Range Rover Sport vs Audi Q8

What's the difference?

Range Rover proudly calls it its “most dynamic” model ever, and based on our first experience that’s most definitely true. Its ability to be genuinely exciting to drive on a race track is nothing short of remarkable for a brand whose history is all about off-road prowess.

On the road it shines just as brightly, with its potent engine and state-of-the-art suspension system working in unison to make for a stunningly dynamic large and luxurious SUV. And then, if you need to cut across a field or scramble up a slippery hill, it will do that too.

Range Rover’s claims of ‘breadth of capability’ is apt but arguably an understatement. I’d stop short of calling the Sport SV the obvious class-leader in the high-end, high-performance SUV market because it’s up against some seriously impressive rivals, but the Range Rover offers a broader range of ability than any of its competitors.

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

The updated Audi Q8 60 TFSIe quattro S line still looks good inside and out. It fits a family comfortably without feeling too big and there’s enough here to satisfy those who like the luxury features. 

It's price tag will hurt it but the improved power outputs and driving range is a big plus and makes the plug-in hybrid powertrain make more sense.

Range Rover is a brand synonymous with big, imposing and off-road capable SUVs, not dynamic and sporty vehicles. But in recent years the Evoque and Velar have added a new layer of style and a sleekness to the brand’s reputation.

The latest generation Sport is still a big and imposing two-tonne SUV, but it’s also definitely sportier to look at and the SV changes only add to that.

It only takes a moment looking at it and it’s clear this is an SUV that means business. The 23-inch wheels fill out the guards, the air-suspension can lower the body to the ground and the aerodynamic package, including the front splitter, make for a purposeful look.

The carbon-fibre bonnet can be finished with the centre section exposed, showing off the weave of the fibres, which is a nice touch, although fake vents on the bonnet and front fenders are a bit disappointing.

When it comes to style, the Q8 60 TFSIe quattro S line has it in spades. Featuring a design that looks athletic with its long lines and wide stance, you'll always be proud to hop into it.

Red calipers now come standard and they look awesome on the optioned 22-inch alloys. The update sees a redesigned front with new grille and reshaped matrix LED headlights and a 2D badge design.

While SUV coupes aren’t usually my jam, the Q8 manages to tick the 'sexy' box.

The interior is honestly the same and only die-hard fans will notice the new menu screens on the multimedia system. The cabin is a fine example of what a luxury SUV should look like because its polished, well-built and sumptuous but it has the classic Audi edge, so there is still a sporty vibe going on.

The panoramic sunroof adds some airiness to the otherwise dark cabin and the Valcona leather upholstery is liberally splashed about, so most of what you touch feels premium and soft.

There are two stand-out features in the cabin, beyond the standard high-level of luxury you expect from a Range Rover Sport. 

The first is the SV-specific steering wheel with illuminated paddles, which feels solid in your hands. But the second is by far the most interesting, the so-called Body and Soul Seats (BASS), which Range Rover has developed in conjunction with Coventry University.

Available with either genuine leather or ‘ultra fabric’ and a 3D-print knit trim, the seats look great on the outside but it’s what’s inside them that’s special.

There are four audio transducers integrated into the seat back which can vibrate to the beat of whatever audio track you’re listening to. The system uses AI to detect the lower frequencies and then work out which beats to transmit.

This is technology used by musicians, Coldplay’s Chris Martin reportedly wears transducers integrated into a vest when he performs, but Range Rover is confident it will add to the ownership experience.

It’s certainly an interesting technology and a demonstration across different music genres highlights the way the system adapts to individual songs, but it’s hard not to feel like this is more of a gimmick than something an owner will use every day. 

If you don’t like listening to music with it, the Body and Soul Seats also work with a ‘Wellness’ setting that features six audio pieces (designed by Coventry University musicians) - calm, soothe, serene, cool, tonic and invigorate.

It’s probably what you need to help settle your heart rate after you unleash the full performance potential of the Sport SV.

In the back seat there’s none of this technology but they do feature heating and ventilation as well as power recline functions. There’s also four-zone climate control, so every occupant can be comfortable.

The cabin offers plenty of space for passengers and you never feel like you're jostling for elbow room unless there's three adults across the rear seat. Comfort is high with ergonomic seating up front with plenty of adjustment and functions. The rear seat has long bases and the seat backs can recline.

Individual storage leaves a little to be desired for the class and the glove box shoulders most of the burden up front as the middle console is really just a shallow shelf large enough for a wireless charging pad and keys or a chapstick.

Each row gets a couple of cupholders and drink holders, and the rear map pockets round out back-seat storage.

Because of the PHEV powertrain, the 60 TFSIe quattro S line has the smallest boot capacity in the line-up at 505L but this is still more than enough for a decent road trip or grocery haul.

The wide boot aperture, level loading area and powered tailgate add some convenience, as does the 40/20/40 split fold on the rear seats.

Access for each row is solid with wide door openings, low seat positions and 205mm ground clearance. Although, the doors have to been slammed shut for them to close properly and this annoyed everyone in the family. You can spring for a soft-close door feature for $1500 and, honestly, it would be worth it.

