Should you buy one?

If you’re looking for an SUV with excessive performance impressive everyday usability, the Audi RSQ8 deserves your attention. It handles remarkably well for its size and the straight-line performance is exceptional. Though there are certainly more playful SUVs to drive, few will be as easy to live with, owing to its comfortable ride and spacious interior. 

But if you wind the RSQ8 up, it turns into a brute as you unleash that mighty V8 engine. The Performance model especially gives this Audi an almost Jekyll and Hyde personality and one that makes it one of the better high-end performance SUVs you can buy – we would take it over a BMW X5M or Mercedes-AMG GLE. 

What we like

We love the RSQ8’s engine, with the mighty V8 feeling raw and engaging. With the reduced sound deadening and sports exhaust on the Performance exception, it’s huge fun to drive. It also handles very well for its SUV and yet can be supremely comfortable. The RSQ8’s interior is also one of the most spacious in this class. 

What we don’t like

The RSQ8’s interior is really showing its age, with the twin-screen infotainment not as good as those from the equivalent BMW or Mercedes. The RSQ8’s gearbox also isn’t the most responsive and some rivals offer more engaging drives, though aren’t quite as well-rounded as this Audi.