2020 Audi Q8

The 2020 Audi Q8 is not a cheap vehicle, but it's not as bad as you may expect. The base Premium trim starts at $68,200, before a $995 destination charge. The mid-level Premium Plus trim retails for at least $72,200, while the top-spec Prestige trim costs $77,700. Fully loaded, it can get very pricey, however, with the total cost exceeding $100,000.

It's rare that one encounters a crossover with reflexes that match demanding standards. Here is one aspect where the Audi Q8 is absolutely worth the money. Everything is crisp, sharp, composed and quick. At least in dynamic mode, anyway. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that the Q8 is related to the mighty Lamborghini Urus, sans a fire-breathing twin-turbo V8. This all comes with a lovely serving of duality. In comfort mode, this tiger retracts its claws for a more docile gait. Along with the dynamic and comfort modes, there's the auto, and individual modes. What's more, the optional adaptive air suspension adds an offroad mode, should you find yourself tempted to treat your Audi Q8 like a Land Rover Defender. But you probably shouldn't.

On a very snowy night in rural Michigan, the Audi's quattro system was put to the test in conditions that left the road completely covered in powder. The adaptive cruise control systems were, unsurprisingly, unable to function as Old Man Winter gave the Mitten State one last what-for before yielding to spring. In short, driving conditions absolutely sucked. But I was piloting a snowspeeder. The drivetrain of the 2020 Audi Q8 didn't seem to mind what was going on around it, although it became very pushy through a roundabout (even with the $2,750 adaptive chassis package that includes all-wheel-steering). To which, I'll blame this on the lack of snow tires.

This segment was born with the BMW X6. And it was hard to take seriously. What the hell is a four-door coupe SUV? How is this even logical? Is this an experiment in doublespeak? Will it help explain the Nazca Lines? Is any of this even real?

Whatever you make of it, nobody is scoffing now. All major German premium brands have marked their territory in this segment, and it's only a matter of time before mainstream brands follow (go figure that Volkswagen is leading the charge with the Atlas Cross Sport). Between the BMW X6 ($64,300), the more punchy Mercedes-Benz GLE 43 Coupe ($71,350), and Porsche Cayenne ($66,800), the Audi Q8 ($68,200) comes in at the pricier end of the segment. But it's also the newest, for what it's worth. And it's based on a platform that supports utility vehicles from far more exclusive brands. We're talking about the Bentley Bentayga (circa $165,000) and Lamborghini Urus (circa $210,000). Our tester came in just shy of $90,000, with extras like the S line plus package, $6,150 Luxury package, and the $5,000 Bang & Olufsen 23-speaker sound system upgrade.

Nevermind the pricing comparison for a moment. There's this quirk we can't get over. And that's the fact that this $90,000 utility vehicle doesn't have remote start. And there are currently no plans for Audi to add the feature. This Q8 also represents a $90,000 vehicle with the base engine. That's hard to overlook when the 500 horsepower Audi SQ8 was recently priced at $89,000.

For this kind of money, there's an ocean of variety to navigate beyond the German four-door coupe SUV segment. Vehicles like the imposing Lincoln Navigator come to mind, as does a well equipped Volvo V90 wagon. Though if your desires are a bit more algorithmic, the Q8 is arguably the most stylish of the German four-door coupe SUVs, and the spaceship interior is nothing short of endearing.

Lastly, just remember, while there's plenty out there for the money, the 2020 Audi Q8 is a Lamborghini Urus in training. And, for us, that's a big plus.

Anybody who is opting for a fully loaded Q8 should at least consider ordering up and waiting for the SQ8 instead. With a starting MSRP of just under $90,000, the inbound SQ8 comes in with a superior performance:dollar ratio, and that's something that customers will immediately feel, rather than having to snoop around the cabin for various upgrades. With that said, a fully optioned Audi Q8 is a wonderful place to be, and if power isn't as important to you, loading one up is the next best thing. The Prestige takes the cake in this regard, but with careful selection, you can get a wonderfully specced Premium Plus with all the right features for a little less.

Who would've thought that the day would come when the mighty Q7 would not be the range-topping Audi SUV? Now that the day has arrived, we are presented with a vehicle that is very different. Whereas the Q7 seats seven and comes with two engine choices, the Q8 only has room for five individuals and has a single engine option. The Q7 has a considerably lower asking price, with the base model starting at under $55,000, but that gets you a 2.0-liter turbo with 248 hp and 273 lb-ft. Equipped with the same engine as the Q8, however, pricing is still more attractive, with the Q7 starting at just over $60,000. In addition, the Q7 has 69.6 cubic feet of maximum volume while the Q8 is 10 cubes less capacious. However, despite the Q7's ability to seat more people, long-legged individuals will be better accommodated in the second row of the Q8 than in that of the Q7, although the latter offers more headroom. The Q7 has also been heavily updated for 2020 and offers similar tech to the Q8. In the end, the Q7 allows for more stuff to be carried, as well as a greater number of passengers, but the Q8 is the more stylish and slightly more advanced model that will please the fashion- and performance-conscious.

Looking for a premium luxury SUV with horrendous fuel economy, seating for five, and all-wheel-drive? The Lamborghini Urus uses a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 to produce 641 hp and 626 lb-ft of torque. It too has a hugely futuristic interior, a highly-attractive body, and ultra-high quality materials. However, the Urus, in Lamborghini's typically flamboyant way of doing things, is more of a raised supercar than a family-friendly people carrier. Cargo space is considerably less in the Lambo, with 56.4 cubic feet of total volume. Headroom in the rear is also severely compromised by the sporty, sloping roofline. Despite the huge price tag that starts at over $207,000 the Urus is short on many of the Q8's standard features, including ambient lighting, a power tailgate, a panoramic sunroof, and even roof rails. On the plus side, at least you get four-zone climate control and a badge worth its weight in gold. If it were our money, though, we'd either stick with the Q8 or hold out for the $141,000 RS Q8 coming in 2021.