Playing tron with the latest Audi flagship

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The Q8 e-tron is not remotely cheap, starting at $140,600, but does offer an enjoyable ride. Photos: Supplied.

Efficiency and range were the targets when Audi set out to update its Q8 e-tron. It hit both bullseyes and also gave a visual refresher to the Q8 55, which is available as both a boxy SUV and the more stylish Sportback.

In either case, the claimed range is improved to just over 450 kilometres and the best charging time to 80 per cent of battery capacity is less than 30 minutes. The updated electric flagship in Audi showrooms is named the Q8 55 e-tron and it’s best compared to the V6 combustion models from the German maker.

It even looks like a regular combustion car, mostly because it’s a ‘’conversion’’ car with a transplanted electric drive system under the bodywork and not something designed from the road up for electric use.

And that bottom line is for the latest Q8 e-tron 50, which has just arrived in Australia as a conventional SUV wagon, as prices jump considerably for the Sportback 55 quattro from $165,900 and there is still an SQ8 to come.

The flagship Q8 e-tron is fully loaded with all the ”stuff’’ expected in a top-end family SUV – from luscious sports leather seats and a punchy sound system to USB ports and wireless connectivity, as well as 21-inch alloys – and also has been visually tweaked for 2024.

The basics of the body – the test car is the Sportback, which is preferred by 60 per cent of Q8 e-tron buyers – remain the same, but there is a chunkier new nose and a bolder tail-light treatment at the back.

But it’s not just about the car. Audi Australia knows shoppers have questions about electric drive, so the Q8 comes with an eight-year battery warranty, like all e-tron models, as well as six years of scheduled servicing and roadside assistance.

There is also a Chargefox subscription for six years. The basics of the Q8 55 e-tron are unchanged, with a giant body and a hefty battery with an improved 97 kilowatt/hour battery to improve the range. It means the car tips the scales beyond 2.2 tonnes, so you’re always aware of its heft. That’s fine for a big luxury car, as the Q8’s air suspension soaks up all challenges in Australia.

It’s also lovely and quiet, rolling smoothly over any roads and impressive distances. It’s quick on the recharge, provided you can find an available fast-charger plug, and if you tread lightly on the accelerator pedal it will easily cover more than 350 km between stops. But it’s a big beastie and that means a considerably shorter range, more like 300 km, if you’re using up the performance to do your best Tesla acceleration impression.

For the record, Audi claims if you’re mostly an around-town driver, the range is less of a concern, and research shows luxury buyers tend to stay close to home and head to the airport for longer trips.

The Q8 e-tron 55 looks good and is an enjoyable drive. It’s plush and relaxing, quiet and refined. But it’s too chunky to really skip along; even the 0-100 km/h time is relatively slow – for an electric car – at 5.6 seconds, and it costs a lot of cash. Right now, with so much changing so fast on the electric scene, it’s a tough one to recommend.