Audi Sq8 E-Tron vs Cadillac Vistiq
What's the difference?

Audi Sq8 E-Tron

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2024 price

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Cadillac Vistiq

$116,000 - $116,000

2026 price

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Summary

2024 Audi Sq8 E-Tron

2026 Cadillac Vistiq

By David Morley

By Jack Quick

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Not Applicable, 0.0L

Fuel Type

Electric

Fuel Efficiency

0.0L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Dynamics and ride
Effortless performance
Quality, logical interior

Appealing price tag
Fantastic access to third row
Ridiculously quick

Dislikes

Range could be better
Sportback trades function for style
It's so heavy

Over-sensitive driver attention monitor
Mediocre fast-charging rate
Limited dealer network

2024 Audi Sq8 E-Tron Summary

Late last year, Audi gave its large SUV range a freshen up by stocking its showrooms with the Q8 55 e-tron model; a rebadged, facelifted full-sized electric SUV designed to go head-to-head with things like the Mercedes-Benz EQE.

As it turned out, the Q8 55 was destined to become the mid-spec model and now Audi has book-ended the Q8 range with the entry-level Q8 e-tron 50 and the flagship SQ8 e-tron.

And while the previous 55 model was available in Sportback and SUV (station-wagon) forms, the latter has now been dropped.

That leaves the 50 model as an SUV only, while the headline act – and the vehicle we’re testing here – the SQ8 can be had in either body style.

The reason we’re concentrating on the biggest, baddest, most expensive variant, is that’s precisely what Audi is tipping the Australian market will gravitate towards.

In fact, as many as 70 per cent of Q8-platform sales could be the SQ8. That’s in line with the Australian market’s fondness for spending up big on the sportiest version of many makes and models, but it remains a bit of an anomaly in the rest of the car-buying world. Nevertheless, it remains the reason we’re focussing on that variant here.

Of course, electrification has never been more important for a carmaker operating here since the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard was announced recently, and even though the Q8 range will be a small percentage of Audi’s sales here, any EV represent progress towards meeting corporate targets.

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2026 Cadillac Vistiq Summary

Cadillac launched in Australia last year as an all-electric brand and its first offering was the Lyriq large SUV. It now has a follow up in the form of the Vistiq which has a similarly confusing name but is even larger.

With three rows of seating and an electric powertrain, it’s a key rival to the likes of the Hyundai Ioniq 9, Kia EV9 and Volvo EX90.

We’ve already had a spin of the Vistiq over in the USA but this is our first time on Australia soil, so let’s see how it stacks up.

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Deep dive comparison

2024 Audi Sq8 E-Tron 2026 Cadillac Vistiq

Verdict

There’s not doubt large, luxury SUVs like the SQ8 have a lot to gain from electrification in terms of refinement, performance and running costs. The flip-side is the extra mass of the batteries and other electrical gear but, in this case at least, there might be a silver lining there in the way the hulking SUV manages to force the air suspension into agreeable submission.

For our money, the station-wagon variant is the one to buy. It’s cheaper to begin with and with its greater luggage capacity, it simply makes more sense. Which is not to say the Sportback version is compromised in luxury, safety or performance terms, but if practicality doesn’t figure highly in any purchasing decision involving an SUV, then we sense a great disturbance in the force.

Regardless of what’s powering the SQ8, the driving experience is vintage Audi and that’s a good thing, and even that massive kerb mass can’t blunt the sort of chassis dynamics and feedback we’ve come to expect from the brand.

Some buyers will possibly baulk at the projected range and the Audi’s appetite for electrons, but when lined up side-by-side with its major competition, the SQ8 is every chance to emerge as the one to buy. We’ll need a proper comparison for that, of course, but the Audi should be on any short-list of big, deluxe, electric SUVs.

Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with accommodation and meals provided.

Verdict

The Vistiq is a properly luxurious car that cleverly undercuts all the premium players. It has a flashy exterior with a generously equipped and spacious interior. Plus, it’s got enough oomph to move a small mountain.

Cadillac seems to be onto a winner with this car, especially at this price point. However, it will be interesting to see whether buyers of big SUVs like this are willing to make the jump to electric. The upper large SUV segment has been dominated by the Toyota LandCruiser and Nissan Patrol for decades now and I don’t see this changing anytime soon.

Audi Sq8 E-Tron vs Cadillac Vistiq What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Audi Sq8 E-Tron vs Cadillac Vistiq
What's the difference?