Trust us, there’s not a soccer mom (or dad) in town who would turn down Audi’s new flagship luxury crossover SUV. With 335 horsepower, a 3.0-liter V6 engine and Audi’s signature Quattro all-wheel drive, this upscale family vehicle (starting at $67,400) is powerful enough to traverse a wicked February snowstorm with ease but also elegant enough to ferry clients around town for a posh work dinner. Rest assured, a generous back seat and cavernous cargo area allow the Q8 to feel equally competent when heading to lacrosse with kids of any age.
We stopped into the Audi Connection of Montgomery for a test-drive and were utterly wowed by the SUV’s serene ride, outsized technology and over-the-top safety features. The following is a roundup of our favorite basic features. But do your sweetie a solid and spring for the optional Bang & Olufsen sound system with 17 speakers, 16-channel amplifier and 730 watts. The school drop-off won’t be quite so Stepford, and you can count on your better half loving you for it.
Features
Pre-Sense 360: Up to 24 sensors can constantly monitor what’s happening around the car. Never worry about a blind spot again.
Adaptive Cruise Assist: Distracted by the french fry offensive that’s overtaken the backseat? Exhausted by the stop-and-go of your daily 8 a.m. commute? This feature can moderate acceleration, braking and lane position, ensuring better safety and increased convenience.
Virtual Cockpit: A 12.3-inch, high-res display screen offers both a classic layout as well as the infotainment layout with a virtual-navigation map that is shockingly realistic. Your Google maps app will instantly be dead to you.
Multimedia Touchscreen: It’s like a series of iPads mounted directly on the dash for accessing absolutely everything—think seat heaters, '90s R&B satellite radio (SiriusXM FLY) and Yelp reviews of nearby Chinese restaurants that also offer dim sum.
The Audi Connection
9678 Montgomery Road, 513.891.2000, TheAudiConnection.com