I think you mentioned a lot of the features as being negative and boring, that is exactly why for many individuals this car is a better EV option. The fact that it isn't filled with unfamiliar features and gimmicks means it is familiar and drives like an Audi, which is to say smooth, quiet, and luxurious. Many people hate giant touch screens and crazy technology, so they desire a simple and elegant EV that doesn't feel like they're getting into a space ship. Audi built this car to cater to that market that wants an easy and simple transition from internal combustion to electric.

How have we gotten to the point where two 10 inch center screens are considered small 😂

I love the Q8 for NOT being a gimmick filled electric nightmare! Good job Audi, but leave the "S" badges for the sport models.

I feel as if Audi does elegance well. No filler, classic and beautiful.

The fact that it's not exciting is why I love the e-tron/ Q8 e-tron. It's like getting into any other Audi but this one is pretty much dead silent inside with a super smooth ride with the air suspension. It's just the perfect comfortable car to use as a daily or to road trip especially with its pretty flat charging curve meaning you don't need to plan your stops to arrive near 0% for best speeds. You get nearly the same speed no matter when you plug in.

The cruise control stock is actually really intuitive once you have it mastered. Makes it easy to adjust up and down quickly without taking up steering wheel real estate

This "small screen" is a huge selling point. It looks like a car not a cheap tablet.

In my opinion, it's a good thing that there is no giant screen and why should the interior differ based on the energy source anyway? I would reduce the ac screen to just a screen and restore the normal buttons to control it.

The dual charging ports is actually a game changer. I've pulled up to so many chargers where the one that's open doesn't have a charger positioned to easily reach my charging port and the other ones are all taken or I have to do some janky parking to get it to work. Honestly should be standard on all EVs.

Finally. An EV car that looks more or less like a normal 'car' It is not flashy, not gimmicky, not outlandish. Simple... it gets the job done

The Audi e-Tron in the models before the Q8 were rated as one of the two cars ever made that have had a 5 star RIDE COMFORT rating in Consumer Reports reviews. This softer ride can make it less "exciting" to drive versus a tighter driving car. For me, it was just what I wanted. That and a "flat" 150KWH charge curve up to 80%, which the Q8 did not inherit because of a battery chemistry change.

Something about the drive modes is that it dictates the ride height. Since it's an air suspension it can adjust almost 2" up or down. If you have it set to Dynamic on the highway it'll actually lower the car to provide better driving dynamics and efficiency. If you have it set to All-road you can increase the ride height for speeds under 20 mph. If you go above it, it'll automatically lower the car so it's not so top heavy. Each drive mode will automatically adjust the ride height depending on your speed and where you're driving.

There's a lot of ppl who don't want some of the silly electric car gimmicks or weird designs. They want an electric car that is similar in looks and features as the ice counterpart, which is exactly what this suv offers

The stalk as cruise control is superior imo. I have it on my 2007 vw, and once you understand it, its muscle memory and so efficient. Thing is, that the position of the stalk shows the status of it, you know that when its in the position away from you, it is off, when it is towards you it is on, so you can almost just push and pull it to activate and deactivate, you dont need to look in the instrument cluster to see what it’s doing

The cruise control is actually excellent and intuitive after a few goes

I do not understand how a non huge screen is an issue- they always cheapen the car and age it faster, and this interior is honestly so elegant

The non coupe version of the q8 etron looks way better. I don’t really know who in the right mind would look at the coupe and choose it over the regular.

Great review. Loved how you described it. I am just making a guess but in my opinion thats what Audi was going for with its Evs. They want there cars to look just as any other regular car not a futuristic weird looking car that is not really cooler for looking like from 2040. In my opinion, thats why they have the best looking evs with that European car touch.

It's cool they let Doug import all these amazing cars to the Siberian prison where he's making these videos now.

I have a similar cruise control. After you remember what receiving does, it is much more convenient. It is located in a very good place, I used it with much less hand movement using my pinky finger without the need to look at the controls at all

We've had a previous generation e-tron SUV and frankly it's been a great car. The range has never been a problem since we keep it in the city. The interior and build quality are great and much nicer than a Tesla. We've liked that it's an EV without saying "Hey I'm an EV!", it's just a nice Audi that happens to be electric.

Love the charge port on both sides, and the lighted seatbelts. I hope those become a trend. Gear selector on the other hand I hope to never see again!

02:35 No that's not right. The passenger side charging port is just type 2 you'd never use that at a public charger. The only CCS charger is on the drivers side you can see because they have a cover for the bottom part of the CCS port the passenger side doesn't have that.

