2019 Audi Q8

Clearly priced at the top of Audi's SUV range, the base model Q8 Premium starts with an MSRP of $67,400, which places it next to the $65,700 Porsche Cayenne, but costs over $6,000 more than the 2019 BMW X5. The mid-range Premium Plus Q8 goes for $71,400, and the range-topping Prestige will cost you $76,550. Audi has priced its new flagship SUV to compete with the traditional leaders in the premium luxury SUV category. A brand new design and generous features list should place it at the top of its class in terms of value. Our test vehicle was priced at just over £85,000, the equivalent of around $110,000, but budget for around $70,000 - $75,000 to get all the features you really need.

To hear that the Q8 is a competent, comfortable, and effortless highway cruiser won't be a surprise, but where the big SUV shines is on twisty, uneven terrain. With the sports steering wheel in hand, if it wasn't for the high riding position, you'd think you were in a car half its size when tackling switchback roads. With a car that measures almost five meters long and two meters wide, it feels odd calling the Q8 agile. But it darts around the corners and changes direction with such swiftness, the narrow country lanes of south Wales and Kerry in south-west Ireland never felt daunting. Aiding that agility is the optional four-wheel steering, which came in very handy when making a three-point-turn out of a Soho side street the SatNav had failed to detect was a dead-end.

With a range of dynamic modes, the Q8 adapts to different tasks with aplomb. The soft 'Comfort' mode gave me a chance to relax when driving on motorways, while in 'Dynamic' the car drops by 40 mm (1.6 inches) and becomes more responsive, and an off-road mode raised the suspension by 50 mm (2 inches), which proved useful down some dirt roads. Even with the 22-inch wheels that come with the top-of-the-line Vorsprung trim (the top trim on Audi's premium models in the UK), the SUV remained consistently composed.

Steering isn't overly communicative, but the Q8 goes exactly where you put it, providing further confidence when threading down a lane wide enough for two European-sized hatchbacks built in the 1950s. In fact, inspiring confidence is arguably the Q8's best trait. An imposing car from the outside, but a sweetheart from behind the wheel.

SUVs have become so dominant that even in the niche luxury coupe-style SUV market there are a few options to consider, most notably the BMW X6 and Porsche Cayenne Coupe. None, however, are as well styled or easy on the eye as the Q8. On top of that, it has plenty of space for both rear passengers and cargo, a class-leading interior, and offers a breadth of performance. You couldn't ask for a better companion on a long journey while it has the agility and composure of a sports car for when you want to have fun. With the recent reveal of the RS Q8 we can't wait to see what the chassis can do with 600 horsepower to play with. That Audi Sport-fettled super SUV will be for those that demand their SUV to be a proper driver's car. For everyone else, the Audi Q8 is one of the best luxury SUVs you can buy.

Having driven the top-spec Q8 Vorsprung in the UK, packing very similar features as the Prestige line in the US, we'd suggest the Premium Plus would be more than sufficient for most people's needs. At just $4,000 more than Premium, it also represents excellent value for money, with additional goodies including the B&O sound system, the top-view camera - extremely useful when maneuvering the large unit in tight spaces - bigger wheels, four-zone climate control, and perforated front seats. Buyers looking to maximize the Q8's practical side will want the Towing package for $750. However, once you start considering the adaptive air suspension for almost $3,000, it might be worth biting the bullet and going for the fully-loaded Prestige trim.

The Q7 has officially been dethroned by the Q8 as the king of the Audi Q lineup, but what are the major differences between the two Teutonic SUVs? The most obvious is the fact that the Q7 is a seven-seater, whereas the Q8 only makes space for five. The Q7 is available with two engine choices; a 2.0-liter four-pot turbo and 3.0-liter supercharged V6. The larger power plant can achieve 19/25/21 mpg city/highway/combined, and produces the same 335 hp as the turbocharged V6 in the Q8, but offers over 30 lb-ft less. Size-wise the Q7 shares a lot its exterior dimensions with the Q8, and both roll on a 117.9-inch wheelbase. The Q7 offers less legroom overall, but more headroom space. The Q7 can also carry more stuff, but can't match the Q8 for tech. Larger families will love the Q7 for its spacious interior and cargo capacity, but the Q8 is a technological tour-de-force that deserves its place as the best Audi SUV around.

The BMW X7 and Audi Q8 have more in common than you'd expect: both are powered by a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Both produce 335 hp, but the Audi comes out on top with 369 lb-ft of torque versus the BMW's 330 lb-ft, although the BMW is more fuel-efficient, achieving 20/25/22 mpg city/highway/combined. The BMW is a bigger car, and outclasses the Q8 in most measurements, even seating seven occupants. Both cars are stacked with technology, but the Audi gets cutting edge features such as matrix LED headlights and head-up display technology. The brand new Q8 does almost everything the BMW X7 does, but the X7 feels more tied down dynamically, is more efficient, and is more spacious. Even though it's $6,000 more expensive, the X7 presents better value for money, making it our pick.