Which Audi Q8 e-tron version to buy
If the brief is “fastest 0–100 and highest power in the catalogue,” the 408 hp 55 e quattro (first generation) and the restyled 55 quattro both do 0–100 in 5.7 s and a 200 km/h top speed, with 664 Nm and AWD through a 1-speed Automatic. If the brief is “lightest kerb mass in the measured set,” that is the 50 e quattro at 2445 kg.
If the brief is “fastest 0–100 and highest power in the catalogue,” the 408 hp 55 e quattro (first generation) and the restyled 55 quattro both do 0–100 in 5.7 s and a 200 km/h top speed, with 664 Nm and AWD through a 1-speed Automatic. If the brief is “lightest kerb mass in the measured set,” that is the 50 e quattro at 2445 kg. If the brief is “more torque without stepping up to a 55 badge after the restyling,” that is the 50 quattro at 340 hp and 664 Nm — the same torque as both 55 lines, 124 Nm more than the first-generation 50 e quattro (540 Nm), yet still 6.8 s to 100 km/h and 190 km/h, same as the weaker 300 hp 50 e quattro.
Range, price, Prestige, Premium Plus, Sportback, and used asking prices are not in this dataset and are not ranked here.
Audi Q8 e-tron generations compared (what the restyling actually changed)
The first generation (2018-10-01–2023-01-31) is an SUV 5-doors with three versions. Ground clearance is 172 mm on all three. Front and rear suspension is Independent, pneumatic; brakes are Ventilated disc front and Disc ventilated rear. Fuel is Electro. CO2 is 0 g/km on 50 e quattro and on the 408 hp 55 e quattro; CO2 is not measured on the 360 hp 55 e quattro.
The restyling (from 2023-02-01, stop not measured) stays SUV 5-doors, still 172 mm, still Independent, pneumatic, still Ventilated disc / Disc ventilated, still Electro, still AWD, still 1-speed Automatic. Version count drops from 3 to 2. The 360 hp 55 e quattro disappears. The 50-line is renamed 50 quattro (no “e”) and gains 40 hp (300 → 340) and 124 Nm (540 → 664). The 55-line is renamed 55 quattro and keeps 408 hp, 300 kW, 664 Nm, 5.7 s, and 200 km/h. Kerb weight, gross weight, and wheel sizes are not measured on either restyle version.
Arithmetic on the 50-line across the restyling: +40 hp is +13.3% versus 300 hp; +124 Nm is +23.0% versus 540 Nm; 0–100 does not change (6.8 s both sides); top speed does not change (190 km/h). Extra torque after 2023-02-01 does not buy a quicker catalogue sprint on the 50 badge.
Audi Q8 e-tron specs: every version
Displacement, cylinders, cylinder layout, valves per cylinder, boost, engine placement, and induction system are not measured on all five versions. Engine size in the catalogue is therefore not measured; do not invent a petrol layout.
| Version | hp | kW | Nm | Displacement | Fuel | Cylinders | Layout | Boost | Gearbox | Speeds | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 e quattro (360 hp) | 360 | 265 | 664 | not measured | Electro | not measured | not measured | not measured | Automatic | 1 | AWD |
| 50 e quattro | 300 | 220 | 540 | not measured | Electro | not measured | not measured | not measured | Automatic | 1 | AWD |
| 55 e quattro (408 hp) | 408 | 300 | 664 | not measured | Electro | not measured | not measured | not measured | Automatic | 1 | AWD |
| 50 quattro | 340 | 250 | 664 | not measured | Electro | not measured | not measured | not measured | Automatic | 1 | AWD |
| 55 quattro | 408 | 300 | 664 | not measured | Electro | not measured | not measured | not measured | Automatic | 1 | AWD |
Horsepower spread first generation: 408 − 300 = 108 hp between the 408 hp 55 e quattro and 50 e quattro; 360 − 300 = 60 hp between the 360 hp 55 e quattro and 50 e quattro; 408 − 360 = 48 hp between the two 55 e quattro names. Restyle spread: 408 − 340 = 68 hp between 55 quattro and 50 quattro. Torque: four versions sit on 664 Nm; only 50 e quattro is 540 Nm.
