Why the Audi Q8 e-tron is the perfect all-round company car

Further back, the sharp lines and muscley rear haunches make the Q8 e-tron unmistakably Audi. On the SUV, the high roof line is imposing and powerful, while the sloped coupé silhouette of the Sportback evokes agility and presence – both working with the signature LED rear lights to leave a lasting impression.

But as you might expect from Audi, the jaw-dropping design of the Q8 e-tron isn’t all about aesthetics. Within the front grille, intelligent active aero shutters help make the Q8 e-tron even more streamlined, while the bumper vents and underbody wheel spoilers help divert the airflow around the 20in standard alloy wheels, along the car and towards the large rear diffuser. The result: better aerodynamics for even more all-electric range (we’ll come onto that in a moment).

Audi Q8 e-tron: clever tech and executive-class space

Inside, the Audi Q8 e-tron has the substance to back-up its head-turning exterior looks. In fact, every element of its interior design has been expertly crafted and engineered to be even more sustainable and clever without losing any of its cosseting luxury feel.

Up front, the large wraparound dashboard puts the driver firmly at the heart of the Audi Q8 e-tron. The 8.6in lower and large 10.1in upper MMI touchscreens that form the centre console replace most of the switches and knobs that typically clutter a car’s interior to create a cleaner, more seamless feel to the cabin. The upper screen makes navigation and finding your favourite podcasts, music and radio shows and absolute breeze, while the lower screen lets you adjust the air conditioning to your exacting needs.

Both sync seamlessly with high-definition 12.3in virtual cockpit which puts essential information directly into the driver’s line-of-sight, while the optional head-up display projects key information onto the windscreen – this means less time looking away from the road.

Smartphone connectivity is simple due to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the optional wireless charging pad keeps your phone topped up on the move. You also get wi-fi hotspot and always-on connectivity as standard – helping to keep both you and your Audi Q8 e-tron bang up to date and giving you access to a wealth of Audi connected services.

Intuitive voice recognition lets you control many of the key commands without even lifting a finger, while Amazon Alexa lets you check news and weather, as well as placing grocery orders or creating to-do lists when you’re stationary. If you’re after an extra note of in-car audio opulence, you can always add the optional Bang & Olufsen 3D Premium Sound System.

In terms of materials, alongside a wide range of premium open-pore ash, sycamore and walnut wood veneers or aluminium and carbon detailing, the Audi Q8 e-tron also offers a wealth of recycled trim materials that feel incredibly premium to the touch – including an anthracite tech fabric made from up to 60% recycled PET bottles, or suede-feel Dinamica microfibres and artificial leathers made of up to 45% polyester fibres.

Finally, in terms of space, the Q8 e-tron’s all-electric platform has allowed Audi’s expert engineers to maximise interior room and help make it as versatile as possible. There’s comfortable seating for five – with optional ventilation and massage functions – and up to 528 litres of luggage space as standard in the Sportback and up to 596 litres in the SUV. Under the bonnet, the ‘frunk’ ads a further 62 litres of easily accessible storage space – plenty of room for a family trip or a weekend away with friends.

Audi Q8 e-tron: big range; fast charging

So, it looks incredible, and it’s got the space, tech and comfort to tackle any commute or family adventure. But has it got the all-electric range and charging to back it up? Short answer: yes.

For starters, the Audi Q8 e-tron’s 95kWh gross-capacity (89kWh net capacity) battery offers up to 281 miles of range in the Q8 e-tron SUV or up to 290 miles in the Q8 e-tron Sportback. Alternatively, if you opt for the bigger 114kWh gross capacity (106kWh net capacity) battery, you’ll get up to 330 miles of range in the SUV and an impressive 343 miles in the Sportback. That’s enough for London to Newcastle in one hit*.

In terms of topping-up, charging at home or at the office means you have the potential to start almost every journey with a full (or nearly full) battery – something you can’t ever 100% rely on with a petrol car. The Audi Q8 e-tron’s optional 22kW charging capacity makes home charging even more efficient – halving the time of a typical 11kW charger to around five to six hours*.

