Name: Audi RS Q8 (2020 - present) | Expert Rating | The Car Expert
Item: Audi RS Q8
Rating: 52.0

Summary

The Audi RS Q8 is the sporty performance-enhanced version of the regular Q8 range, and the most powerful petrol-powered SUV in Audi’s line-up. It has been on sale in the UK since 2020.

The sporty SUV has received a largely positive reception from the UK media, with frequent plaudits for its pace – for example, the Carbuyer team concludes that the RS Q8 offers “incredible performance”. The Audi shares its engine with the Lamborghini Urus – a 592hp twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 that produces a 0-62mph sprint time of 3.8 seconds.

The Top Gear team explains that the RS Q8 is “ideal if you need a supercar and an SUV rolled into one”, pointing to the car’s agile handling, as well as its spacious and well-built interior. However, they also find the SUV’s six-figure price tag to be a deterrent. “The Audi RS 6 costs much less, it’s faster, it’s more fuel efficient, boot space is nearly the same and you won’t look like a Premiership footballer when you pull up in one.”

As well as rivals within the Audi range, multiple reviewers have reported that the SUV’s automatic gearbox is rather lethargic. Jonathan Burn of Auto Express also asserts that this heavy-set Audi is “too big to be truly engaging”, while Carwow explains that you will be lucky to get 25mpg out of the SUV’s thirsty engine. “But do you really care about fuel economy in a super-SUV such as this? Probably not.”

As of January 2025, the Audi RS Q8 currently holds a bottom-of-the-barrel Expert Rating of E, with a score of just 52%, which is a result of its poor media reviews, high levels of CO₂ emissions and eye-watering running costs.

RS Q8 highlights

Seriously quick in a straight line
Surprisingly agile in the bends
Plenty of on-board tech as standard
Comfortable upmarket interior

RS Q8 lowlights

Thirsty petrol engine
Sluggish automatic gearbox
Expensive, base price and options list
Cheaper RS 6 is faster and more efficient

Key specifications

Body style: Large SUV/crossover
Engines: petrol
Price: From £112,795 on-road

Launched: Spring 2020
Last updated: N/A
Replacement due: TBA

Image gallery

Media reviews

Reviews, road test and comparisons from across theHighlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view. UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

Auto Express+

Model reviewed:
Score: 6 / 10
“The monster Audi RS Q8 is too big to be truly engaging, too heavy to be agile, and not particularly engaging to drive, despite its vast reserves of power and Nürburgring record-setting credentials.”
Read review

Auto Trader+

Model reviewed:
Score: 6 / 10
“The Audi RS Q8 complements the unapologetically aggressive styling with the awesome power of its muscular turbocharged V8 engine. Comparisons with luxury SUV equivalents from Porsche, Bentley and Lamborghini sharing the same platform are not entirely favourable though.”
Read review

Car+

Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“Excessive? Yes. Powerful? Also yes. There’s a lot to the RS Q8, but we feel like it’s still missing something.”
Read review

Carbuyer+

Model reviewed:
Score: 7.4 / 10
“The Audi RS Q8 is quicker than most sports cars while offering estate-car practicality, but running costs are high.”
Read review

Carwow+

Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“The Audi RS Q8 isn’t just ludicrously fast for a mammoth SUV, it’s also impressively practical and easy to live with.”
Read review

Evo+

Model reviewed:
Score: 6 / 10
“Deeply impressive powertrain, transmission calibration and response. The Audi RS Q8 feels expensive and fully loaded.”
Read review

Honest John+

Model reviewed:
“The first ever full-size Audi SUV to bear the RS badge, the RS Q8 is powered by a 600PS twin-turbo V8 petrol engine.”
Read review

Parkers+

Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“The Audi RS Q8 is a Q7 for those who don’t need seven seats.”
Read review

Top Gear+

Model reviewed:
Score: 7 / 10
“The Audi RS Q8 is better looking than the Lambo Urus, phenomenal performance and handling, hugely expensive… ideal if you need a supercar and an SUV rolled into one.”
Read review

Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: December 2019
Read the full Euro NCAP review

Adult protection: 93%
Child protection: 87%
Vulnerable road users: 71%
Safety assist: 73%

The Audi RS Q8 shares its crash test safety rating with the regular Q8 SUV range, which was awarded a full five-star score in December 2019.

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

As of January 2025, the Audi RS Q8 has not been tested by Green NCAP. However, it’s a huge SUV powered by a 600hp petrol V8 engine producing CO₂ emissions of more than 300g/km, so your expectations should be set low…

Reliability rating

Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

No reliability rating

As of January 2025, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Audi Q8 range to generate a reliability rating.

The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy. As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the Q8, we’ll publish the score here.

Running cost rating

Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data

Fuel consumption	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Petrol models	22 mpg	E	20 – 22 mpg	E – E

CO₂ output	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Petrol models	297 g/km	D	295 – 318 g/km	D – D

Insurance group	Average	Score	Variation	Score
All models	50	F	50 – 50	F – F

Service and maintenance	Cost	Score
Year 1	£652	D
Year 2	£1,569	D
Year 3	£2,510	D
Year 4	£2,862	D
Year 5	£3,917	D
Overall	£11,510	D

It should be no surprise that a 600hp, twin-turbocharged petrol SUV is very expensive to run. The Audi RS Q8 has one of the worst Running Cost Ratings of any car in our database.

While this probably won’t deter potential new car customers, given that large SUVs of similar performance and luxury are likely to be just as expensive to run, it’s certainly worth thinking about carefully if you’re looking at purchasing a used RS Q8.