and slightly more efficient than the Urus.