Audi Q8 vs SQ8 vs RS Q8: Which One Fits You?

The Audi Q8 family shares one body, one cabin layout and standard quattro all-wheel drive. What changes is what is under the hood and how hard it pulls. Here is how the three compare.

Audi Q8 55 TFSI — the everyday luxury pick

• 3.0L turbocharged V6 with mild-hybrid assist
• 335 hp, 369 lb-ft
• 0–60 mph in about 5.5 seconds
• EPA-estimated 19 mpg combined (17 city / 23 highway)
• Premium, Premium Plus and Prestige trims, from $76,900

The Q8 is quick, quiet and the most efficient of the three. For commuting on I-5 and weekend trips, it is all the SUV most drivers need.

Audi SQ8 — V8 thrust with daily comfort

• 4.0L twin-turbo V8
• 500 hp, 568 lb-ft
• 0–60 mph in 4.0 seconds
• EPA-estimated 16 mpg combined (14 city / 20 highway)
• Premium Plus and Prestige trims, starting just over $100,000

The SQ8 is the sweet spot for drivers who want V8 sound and acceleration without the RS price. It keeps the 7,700-lb towing rating, and for 2027 adds available 23-inch black metallic wheels with the Black Optic package.

Audi RS Q8 performance — the flagship

• 4.0L twin-turbo V8 tuned to 631 hp and 627 lb-ft
• 0–60 mph in 3.4 seconds
• Single, fully equipped trim from $139,700
• New for 2027: standard dual-pane acoustic side glass

The RS Q8 performance is the most powerful SUV Audi sells in the U.S., built by Audi Sport for drivers who want supercar acceleration with room for five.

How to choose

Pick the Q8 for refinement and value, the SQ8 for V8 performance you can live with every day, and the RS Q8 performance if nothing less than the top of the range will do. Compare equipment by trim in our Q8 trim levels guide, then book a back-to-back drive at Audi Elk Grove.

Pricing is MSRP and excludes destination and dealer-added fees; it is subject to change.

Keep exploring: Audi Q8 overview · Q8 trim levels · Interior, cargo & towing · Q8 vs Q7 · Q8 vs X6 vs GLE Coupe