When you’re on the go, the Audi Q8 e-tron’s rapid-charging capability (150kW for the 95kWh battery, or up to 170kW on the 114kWh battery) lets you recharge from 10% to 80% in between 28 minutes and 31 minutes. Alternatively, depending on which battery you have, you can quickly top-up around 65 to 76 miles of range in as little as 10 minutes, helping you make the final leg of your journey*.

Audi has even thought about how to make paying for charging easy, earning you extra bonus points with whoever manages your expenses claims. Using the Audi Charging Service, you get simple one-card access with one monthly subscription to around 400,000 public charging points across 27 European countries – including access to ultra-rapid chargers from the IONITY network. Equally, Plug & Charge technology automatically recognises chargers for even easier card-free billing.

Plus, the Audi Q8 e-tron’s e-tron route planner intelligently calculates the best route and optimum charging halts for your journey, and works perfectly with the ultra-smart myAudi smartphone app – letting you plan your next trip in advance, keep tabs on your charging, or even pre-heat or pre-cool your Audi while it’s charging from the comfort of your sofa or your office, ensuring that you have optimum range and optimum comfort from the moment you step into your car.

Audi Q8 e-tron: smooth, refined and engaging

Out on the road, the Audi Q8 e-tron builds on 40 years of Vorsprung Durch Teknik DNA to create a driving experience that’s as thrilling as it is utterly relaxing.

First, the two electric motors – one on the front axle; one on the rear – provide confidence-inspiring quattro all-wheel grip in all-weather conditions. Not only that, but the powerful battery packs produce up to 340PS and 664Nm on Audi Q8 e-tron 50 models, and up to 408PS and 664Nm on Audi Q8 e-tron 55 models. That’s enough for an electrifying 0-62mph dash of 6sec and 5.6sec respectively.

On the twisty stuff, the Audi Q8 e-tron’s air suspension uses clever damping to hug the road and help iron out any nasty rural potholes. On the motorway, progress is hushed, refined and smooth, while the trick suspension will automatically lower the ride height of the Q8 e-tron at speeds of above 56mph to create a sleeker, more slippery profile that cuts through the air more efficiently. It can also boost ground clearance by as much as 172mm if you fancy heading onto more uneven terrain.

Intelligent regenerative braking also adds to the Audi Q8 e-tron’s visceral driving experience by offering an old-school engine braking feel, while also pumping energy back into the battery for later use: now that’s clever.

Speaking of clever, the Audi Q8 e-tron’s wealth of advanced radars, cameras and ultrasonic sensors give you access to a wide range of standard-fit and optional driver assistance systems that lend a supporting hand. The optional City and Tour packs let you easily pick the features you want for urban or motorway driving.

And when the sun goes down after one of those late-night meetings, the Audi Q8 e-tron’s optional Digital Matrix LED headlights can help you carve through the darkness by using 1.3 million digital micromirrors per headlight, which can be angled up to 5000 times per second to control the beam with incredible precision to give you a clearer view of the road ahead. They can also project the car’s position between the white lines ahead of you for safer driving in narrow lanes, ‘paint’ warning signals about hazards onto the road ahead, or add an extra degree of illumination to turn signals to provide even clearer information about your intent to other drivers.

Then, once you reach your destination, the Audi Q8 e-tron’s optional 360-degree cameras and remote park assist plus feature – which lets you control your parking from outside the car with the myAudi smartphone app – help you guide your way into a parking space with the maximum of confidence and the minimum of effort.

Finally: the Audi Q8 e-tron’s optional virtual exterior mirrors, which are an absolute revelation. Their 7.0in high-definition display is optimised to provide significantly better image quality than a conventional mirror in situations such as direct sunlight. The virtual mirrors also offer three modes for different driving situations – changing the field of view to better focus the driver’s attention at motorway speeds, enlarging the field of view on the relevant side of the car when the driver indicates to turn or change lanes, or extending the field of view downwards during parking manoeuvres.

Audi Q8 e-tron: big journeys, with low running costs

If you’re not already convinced that the Audi Q8 e-tron is the perfect all-round company car for you, then what we’re about to talk about might be the final nudge you need – after all, going electric makes perfect financial sense.

