“A great-looking vehicle with performance. Excellent value in comparison to Lamborghini Urus.”
Audi RS Q8: Trims, Generations & Buyer's Guide
Last updated August 4, 2026
The Audi RS Q8 is a two-row, five-seat luxury performance SUV and the high-performance flagship of the Q8 family. It is known for combining serious V8 speed and all-wheel-drive traction with an upscale cabin, daily comfort, and useful cargo room.
Since its 2020 U.S. debut, the RS Q8 has followed one clear formula: give a practical luxury SUV the speed and handling hardware of a serious performance car. It has kept its comfortable five-passenger cabin and everyday usefulness even as Audi increased the power and sharpened the styling. The result is deliberately more understated and usable than many flashy high-performance SUVs.
Strengths
- Its twin-turbo V8 delivers serious speed, with the refreshed Performance model producing 631 horsepower.
- Standard all-wheel drive helps put that power down and adds reassuring traction in poor weather.
- It remains useful for daily life, with seating for five and meaningful cargo space.
- Its air suspension, steering at all four wheels, and body-control hardware help it feel more composed than an ordinary large SUV.
- The cabin combines an upscale atmosphere with enough comfort for commuting and family road trips.
- Its relatively understated design appeals to buyers who want high performance without especially flashy styling.
Who it's for
The RS Q8 suits someone who wants one upscale vehicle for commuting, family trips, and genuinely quick driving. It makes the most sense for a buyer who needs SUV space and all-weather traction but does not want to give up V8 performance or a polished cabin.
Audi RS Q8 lineup
The RS Q8 has generally been a one-trim model in the U.S., so there is no traditional ladder of base, midlevel, and luxury versions. Earlier examples are simply called RS Q8 and pair the original styling with a 591-horsepower V8. Since the 2025 refresh, the U.S. model has carried the Performance identity, bringing revised styling, 631 horsepower, ceramic brakes, and upgraded handling hardware. Look to the earlier version for the same basic super-SUV formula, or the Performance model for the stronger and more sharply tuned evolution.
Audi RS Q8 generations
From 2020 to 2026, the RS Q8 spans 1 generation. The current 1st Generation arrived for 2020.
1st Generation (2020–Present)
The first RS Q8 pairs five-passenger SUV practicality with a twin-turbo V8, standard all-wheel drive, adaptive air suspension, all-wheel steering, and active roll control. It launched with 591 horsepower, then received refreshed styling and a 631-hp Performance upgrade for 2025.
3 In Stock
2026New generation
The 631-hp V8, ceramic brakes, active roll control, suspension, cabin technology, and driver-assistance features carry over.
2025Mid-cycle update
Refreshed front and rear styling, updated lighting, and the new Performance specification bring 631 horsepower, ceramic brakes, and revised chassis tuning.
2024
Upgraded standard front seats and minor equipment revisions; the 591-hp V8 and core performance hardware carry over.
2023
Rear-door power sunshades and additional leather cabin trim become standard.
2022
A broader driver-assistance suite becomes standard, including adaptive cruise control, lane assistance, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic assistance.
2021
The single-trim lineup, 591-hp V8, and performance hardware carry over without significant changes.
2020New generation
The RS Q8 debuts in the U.S. with a 591-hp twin-turbo V8, standard all-wheel drive, adaptive air suspension, all-wheel steering, and active roll control.
What's new by year
See what changed in a specific model year of the Audi RS Q8.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of vehicle is the Audi RS Q8?
The Audi RS Q8 is a high-performance, two-row luxury SUV. It combines a twin-turbo V8 and standard all-wheel drive with five-passenger seating, useful cargo room, and a comfort-focused cabin.
How is the RS Q8 different from a regular Audi Q8?
The RS Q8 is the Q8 family’s gas-powered performance flagship. Its stronger V8, RS-tuned air suspension, active roll control, and other handling hardware make it much more performance-focused than a regular Q8.
Is the Audi RS Q8 a hybrid?
Only in the mild-hybrid sense. The RS Q8 is a gas-powered SUV whose twin-turbo V8 works with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system; it is not a plug-in hybrid.
How much horsepower does the Audi RS Q8 have?
Output depends on the era. The 2020-2024 RS Q8 has 591 horsepower, while the refreshed 2025-2026 RS Q8 Performance raises that to 631 horsepower.
Is the Audi RS Q8 practical for a family?
Yes, for a high-performance SUV. The RS Q8 seats five, provides 40.2 inches of rear legroom, and offers 60 cubic feet of cargo space while retaining an upscale, comfort-oriented cabin.
Is the RS Q8 suitable as a daily driver?
Yes. The RS Q8 was designed as an everyday performance SUV rather than a stripped-down track vehicle. All-wheel drive, adaptive air suspension, five seats, and useful cargo room support regular commuting and road trips.
What is the RS Q8 known for besides acceleration?
The RS Q8 is also known for secure all-wheel-drive traction, an adaptive air suspension, active roll control that limits body lean, a richly finished cabin, and genuine passenger and cargo usefulness.
How many generations of the Audi RS Q8 are there?
There is one RS Q8 generation so far. It launched in the U.S. for 2020 and received a substantial refresh for 2025, when the more powerful Performance version became the U.S. model.
Audi RS Q8 Reviews
What owners are saying about the Audi RS Q8.
4.5
Audi RS Q8
(62 reviews)
“Audi RS Q8 is an incredible performance SUV that is a total pleasure to drive. Both the interior and exterior are well designed and the use of material inside is wonderful.”
“Very well designed, great performance, great technology lot of attention to detail”
“This care is probably the most fun to drive car I have ever owned. Its fast, powerful and comfortable.”
“I would recommend the Audi RSQ8 to persons that want exceptional feel and be in control of a vehicle that does exactly what the driver thinks and wants it to do. The vehicle is in a class of its own.”
“Be ready to have the most satisfying ride experience you could imagine with an SUV.”