The 10.1-inch touchscreen multimedia system is logically laid out and the graphics look great. It has haptic feedback which my husband didn’t love as it made it hard to select things on a bumpy road. You also get built-in sat nav, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Other than the occasional lag with the CarPlay connecting upon start up, it's all simple enough to use.

Charging options are good with two USB-C ports in each row and the front also gets a wireless charging pad. The big 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster looks great but it can be annoying to find information on it or personalise it.

There are three Q8 grades before you hop into the flagship SQ8 performance model, and the variant on test for this review sits second from the top.

The mid-life refresh sees pricing increased across the entire range and adds over $1700 to the (already steep) $154,284 MSRP price tag.

Compared to its plug-in hybrid rivals, the BMW X5 xDrive50e and Volvo XC90 Recharge Ultra T8, the 60 TFSIe quattro S line slides in as the most expensive.

Our test vehicle has also been fitted with a few extra items like 22-inch alloys, metallic paint and a luxury seat package, which adds ventilation function to the front seats and heated rear outboard seats. It does tack on $9900 to the overall price tag, though.

The 10.1-inch multimedia system remains and while it sits on the smaller end compared to some of its rivals now, it does get an updated layout and apps for 2025.

Other standard equipment includes a panoramic sunroof, matrix LED headlights, heated side mirrors with memory, keyless entry and start, a powered tailgate, heated front seats, electric lumbar support, three-zone climate control, electrically adjustable steering wheel, electric auto cargo cover, and a tyre repair kit.

The technology is the standout with a 17-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, digital radio, as well as built-in satellite navigation, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and colour head-up display.

You also get an Audi Connect plus app which allows remote access for security and assistance services including car finder with remote signal, remote lock and unlock, emergency call, and online roadside assistance.

Does the PHEV Q8 offer good value? Value is relative, the features list is fairly robust but it’s hard to ignore that this PHEV sits $10K above its internal combustion siblings.

Sadly the wonderfully evocative supercharged V8 engine from the previous generation Range Rover Sport SVR is gone.

But, thankfully, in its place is a more powerful engine that’s exclusive to the Sport SV in the Jaguar Land Rover family.

It’s a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol engine with mild-hybrid assistance, which is actually built by BMW and based on the same powertrain as you’ll find in the M5, albeit with some specific Range Rover elements for more off-road capability.

It’s also more powerful than the old supercharged V8, making an impressive 467kW of power and 750Nm of torque, which is a 44kW and 50Nm improvement over the old engine.

It’s paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission, again with a specific SV calibration for improved performance. 

And, of course, being a Land Rover, it’s also got a four-wheel drive system with full off-road systems as well as an active locking differential.

The Q8 60 TFSI e is AWD and has a 3.0-litre V6 turbo-petrol plug-in hybrid powertrain for a combined power output of 360kW and 700Nm of torque.

The power output has increased by 20kW with the mid-life refresh and that shaves 0.4 seconds off the 0-100km/h sprint time bringing it down to just 5.0 seconds. So it’s a quick and powerful SUV.

The powertrain is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission which is mostly smooth and the switch between petrol and electric is fairly seamless.

As far as plug-in hybrids go, everything seems to work well here.

Despite all the extra power, thanks to the mild-hybrid system it’s more fuel efficient and produces less emissions than the old 5.0-litre V8.

Still, it’s all relative, and as you’d expect from a twin-turbo V8 SUV it’s still thirsty and uses 11.7-12.5-litres per 100km, based on European specifications.

The mild hybrid system uses a crank-integrated starter generator instead of a conventional alternator, providing a boost of up to 20kW and 175Nm of electrical power when needed, with the energy captured during braking and stored in a 48-volt lithium-ion battery.

The mid-life update sees a larger 25.9kWh lithium-ion battery which improves the electric driving range by 27km, bringing it up to 74km overall. This still falls short of its direct rivals but it’s an improvement for efficiency because it’s now more than enough range if you’re just doing the school runs and some errands around town.

The Q8 60 TFSIe has a Type 2 charging port and like most plug-in hybrids, lacks a CCS enhancement, so you have to make do with AC charging options with this one. On a 7.4kW AC charging system you can go from 0-100 per cent in three hours and 45 minutes but if you’re using just a standard house plug port, it will take a few hours more. It's best to leave it overnight.

Audi throws in three charging cables, including a 240-volt domestic charger but you have to pay extra for a wall-mounted box.

The official combined fuel cycle is a low 1.8L/100km and like all plug-ins the best efficiency will be achieved if you charge it often. After charging almost every day and doing a mix of open road and urban driving, my real-world usage has popped out at 7.7L/100km, which isn’t as good as I was hoping but it’s not terrible. I would expect the efficiency to drop on longer trips.

The Q8 likes to drink the good stuff and Audi recommends a minimum 95 RON unleaded petrol to be used for this grade.

Before driving the Sport SV you need to understand its highly complex suspension system that allows it to be so dynamically capable. Range Rover calls it a '6D Dynamic' system, because it can control the car left and right, up and down and corner to corner. 

