Audi Q8 E-Tron vs Toyota Mirai
What's the difference?

Audi Q8 E-Tron

—

2024 price

View pricing & specs

Toyota Mirai

—

2021 price

View pricing & specs

Summary

2024 Audi Q8 E-Tron

2021 Toyota Mirai

By Byron Mathioudakis

By Tung Nguyen

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Not Applicable, 0.0L

Fuel Type

Electric

Hydrogen/Electric

Fuel Efficiency

0.0L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Exceptional quality
EV refinement and civility
Still a handsome machine

Head-turning looks
Very long driving range
Peppy electric performance

Dislikes

Starting to feel dated
Efficiency not the best
This is a very heavy SUV

Nearly zero refuelling options
You can’t buy one
Compromised rear seat space

2024 Audi Q8 E-Tron Summary

Things that have had a name change AFTER they’ve become famous…

Okay… there’s Kanye West’s switch to Ye, Twitter’s rebranding to X and now this – the Audi Q8 e-tron.

As the brand’s first production EV, it used to be known simply as Audi e-tron. But that was confusing, because – Porsche Taycan-based GT and RS sports sedans aside – every electrified vehicle that the company has made before and since wears e-tron as a suffix.

Beyond new badging, the Q8 e-tron also brings a facelift and improvements underneath, to better challenge the BMW iX, Jaguar I-Pace and Mercedes EQC and EQE large electric SUVs, among others.

How does the Ingolstadt EV fare? Let’s find out.

View full pricing & specs

2021 Toyota Mirai Summary

Toyota Australia is on the record as saying it doesn't want to push one form of electrification over another, and to that end wants the market to choose whether it wants hybrids, plug-ins, full battery or hydrogen vehicles.

While hybrid options have well and truly arrived in models like the RAV4, Corolla and Camry, and we’re all still waiting for the full-electric and plug-in vehicles, Toyota has now brought in its second-generation Mirai hydrogen FCEV.

But with Toyota, and Hyundai with its Nexo, the only brands pushing hydrogen into the mainstream, is it good enough to hold its own against battery electric models like the Tesla Model 3 and Nissan Leaf?

View full pricing & specs

Deep dive comparison

2024 Audi Q8 E-Tron 2021 Toyota Mirai

Verdict

The Audi Q8 e-tron ushers in welcome improvements to an already likeable and capable large luxury SUV.

But it is also feeling dated compared to newer and fresher rivals like the BMW iX, isn’t as good to drive as the best, offers disappointing range for the size of the new battery, and prices are creeping up for what is essentially a half-decade-old EV.

The name change isn’t enough. What the Q8 e-tron really needs is a massive leap in its Vorsprung durch Technik in a rapidly evolving electrified landscape.

Very good… but far from great.

Verdict

Believe it or not, the Mirai represents a pretty big gamble for Toyota, a company who has been known in the past for being relative conservative with its vehicles.

In recent years though, with models like the GR Yaris and even the RAV4 Hybrid, it seems like Toyota is more willing to go out and take a chance on something that would not be considered a safe bet.

The Mirai represents this willingness to experiment, but it is still too early to say whether it will a winner or a failure.

It drives well, looks good and its powertrain is a potential gamechanger for electric cars in Australia, but whether hydrogen takes off locally with customers is beyond Toyota’s control and up to those willing to invest in refuelling infrastructure.

Audi Q8 E-Tron vs Toyota Mirai What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Audi Q8 E-Tron vs Toyota Mirai
What's the difference?