Skip advert
Advertisement
In-depth reviews

Audi Q8 – MPG and running costs

Economy is so-so, even in the plug-in hybrid. That’s the price for shifting the Q8’s bulk

Evo rating
RRP
from £73,825
  • Well built; refined; painless to drive
  • Forgettable dynamics; cabin is no longer cutting edge

We’ve only sampled the plug-in hybrid Q8 so far, which Audi claims can achieve 217mpg. Unsurprisingly, we got absolutely nowhere near that figure on a long run. Depending on the state of battery charge somewhere around 35mpg is more realistic, dropping down to 30mpg if you haven’t topped it up. With that said, the e TFSI’s 50-mile claimed electric range means that short journeys can be extremely cost-effective if you have access to home charging. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

Claimed figures for the 50 TDI and 55 TFSI are much more realistic. The diesel is said to achieve up to 35mpg on the WLTP cycle (we got a similar figure from the pre-facelift model), with the petrol dropping to 27mpg.

The Q8’s large wheels mean that tyre bills will sting when it’s time to replace. Expect to pay around £1000 or more for a full set of 21-inch items, with the bigger 22s costing a little extra.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Polestar 3 review – electric SUV updated to face the BMW iX3
Polestar 3
In-depth reviews

Polestar 3 review – electric SUV updated to face the BMW iX3

Polestar’s stylish electric SUV has big competition now from BMW and Mercedes-Benz, so an update was in order
18 Sep 2026
Can electric beat petrol? Alpine A290 meets Mazda MX-5 – car pictures of the week
Mazda MX-5 v Alpine A290
Features

Can electric beat petrol? Alpine A290 meets Mazda MX-5 – car pictures of the week

Alpine’s A290 is under consideration by evo contributor Peter Tomalin as a replacement for his MX-5. A comparison is in order…
19 Sep 2026
Rocketeer Mazda MX-5 NC offers V6 power for less than a new 1.5
Rocketeer Mazda MX-5 NC
News

Rocketeer Mazda MX-5 NC offers V6 power for less than a new 1.5

Rocketeer’s turned its genius to the maligned NC MX-5 and created what’s sure to be a sweetheart of a V6 sports car
17 Sep 2026