Correct me if I’m wrong. I think this and the regular Q8 e-tron are the only EV’s with a standard spare tire. That’s a nice an important feature to have.

That is the best way to do cruise control! My Mercedes has that and it’s soooo easy to use while driving.

I owned an etron, and "it's fine", is about the right way to describe it. It was a stop gap moving from a Model S that was out of warranty, eventually to an R1S. We traded it once our R1S was ready. The fit and finish was very good (much better than our Model S). It was comfortable. Not very exciting. It didn't have 1 pedal driving, which was a bummer (Not sure if that's changed, ours was a 2019). It's definitely a good option for someone easing their way into electrification, but still wants a quality product...

About the dual charging ports: at 2:32 notice that one of the charge ports doesn’t have the high voltage DC fast charging pins that you use at fast charging stations. So the 2 ports will be useful for level 1 or level 2 AC charging, but the DC fast chargers like Electrify America will only be able to use the driver’s side port.

Yesss!!! Glad to see a normal doug demuro car review again. The channel changes are fine, but most of us come to see his reviews since they truly are the very best!!!

Dear Doug , could you also review the sound systems of the great cars you get .

Doug the kind of guy who rents a motel room so he can steal a Gideons Bible.

Kinda got sad when I realized Doug hasn't got a video with a Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera yet

I kinda miss the parking lots where Doug was doing the reviews.

Wondering if Doug will ever do another review in the wild like he used to now that he has a dedicated space.

Doug I understand your point about the screen situation but you, consumers and car industry should understand that you are not sitting in a theater or iron mans helmet you are sitting in a car so you don't have to be surrounded by 10 fifty inch TVs around you to be distracted by what is happening in TikTok and Instagram reels. It is fine don't need more screens

A car does not need a full sized 27" tv screen in their dashboard. I have a similar screen in my A3 & it's great. Fits well into the console & won't look outdated in 4 years when the electronics inevitably will be.

In my opinion, this has the nicest interior of any EV under $100,000

On screens: just saw the carwow review of the new Volvo EX30 with a similar screen arrangement to the Tesla Model 3, i.e. only one huge center screen. When in "autopilot" mode, the autopilot would constantly threaten to shut down when the attention sensor (a camera) detected that the driver was looking over to that screen and not at the road. As these systems become more and more common, maybe Audi is on to something, focusing the view at least forward rather than down and to the side to these ever larger screens?

Doug! You have to review that RS4 B7 on Cars & Bids! A V8 with 6-speed manual and one of the greatest Audis ever. And sure way more soul than the one here in this video lol

1. Doug said the Q8 e-tron Sportback gets about 300 miles of range in its “top” configuration. It is actually the entry-level model that gets that EPA range, and only when equipped with the “ultra package” option. The top range Q8-e-tron is the “Launch Edition” Sportback with 22 inch wheels that have about a 30 mile range deficiency compared to the ‘ultra package’ edition. 2. The extra charging port on the passenger side is part of the AC charging package, which is only available as a $1,850 additional charge on the Premium Plus and higher trim models. Doug also neglected to mention that the additional port lacks DC fast charging pins and can only be used at L2 or L1 chargers. 3. Doug said he was reviewing a “Prestige” trim version, but he was actually reviewing a “Launch Edition” version, which is one rung higher. This was obvious to me based on the body-colored grille and light gray leather with orange accents. Speaking of... Doug waxed poetically about the new front end. That body-color grille is only available on the Launch Edition. Every other version gets a silver or black grille, depending on if they get the Black Optic package. 4. The cruise control stalk has been there on Audis for over 20 years. This is neither a 'quirk' nor 'feature'. 5. Doug complains about too many drive modes. The car offers 7. He would be complaining if there wasn’t more. 6. Interior - Doug said there were cheap plastics. Where? I own this car and there are literally zero cheap plastics to be found. If he's talking about the dash inlay on the Launch Edition that he drove, it's literally rock (anthracite). 7. The S-line badging is not the same as the S model. This badging has been used for more than 20 years and is actually an homage to the early S models Audi released. 8. The trunk space difference between the Sportback and the regular Q8 e-tron isn’t that crazy, yet Doug makes it sound unusable. It’s 2 cubic feet according to Car & Driver, and most people aren't stacking things above the seat backs anyways. Encore: Doug makes the perfectly usable LCD displays seem like they're literally Kryptonite compared to the massive LCD screens in tech-heavy EV's. The whole point of Audi's EV initiative is to make it feel like their other cars, not some futuristic tablet that a 80 year old won't drive. Honestly, one of the worst Doug reviews I've ever watched.

