Audi Q8: which version to buy
Buy the Audi Q8 by matching the job to the numbers, not by the badge. The model is one SUV 5-doors line (1 generation from 2018-06-01 to 2024-01-31, then 1 generation, restyling 1 from 2023-09-01, still in production). Every version is Automatic, 8 gears, AWD, Front, longitudinal, 6 cylinders, V-shaped, 4 valves per cylinder, Turbo.
Buy the Audi Q8 by matching the job to the numbers, not by the badge. The model is one SUV 5-doors line (1 generation from 2018-06-01 to 2024-01-31, then 1 generation, restyling 1 from 2023-09-01, still in production). Every version is Automatic, 8 gears, AWD, Front, longitudinal, 6 cylinders, V-shaped, 4 valves per cylinder, Turbo. The real split is Diesel 2967 cm³ versus Gasoline 2995 cm³ versus Plug-in 2995 cm³ — and, on the restyling, whether the Plug-in is the 394 hp 55 TFSI e V6 Plug-in Hybrid quattro tiptronic or the 490 hp 60 TFSI e V6 Plug-in Hybrid quattro tiptronic. If you want the lowest measured mixed fuel use in the catalogue, that restyling Plug-in at 1.6 l/100 km is the answer. If you want the lightest kerb weight, the first-generation 3.0 AT at 249 hp (2140 kg) wins. If you want the strongest 0–100 km/h figure, the restyling 60 TFSI e V6 Plug-in Hybrid quattro tiptronic at 4.8 s wins.
There is no price in this dataset, so “what the extra money buys” is read as what extra power, torque, speed, mass, tank size, and CO2 you actually get when you step from one named version to the next.
Generations: what changed, what did not
1 generation (2018-06-01 – 2024-01-31) lists six versions. Four Diesel/Gasoline/Plug-in pairs overlap the restyling; two first-generation-only choices matter for used buyers: the 3.0 AT at 249 hp (Euro 5) and the 55 TFSI e quattro Tiptronic / 60 TFSI e quattro Tiptronic pair (from 2020-10-01), whose names are not the restyling Plug-in names.
1 generation, restyling 1 (from 2023-09-01) lists five versions. The 249 hp 3.0 AT disappears. The 231 hp 3.0 AT, 50 TDI 3.0 quattro Tiptronic, and 55 TFSI 3.0 quattro Tiptronic keep the same horsepower, 0–100, and top speed as their first-generation twins. The Plug-in pair is renamed and retuned: 55 TFSI e V6 Plug-in Hybrid quattro tiptronic (394 hp from 2024-04-01) and 60 TFSI e V6 Plug-in Hybrid quattro tiptronic (490 hp from 2024-04-01). Overlap years 2023-09 to 2024-01 mean a used car from those months can be either generation; check the exact version name and horsepower, not the calendar year alone.
Engine options and specs (how to tell twins apart)
Two first-generation versions share the name 3.0 AT. They are not the same car: 249 hp versus 231 hp.
| Version | hp (kW) | Nm | cm³ | Fuel | Cylinders / layout | Boost | Gearbox / drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0 AT (249 hp, 1 generation) | 249 (183) at 3000–4500 | 600 at 1500–2750 | 2967 | Diesel | 6, V-shaped | Turbo | Automatic 8, AWD |
| 3.0 AT (231 hp, 1 generation) | 231 (170) at 3250–4750 | 500 at 1750–3250 | 2967 | Diesel | 6, V-shaped | Turbo | Automatic 8, AWD |
| 50 TDI 3.0 quattro Tiptronic (1 generation) | 286 (210) at 3500–4000 | 600 at 2250–3250 | 2967 | Diesel | 6, V-shaped | Turbo | Automatic 8, AWD |
| 55 TFSI 3.0 quattro Tiptronic (1 generation) | 340 (250) at 5000–6400 | 500 at 1370–4500 | 2995 | Gasoline (95) | 6, V-shaped | Turbo | Automatic 8, AWD |
| 55 TFSI e quattro Tiptronic (1 generation) | 381 (280); rpm not measured | 600; rpm not measured | 2995 | Plug-in (95) | 6, V-shaped | Turbo | Automatic 8, AWD |