Using home charging with an average electric rate of 34p per kWh, the Audi Q8 e-tron with a 95kWh battery costs around £98 per month to run for a driver doing 10,000 miles per year, compared to £166 per month for a petrol-powered Audi Q5 or £211 for the larger Audi Q8. That’s an instant fuel saving of £1356 per year.

Add in the fact that we typically do more home charging overnight (at a time when electric rates are lower, and your car is parked up anyway), and the savings add up even more. Using an EV-friendly overnight tariff of 17p, it could cost you as little as £49 per month or £457 per year to run the Audi Q8 e-tron.

Another big cost-cutting benefit of picking an all-electric Audi Q8 e-tron right now is road tax. Based on the current vehicle excise duty (VED) rates – which remain fixed to April 1st 2025 – the road tax for electric cars is currently set at £0 for both the first and subsequent years. You’re also not currently eligible for the ‘premium car tax’ for vehicles with an on-the-road purchase price of £40,000 or more.

And, if you live or work in the heart of the city, all-electric SUVs like the Audi Q8 e-tron are currently exempt from any clean air zone (CAZ) or urban low-emission zone (ULEZ) charges, which could save you £15 per journey based on the current London congestion charge. Plus, depending on your local council, you could be eligible for certain discounts and benefits, including local charging and parking.

Audi Q8 e-tron: salary-friendly BIK rates

Finally, we come to the benefit-in-kind (BIK) that every user-chooser is familiar with. Thankfully, the fact that the Audi Q8 e-tron is all-electric makes for one of the most compelling reasons to consider it as your next company car.

Until the end of the 2024/2025 tax year, the Q8 e-tron is subject to ultra-low BIK rates of just 2%. That means a user-chooser eligible for a company car on salary sacrifice can drive the Audi Q8 e-tron for as little as £23 per month based on the 20% salary band, or just £46 per month for someone in the 40% bracket.

So, thanks to the Audi Q8 e-tron’s low BIK rate, you’re clearly getting a lot more Audi from the get-go. That also lets you pick a higher trim or even more added features. For example, the range-topping Audi Q8 e-tron GT Vorsprung – boasting the long-range 114kWh gross-capacity lithium-ion battery and 22kWh home charging capability for even faster overnight top-ups – is available for £39 per month for a 20% taxpayer or £78 per month for a 40% taxpayer.

So, with big all-electric range, fast-charging, loads of passenger and luggage space, and advanced tech that makes journeys – big or small – all feel effortlessly easy, it’s easy to see why the Audi Q8 e-tron is an all-electric company car that delivers more for your money.

Learn more about the Audi Q8 e-tron, or the broader benefits of picking an all-electric Audi e-tron as your next company car.

* Range dependent on trim and optional equipment. All vehicles are tested according to WLTP technical procedures. Figures shown are official test values for comparability purposes; only compare fuel consumption, CO2 and electric range figures with other vehicles tested to the same technical procedures. These figures may not reflect real life driving results, which will depend upon a number of factors including but not limited to factory fitted options, accessories fitted (post-registration), variations in weather, road and traffic conditions, individual driving styles, vehicle load, vehicle condition, use of systems like climate control (and, for battery electric vehicles, the starting charge, age and conditions of the battery). Figures for battery electric vehicles were obtained after the battery had been fully charged. Battery electric vehicles require mains electricity for charging. Zero emissions while driving. Figures quoted are subject to change due to ongoing approvals/changes and figures may include options not available in the UK. Please consult your local Audi Centre for further information. Data correct in April 2023. Lithium-ion batteries, of the type used in most electric vehicles (including Audi electric vehicles) have a restricted lifespan. Battery capacity will reduce over time, with use and charging. Reduction in battery capacity will affect the performance of the vehicle, including the range achievable, and may impact resale value. New car performance figures (including battery capacity and range) may be provided for the purposes of comparison between vehicles. You should not rely on new car performance figures (including battery capacity and range), in relation to used vehicles with older batteries, as they will not reflect used vehicle performance in the real world. For further information on batteries and the Audi 8 year/100,000 mile battery warranty, please visit https://www.audi.co.uk/uk/web/en/electric/faqs/battery.html