I went to our '22 Etron from a Mercedes Gl 550 and mostly love it! Mine has the charge ports on both sides, but the DC is only on the drivers side. . The range doesnt suck as much as finding a working or available charging station!

3:37 The logo clearly houses ACC sensors like most cars do nowadays

Maybe a hot take, but I believe that EVs trending towards just being regular gas powered cars with less "exciting" interiors will lead to more widespread adoption. Yes, enthusiasts like all of us here want the flash and excitement to signify new innovation but everyday regular Joe wants everyday regular car

I’ve always wondered why more manufacturers don’t include two charging ports. Seems like a small price added with good convenience with non-standard chargers. Especially with trucks that might be towing

The e-tron is a massive succes in Europe, i’m guessing it’s just Americans trying to impress others by gimmicks instead of a good driving car

The main argument for this car is the looks (specifically the regular Q8 E Tron)… it looks the best out of its competition (iX, Model X, EQE/EQS). I would also argue that this is a car for people that want something electric but feels and looks like a regular combustion car.

Question. Can you use both charge ports at the same time to get ultra super fast charging?

Don’t mess with the Audi cruise control stalk. It’s way more intuitive than multiple buttons on the steering wheel. …unless you also own a Porsche 911, I which case everything is the same, except opposite.

I have a neighbor with an original eTron. Nice car! I hope they get better OTA updates than other VW group cars.

That's a great looking front 🤤

Suggested video: There are AAA type trucks that carry large batteries for recharging EV's on the road when they get stuck with low batteries. Might be interesting.

so it’s not tacky and screen filled, and it is pretty unlike the hideous competition?? i’m sold

It's funny how many people in the comments are basically telling Doug he missed the mark on this one. The Q8 Etron is special in that it's an EV that feels well built and put together without the BS gimmicks that feel like a one hit wonder song after a while.

The pricing is where this will fall, imo. I was seriously expecting it to start in the 60s and top out at high 70s. Instead it's 10-15 more. At that point I might as well look at what I really want in the first place, which is the E-Tron GT, for just a bit more. Hell, maybe that's what Audi's counting on.

I currently drive a 2020 E-tron and what you described is the reason why I like it. It's super quiet, comfortable and just looks like an Audi. IMO the best looking EV SUV. It doesn't have any gimmicks like fart noises in the tesla, this appeals to a lot of people that just want a good and elegant daily. But I respectfully disagrees that the model x have more tech than this car, apart from teslas autopilot. Like: matrix laser lights, 360 camera, ultrasonic sensors, trunk "kick" sensor, softclose doors, ambient lighting, nightvision assist camera, apple carplay, HUD, ++. The charging curve on this car and more so on the new Q8 e-tron is also great, it'll give you the max output no matter if you're at 20% or 60%, most other EV's only charge as fast as stated when you're almost empty.

.. I can’t believe that THIS is not for sale on Cars & Bids 😂

My e90 bmw had a very similar cruise control. I thought it was so goofy at first. But after I got used to it, I loved it. You don’t need to look for it with your eyes, because you know exact where it is. Like you do a turn signal. Adjusting it is as easy as a turn signal. So you don’t have to reach your hand onto the face of the wheel to find a button. I’ve owned many different cars, and personally. It is my favourite style of cruise control.

Really disappointed in this review Doug. I think you’ve completely missed the point of Audi’s electric ethos. The whole point is for their EV’s to not really be all that distinguishable from their ICE models to help ease buyers into the new platform. The other big issue I have is the points you choose to emphasize about this model. On looks, the IX is absolutely hideous to look at. Granted it’s interior is nice, but no self-respecting person can stand next to the front of that car and say it’s good looking, while I think that’s quite easy to do with the etron. As for the Model X, they look downright frumpy until you go all out on the spec and then you’re into the six figure range. As for performance and range, we have to remember what this is. It’s a family SUV. 0-60 time is absolutely irrelevant. The car pulls fine off the line and has great passing torque when needed. In regards to range, I admit it could be better, but we must also remember that for >75 of people, they’ll seldom use the longer range capacity of the model on a regular basis. But I can concede that I wish it had a bit more. Overall, I think you need to step back and review this like a family car and not like a sports car.

Who else miss Doug doing a video outside??

Audi has the BEST cruise control i've ever used. You can pre-select a speed that you want cruise to be set at. then just hit resume and it does it. I love it.

I have the same control for the cruise control in my Skoda (also part of the VAG family). I happen to like it a lot and it's comfortable.

If I were to buy an EV I’d buy this one for all the reasons you state as downsides. I don’t need or want gimmicks like huge grilles, fart mode or gull wing door. Just a good looking SUV, well made with a comfortable and high quality interior. Sounds basic but surprisingly hard to find those attributes across other brands. Also, Audi is offering pretty aggressive lease deals and discounts so the actually price is very competitive

Doug when are we getting a tour of the new place?