| 60 TFSI e quattro Tiptronic (1 generation) | 462 (339) at 5300-6400 | 700 at 1340-5300 | 2995 | Plug-in (95) | 6, V-shaped | Turbo | Automatic 8, AWD |
| 3.0 AT (231 hp, restyling 1) | 231 (169) at 3250–4750 | 500 at 1750 | 2967 | Diesel | 6, V-shaped | Turbo | Automatic 8, AWD |
| 50 TDI 3.0 quattro Tiptronic (restyling 1) | 286 (210) at 3500–4000 | 600 at 2250–3250 | 2967 | Diesel | 6, V-shaped | Turbo | Automatic 8, AWD |
| 55 TFSI 3.0 quattro Tiptronic (restyling 1) | 340 (250) at 5000–6400 | 500 at 1370–4500 | 2995 | Gasoline (95) | 6, V-shaped | Turbo | Automatic 8, AWD |
| 55 TFSI e V6 Plug-in Hybrid quattro tiptronic (restyling 1) | 394 (289) at 5300-6400 | 700 at 1370-5200 | 2995 | Plug-in (95) | 6, V-shaped | Turbo | Automatic 8, AWD |
| 60 TFSI e V6 Plug-in Hybrid quattro tiptronic (restyling 1) | 490 (360); rpm not measured | 700; rpm not measured | 2995 | Plug-in (95) | 6, V-shaped | Turbo | Automatic 8, AWD |
Power per litre (hp ÷ displacement in litres): first-generation 3.0 AT 249 hp = 83.9 hp/l; 3.0 AT 231 hp = 77.9 hp/l; 50 TDI 3.0 quattro Tiptronic = 96.4 hp/l; 55 TFSI 3.0 quattro Tiptronic = 113.5 hp/l; 55 TFSI e quattro Tiptronic = 127.2 hp/l; 60 TFSI e quattro Tiptronic = 154.3 hp/l. Restyling Plug-ins: 55 TFSI e V6 Plug-in Hybrid quattro tiptronic = 131.6 hp/l; 60 TFSI e V6 Plug-in Hybrid quattro tiptronic = 163.6 hp/l — the densest output in the catalogue.
Compression ratio is a buyer flag on Diesel only: both first-generation 3.0 AT variants and both 50 TDI 3.0 quattro Tiptronic entries sit at 16; restyling 3.0 AT (231 hp) is 17. Gasoline and Plug-in stay at 11.2. Direct injection (direct) is listed for Gasoline, Plug-in, and the restyling Diesels; it is not measured on first-generation Diesels.
Horsepower, torque, and 0–100: the step-up arithmetic
Diesel ladder (same 2967 cm³). From 3.0 AT 231 hp to 3.0 AT 249 hp: +18 hp and +100 Nm. 0–100 improves by 0.1 s (7.1 to 7.0), but top speed falls by 8 km/h (233 to 225). From 3.0 AT 231 hp to 50 TDI 3.0 quattro Tiptronic: +55 hp, +100 Nm, 0–100 7.1 to 6.3 (−0.8 s), top speed 233 to 245 (+12 km/h). From 3.0 AT 249 hp to 50 TDI 3.0 quattro Tiptronic: +37 hp, same 600 Nm, 0–100 7.0 to 6.3 (−0.7 s), top speed 225 to 245 (+20 km/h). The 249 hp 3.0 AT is not a “faster” Diesel than the 231 hp twin on top speed; it is a higher-torque, Euro 5, thirstier Diesel.
Gasoline versus Diesel. 55 TFSI 3.0 quattro Tiptronic (340 hp, 500 Nm) versus 50 TDI 3.0 quattro Tiptronic (286 hp, 600 Nm): +54 hp, −100 Nm, 0–100 6.3 to 5.9 (−0.4 s), top speed 245 to 250 (+5 km/h). You buy revs and peak speed, not torque.
First-generation Plug-in versus Gasoline. 55 TFSI e quattro Tiptronic (381 hp) versus 55 TFSI 3.0 quattro Tiptronic (340 hp): +41 hp, +100 Nm, 0–100 5.9 to 5.8 (−0.1 s), same 250 km/h. 60 TFSI e quattro Tiptronic (462 hp) versus the same Gasoline: +122 hp, +200 Nm, 0–100 5.9 to 5.4 (−0.5 s), same 250 km/h. 60 TFSI e quattro Tiptronic versus 55 TFSI e quattro Tiptronic: +81 hp, +100 Nm, 0–100 5.8 to 5.4 (−0.4 s).
Restyling Plug-in versus first-generation Plug-in. 55 TFSI e V6 Plug-in Hybrid quattro tiptronic (394 hp, 700 Nm) versus 55 TFSI e quattro Tiptronic (381 hp, 600 Nm): +13 hp, +100 Nm, 0–100 5.8 to 5.7 (−0.1 s), top speed 250 to 240 (−10 km/h). 60 TFSI e V6 Plug-in Hybrid quattro tiptronic (490 hp, 700 Nm) versus 60 TFSI e quattro Tiptronic (462 hp, 700 Nm): +28 hp, same 700 Nm, 0–100 5.4 to 4.8 (−0.6 s), top speed 250 to 240 (−10 km/h). The restyling 60 is the only version under 5.0 s; it is also 10 km/h slower at the limiter than the first-generation 60.