To achieve this the system uses a combination of hydraulic interlinked dampers, height-adjustable air springs and pitch control, which makes it a semi-active suspension set-up similar to the set-up Formula 1 race cars used to boast. 

This allows the Sport SV to sit between 10-25mm lower than the other Sport models and with its clever suspension can actually sit flatter in the corner with less pitch and roll - which is the traditional enemy of high-riding SUVs when it comes to handling.

But the suspension is only part of the story, with the intelligent all-wheel drive, rear-wheel steering, torque vectoring and the active locking rear diff all combining to produce an SUV with incredibly impressive dynamic capability.

Put simply, there’s never been a Range Rover that deserved to be driven on a racetrack. The Sport SV changes that, and thankfully the company let us loose on the challenging Portimao circuit in Portugal to put the SV through its paces.

Range Rover management was quick to stress it doesn’t expect the Sport SV to be a race track regular for its owners, but driving it on track did highlight the extreme potential it offers. 

With such a powerful engine it should come as no surprise that the Sport SV hauled down the straight, hitting 233km/h at the end of the long front straight, but with speed still rising which suggests its 290km/h claimed top speed is accurate.

Even from those speeds and with 2560kg of SUV to slow down, with the carbon ceramic brakes it was no trouble whatsoever. Instead the braking was strong and consistent across multiple laps. 

The steering is the particular highlight, with the rear-wheel steering helping to turn the Sport SV sharper and more quickly than a big SUV like this should. 

But while it impressed on the circuit, we also experienced it on some great winding rural roads across Portugal and this is where it shone even more brightly.

This is an SUV that you’ll genuinely enjoy driving with its ability to carve through corners and blast down anything resembling straight road.

But to ensure it lives up to the Land Rover badge on the front, we also drove it off-road. Nothing too serious at first, just muddy ruts, across some water and over some rocks.

But then we were guided through a course that showed off its articulation potential, which is far greater than the average owner will ever need. 

However, to achieve this Range Rover removed the carbon-fibre front splitter, so it’s not the most off-road friendly model the brand offers.

The Q8's athletic looks are matched by its on-road handling. The power has a hefty kick that’s effortlessly delivered once you’re up to speed. It did have a few confused moments when I had to accelerate quickly from a full stop - the lower gears didn’t immediately engage and I got a proper bunny hop but it was short lived and for the most part the powertrain delivers the goods.

The adaptive air suspension makes for a comfortable ride despite the massive wheels and you can comfortably cruise around town or the highway without much jostling.

Cabin noise is minimal around town but you get a low hum of road noise at higher speeds. Overall, it's still a refined cabin space to spend a lot of time in.

I do miss hearing some of the engine thrums though because even when the battery is depleted, you don’t get a lot of engine feedback. It certainly adds to the refinement but it loses some of the fun.

The higher driving position feels comfortable and visibility is quite good. Steering is responsive and feels sporty with lane changes but its 13.3m turning circle lets it down in car parks.

The 360-degree view camera system is clear and this has multiple parking sensors. In theory parking should be easy but again, until you get used to that bigger turning circle it can feel clumsy in smaller spaces.

The PHEV Q8 variant is unrated with ANCAP as it’s not covered by it’s siblings' five-star rating from 2019, but it does have a lot of standard safety features like eight airbags, including side chest airbags for the front and rear passengers. Surprisingly, it misses out on a front centre airbag though. 

A standout feature is the safe exit assist which will delay your door from opening if it detects a car or cyclist. Always a handy thing when you have a kid like mine who can carelessly throw open their door.

There is also a ‘pre-sense’ feature where the car detects that you’re approaching traffic at lights or a roundabout and it will automatically start slowing down for you, which I quite liked.

Other standard features include adaptive cruise control with stop and go, lane keeping aid, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert, driver attention monitoring (sound and visual alerts), 360-degree view camera system, front and rear parking sensors, tyre pressure loss indicator, intelligent seatbelt reminders, first aid kit, hi-vis vests and a collapsible warning triangle.

The autonomous emergency braking (AEB) has car, cyclist and pedestrian detection and is operational up to 85km/h (up to 250km/h for cars).

There are two ISOFIX child seat mounts and three top tether anchor points. The rear seat is wide enough to accommodate three child seats side by side.

The safety systems feel well-calibrated and are not intrusive for daily driving. In a world when cars seem to chime an alert for everything, this is a welcomed plus.

If you’re worrying about servicing costs, you’re probably shopping at the wrong end of the market, but as with the range-topping Range Rover model the price of the car is expected to include servicing for the first five years and roadside assistance for the same period.

It’s also covered by a five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty.

As with all Range Rovers the car will tell you when it needs a service depending on driving conditions. For example, if you hit the track or go off-roading it will likely need a visit quicker than if you're just commuting to and from work.

Audi offers the Q8 60 TFSIe with a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty and the battery is covered by an eight-year/160,000km warranty which are all pretty standard terms compared to its rivals.

There is a standard five-year servicing package that costs $3570 and servicing intervals are spaced at every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever occurs first. However, if you purchase the Audi Advantage Package you add a further two years of coverage to the warranty, roadside assistance and servicing, which is pretty good for the class.