Audi Q8 e-tron horsepower, torque, and 0–100 (what extra power buys)
50 e quattro: 300 hp, 220 kW, 540 Nm, 6.8 s, 190 km/h. 50 quattro: 340 hp, 250 kW, 664 Nm, 6.8 s, 190 km/h. Same sprint and top speed as 50 e quattro despite +40 hp and +124 Nm. 55 e quattro (360 hp): 360 hp, 265 kW, 664 Nm, 5.7 s, 200 km/h. Versus 50 e quattro: +60 hp, +124 Nm, −1.1 s to 100, +10 km/h. Versus the 408 hp 55 e quattro: −48 hp, same 664 Nm, same 5.7 s, same 200 km/h. The 48 hp gap between the two 55 e quattro rows does not change the catalogue 0–100 or top speed. 55 e quattro (408 hp) and 55 quattro: identical on power, torque, 0–100, and top speed (408 hp, 300 kW, 664 Nm, 5.7 s, 200 km/h). Versus 50 quattro: +68 hp, same 664 Nm, −1.1 s, +10 km/h.
City, highway, and combined consumption are not measured on any version. Tank volume is not measured (Electro). CO2 is 0 on 50 e quattro, the 408 hp 55 e quattro, 50 quattro, and 55 quattro; not measured on the 360 hp 55 e quattro. There is no mpg ranking in this file.
Audi Q8 e-tron weight kg, ground clearance, wheels
Kerb / gross / clearance / wheels:
- 55 e quattro (360 hp): 2565 kg / 3130 kg / 172 mm / 255/50 R20 and 265/45 R21. Payload from the two masses: 3130 − 2565 = 565 kg. kg per hp: 2565 / 360 = 7.13 kg/hp.
- 50 e quattro: 2445 kg / 3040 kg / 172 mm / wheels not measured. Payload: 3040 − 2445 = 595 kg (30 kg more than the 360 hp 55 e quattro, 20 kg more than the 408 hp 55 e quattro). kg per hp: 2445 / 300 = 8.15 kg/hp — the heaviest kg/hp among measured rows, 120 kg lighter kerb than the 360 hp 55 e quattro (2565 − 2445) and 110 kg lighter than the 408 hp 55 e quattro (2555 − 2445).
- 55 e quattro (408 hp): 2555 kg / 3130 kg / 172 mm / 255/50 R20 and 265/45 R21. Payload: 3130 − 2555 = 575 kg. kg per hp: 2555 / 408 = 6.26 kg/hp — the lowest (best) measured mass per horsepower. Versus the 360 hp 55 e quattro: −10 kg kerb, same 3130 kg gross, same wheels, +48 hp.
- 50 quattro: kerb not measured, gross not measured, 172 mm, wheels not measured.
- 55 quattro: kerb not measured, gross not measured, 172 mm, wheels not measured.
Body dimensions in cm or inches are not measured. Ground clearance does not change by version or by restyling (172 mm throughout).
Audi Q8 e-tron 55 vs 50, first generation vs restyling
Buy 50 e quattro if the measured kerb mass and payload matter: 2445 kg, 595 kg payload, 300 hp, 540 Nm. You give up 60 hp and 124 Nm versus the 360 hp 55 e quattro, and 108 hp and 124 Nm versus the 408 hp 55 e quattro. Sprint is 1.1 s slower (6.8 vs 5.7) and top speed is 10 km/h lower (190 vs 200). Wheels are not measured on this version.
Buy 55 e quattro (360 hp) only if you need a first-generation 55 with 664 Nm and 5.7 s, and you accept 48 hp less than the other 55 e quattro. It is 10 kg heavier than the 408 hp twin (2565 vs 2555) and shares 3130 kg gross and the same two wheel sizes. CO2 is not measured on this row.
Buy 55 e quattro (408 hp) if you want the best measured kg/hp (6.26), 408 hp, 664 Nm, 5.7 s, 200 km/h, 0 g/km CO2, and listed 255/50 R20 / 265/45 R21 wheels, still in the 2018-10-01–2023-01-31 window. Versus 50 e quattro that is +108 hp and −1.1 s for +110 kg kerb.
Buy 50 quattro after 2023-02-01 if you want 50-line torque equal to every 55 (664 Nm) and 340 hp, knowing 0–100 stays 6.8 s and top speed stays 190 km/h. Mass and wheels are not measured, so you cannot score kg/hp on this row.
Buy 55 quattro after 2023-02-01 if you want the same 408 / 300 / 664 / 5.7 / 200 package as the 408 hp 55 e quattro, under the restyle name. Mass and wheels are not measured; the restyling does not change the catalogue performance numbers on the 55 line.
Two names collide: 55 e quattro at 360 hp and 55 e quattro at 408 hp. After the restyling the 50 and 55 badges drop the “e” (50 quattro, 55 quattro). All five remain Electro, Automatic 1-speed, AWD, SUV 5-doors, 172 mm. Engine sound, engine size in litres, and list price are not measured.