Performance, mpg (l/100 km), and CO2
City / highway / mixed, then 0–100 and top speed:
- 3.0 AT 249 hp, 1 generation: 9.2 / 7 / 7.8; 7.0 s; 225 km/h; CO2 207; Euro 5.
- 3.0 AT 231 hp, 1 generation: 7.2 / 6.4 / 6.7; 7.1 s; 233 km/h; CO2 176; Euro 6.
- 50 TDI 3.0 quattro Tiptronic, both generations: 7.3 / 6.5 / 6.8; 6.3 s; 245 km/h; CO2 179; Euro 6.
- 55 TFSI 3.0 quattro Tiptronic, both generations: 11.3 / 7.8 / 9.1; 5.9 s; 250 km/h; CO2 207; Euro 6.
- 55 TFSI e quattro Tiptronic: city not measured, highway not measured, mixed 2.6; 5.8 s; 250 km/h; CO2 59; Euro 6.
- 60 TFSI e quattro Tiptronic: city not measured, highway not measured, mixed 2.7; 5.4 s; 250 km/h; CO2 62; Euro 6.
- 3.0 AT 231 hp, restyling 1: city not measured, highway not measured, mixed not measured; 7.1 s; 233 km/h; CO2 not measured; eco class not measured.
- 55 TFSI e V6 Plug-in Hybrid quattro tiptronic: city not measured, highway not measured, mixed 1.6; 5.7 s; 240 km/h; CO2 37; eco class not measured.
- 60 TFSI e V6 Plug-in Hybrid quattro tiptronic: city not measured, highway not measured, mixed not measured; 4.8 s; 240 km/h; CO2 not measured; eco class not measured.
Arithmetic on the measured mixed figures: first-generation 3.0 AT 249 hp uses 1.1 l/100 km more than the 231 hp 3.0 AT (7.8 versus 6.7). 50 TDI 3.0 quattro Tiptronic is only 0.1 above the 231 hp 3.0 AT (6.8 versus 6.7) while adding 55 hp. 55 TFSI 3.0 quattro Tiptronic at 9.1 is 2.3 above the 50 TDI and 2.4 above the 231 hp Diesel. First-generation Plug-in mixed 2.6–2.7 is 6.4–6.5 below the Gasoline 9.1. Restyling 55 TFSI e V6 Plug-in Hybrid quattro tiptronic at 1.6 is 1.0 below the first-generation 55 e mixed 2.6 and 22 g/km lower in CO2 (37 versus 59).
Do not treat restyling 3.0 AT (231 hp) or restyling 60 TFSI e V6 Plug-in Hybrid quattro tiptronic as “more economical” than their twins: mixed, city, highway, and CO2 are not measured on those two restyling versions.
Dimensions, weight, tank, clearance, wheels
Kerb / gross, kg per hp (kerb ÷ hp), tank, clearance, wheels:
- 3.0 AT 249 hp: 2140 / 2800 kg (8.59 kg/hp); tank 85; clearance not measured; 275/50 R20, 285/45 R21.
- 3.0 AT 231 hp (both generations): 2145 / 2890 kg (9.29 kg/hp); tank 85; clearance not measured; wheels 275/50 R20 and 285/45 R21 on 1 generation, not measured on restyling 1.
- 50 TDI 3.0 quattro Tiptronic: 2230 / 2900 kg (7.80 kg/hp); tank 85; clearance 215 mm on 1 generation, not measured on restyling 1; wheels 285/45 R21 and 275/50 R20 on 1 generation, not measured on restyling 1.
- 55 TFSI 3.0 quattro Tiptronic: 2180 / 2830 kg (6.41 kg/hp); tank 85; clearance 215 mm; wheels as 50 TDI on 1 generation, not measured on restyling 1.
- 55 TFSI e quattro Tiptronic: 2430 / 3055 kg (6.38 kg/hp); tank 75; clearance 215 mm; wheels not measured.
- 60 TFSI e quattro Tiptronic: 2440 / 3055 kg (5.28 kg/hp); tank 75; clearance 215 mm; wheels not measured.
- 55 TFSI e V6 Plug-in Hybrid quattro tiptronic: 2415 / 3110 kg (6.13 kg/hp); tank 75; clearance not measured; 265/55 R19, 265/50 R20, 275/50 R20, 285/40 R22, 285/35 R23.