Doug must have Megan knees...cause that concrete was hurting my soul 😂😂😂

Can you double charge similtaneously?..since the are two charge ports..Fully charge in have the time would be cool..

I'm wondering if you can use the two charging ports at the same time so that the car charges faster😅

I would take the Audi over a Model X all day. Way better build quality and comfort!

Doug, one charger on the right side is for AC charging only while the driver's side is for DC fast charging and AC charging. Just an FYI. Great video!

The Lexus LS has had lighted seatbelt buckles for the last 21 years

I can't be the only person wondering what happens if you plug both the charge ports in at once, right..?

certified audi q8 moment

Hi Doug, waiting for your Volvo EX30 review! SO many great reviews coming out but you are the one I trust to give the best and most reliable info on it!

Love you Doug. You have outgrown the hyper emphasized THIS intro. Not necessary.

Today doug tells us a car feels like a car😂

I wonder if u can park between 2 chargers n plug it in on both side 🤔

Doug is the type of guy to follow "let me show you what I mean" with "the Doug score"

The 15’ screen from the brand new VW Tiguan would be more appropriate in this suv it’s a nice package but at 90k I just expected a little more content for that price cool review nonetheless 💯

Certainly looks a lot better than the Tesla's which I think are pretty damn boring.

If Doug could import a MK1 Octavia VRS when it turns 25 in 2025, it would be awesome!

Man Audi has such a confusing electric lineup naming

At 12:50, the red S logo (while not necessarily as a rear badge) was always used for S-Line models.

certified 2023 moment

But the other model Etron went from $120,000 in 2022 too only $50,000 used. Over 50% off in less then 1 year.

I have the 22 e-tron S SUV and absolutely love it! e-trons are definitely the best-looking EV’s on the market. The only thing I don’t like about the new q8 etron is the name on the door pillars that makes no sense to me.

Finally found something he likes 😂 the virtual cockpit. Buddy this is in another class as far as luxury and comfort.

certified Volkswagen group moment

Never compare any Tesla with an Audi!!the fit and finish of an Audi is the best!

Seeing Fahrenheit on a touch screen seems so archaic.

I have just purchased an Audi Q8 e tron sports back for all the reasons Doug said he thinks the Audi is just OK or Boring! I wanted a car to drive like my old ICE car, not one pedal driving, I wanted traditional gauges not an iPad and I wanted comfortable and normal performance, not a hard ride and stomach churning speed I wouldn’t use after the novelty of the first few drives. I just think of this model as a great family ‘car’…. Well done Audi!

The lighting in this new office/studio is terrible. I miss being able to see whats going on :(

I miss the days when I could drive without taking my eyes off the road.

That cruise control stalk has been in every new Audi you’ve reviewed since 2017, weird that you’re upset with it 6 years later. I love not having to use or accidentally push buttons on my steering wheel. It’s out of the way and intuitive. Almost like you’re just trying to find something wrong with it. I remember you were in a commercial with Audi not too long after you bought the RS2, not sure if they did something to upset you.

Doug is the kind of guy that would have a video intro and ending clip that shows exhaust gases while reviewing an EV.

Sigh.. just don’t get excited about these cars. I miss when cars had character.

Excellent review Doug but there is no mystery behind the make and model etching on the glass. That is for the Chinese market. That is why all these other brands are changing their rear emblem to simply writing out the brand name. Chinese automakers routinely steal and copy designs from other automakers, including their logo. OEMs don't want their logo to be confused with a cheap, Chinese knock-off vehicle. So how do they counter that? Simply write the name out in English. Honestly, I hate this trend. It looks stupid and it shows just how far these automakers will go to pander to the Chinese market. SUck it up guys, you don't need China.

I have had a Tesla Y for 2 years and we are in the market for a car to replace our other car. I am seriously considering the Audi e Tron Sportback. I like the exterior of the Audi and expect that I will like the interior as well. The easy thing for us to do is just buy another Tesla Y but I like the looks of the Audi. Sure it is not as fast or have the range of the Y but for us, that’s fine.

It should be noted that those dual charge ports are not equal. Only the one on the driver's side supports DC fast charging.

Watching the tech space evolve with Amazons AMA69X is like living in a sci-fi novel. Exciting times!

Can we all just take a moment to appreciate how Amazons AMA69X is flipping the script on modern tech?

I like the unique treatment of the front light bar. Very surprised the four rings in the front grille don't light up, though. They look like they should.

That charge port on both is smart