- 60 TFSI e V6 Plug-in Hybrid quattro tiptronic: 2415 / 3110 kg (4.93 kg/hp); tank 75; clearance not measured; wheels not measured.
The 249 hp 3.0 AT is the lightest (2140 kg). Plug-in adds 250–300 kg over the Gasoline 2180 kg: first-generation 55 e is +250 kg, first-generation 60 e is +260 kg, restyling Plug-ins are +235 kg at 2415 kg — 15–25 kg lighter than the first-generation Plug-ins, with +55 kg on gross (3110 versus 3055). Tank shrinks 10 litres on every Plug-in (75 versus 85). Ground clearance is 215 mm where measured; it is not measured on either 3.0 AT, on restyling 50 TDI 3.0 quattro Tiptronic, and on both restyling Plug-ins. Independent, spring suspension and Ventilated disc front / Disc ventilated rear brakes are the same on every version.
Payload (gross − kerb): 249 hp 3.0 AT 660 kg; 231 hp 3.0 AT 745 kg; 50 TDI 3.0 quattro Tiptronic 670 kg; 55 TFSI 3.0 quattro Tiptronic 650 kg; first-generation 55 e 625 kg; first-generation 60 e 615 kg; restyling Plug-ins 695 kg. The 231 hp 3.0 AT carries the most extra mass; the first-generation 60 e carries the least.
Which version to choose
Highway Diesel, lowest measured mixed use among Diesels: first-generation 3.0 AT at 231 hp (6.7 l/100 km, Euro 6, CO2 176). Restyling 3.0 AT at 231 hp matches 7.1 s and 233 km/h and raises compression from 16 to 17, but mixed/CO2/eco class/wheels/clearance are not measured — do not assume it matches the 6.7 figure.
Diesel with useful extra speed without a fuel jump: 50 TDI 3.0 quattro Tiptronic (286 hp, 6.3 s, 245 km/h, mixed 6.8). Versus 231 hp 3.0 AT you pay 85 kg extra kerb for −0.8 s and +12 km/h, with only +0.1 l/100 km mixed. Same numbers on restyling 1 except clearance and wheels not measured.
Avoid if Euro 6 and fuel matter more than 18 hp: first-generation 3.0 AT at 249 hp. It is Euro 5, mixed 7.8, CO2 207 — the same CO2 as the Gasoline 55 TFSI 3.0 quattro Tiptronic — and its 225 km/h top speed is the lowest in the set.
Gasoline if you want 250 km/h without Plug-in mass: 55 TFSI 3.0 quattro Tiptronic (340 hp, 5.9 s, 2180 kg). Versus 50 TDI: +54 hp, −50 kg, −0.4 s, +5 km/h, +2.3 l/100 km mixed. Direct injection (direct) is listed. Same performance on restyling 1.
First-generation Plug-in if you need 250 km/h and a measured mixed figure under 3.0: 55 TFSI e quattro Tiptronic (381 hp, mixed 2.6, CO2 59) is the thriftier of the two; 60 TFSI e quattro Tiptronic (462 hp, mixed 2.7, CO2 62) is 0.4 s quicker and 10 kg heavier. Both use tank 75 and sit at 2430–2440 kg.
Restyling Plug-in if you want the catalogue’s strongest acceleration or its lowest measured mixed use: 60 TFSI e V6 Plug-in Hybrid quattro tiptronic is 4.8 s and 4.93 kg/hp — the best power-to-weight here — but mixed and CO2 are not measured and top speed is 240, not 250. 55 TFSI e V6 Plug-in Hybrid quattro tiptronic is the economy pick among Plug-ins that have a mixed number: 1.6 l/100 km and CO2 37, +13 hp and +100 Nm versus the first-generation 55 e, 15 kg lighter kerb, 0.1 s quicker, 10 km/h slower on top speed. It is also the only version with measured wheels from R19 through R23.
New versus used overlap: if the car is from 2023-09-01 to 2024-01-31, confirm whether the badge is 60 TFSI e quattro Tiptronic (462 hp, 5.4 s, 250 km/h) or 60 TFSI e V6 Plug-in Hybrid quattro tiptronic (490 hp, 4.8 s, 240 km/h). The names are different on purpose; mixing them up swaps 28 hp and 0.6 s.
Engine problems, oil type, air filters, RS, e-tron, lease, and sale prices are not in this dataset — not measured. Chassis layout does not choose the car: every Audi Q8 here is the same Automatic 8-speed AWD SUV 5-doors. The choice is 231 versus 249 versus 286 hp Diesel, 340 hp Gasoline, or one of four named Plug-in versions.