Porsche Macan 4 vs Audi Q8

[USMA81]

Eighteen months ago, for my first EV, I bought a '23 Audi Q8 Prestige (top trim with lower range than on ‘24 refresh). Now also with the Macan 4, I thought I'd offer a comparison of the pros and cons of the two vehicles, in no particular order. Note this is top level of the Audi SUV line vs Macan which isn’t at the top of the Porsche line. Each, of course, is focused on a different driver / driving style.

What I like about the Audi:
- Better door closing, soft close doors
- Announcement when I am exiting the vehicle: "Your mobile device is still in the vehicle."
- Supple ride / quietness / bank vault feeling / excellent interior material choices, a feeling of plush luxury
- Lots of room for back seat passengers and dog in back
- Bang and Olufsen (better than the Bose, subjective)
- Paddles, easy to use, provide two discrete levels of regen

What I like about the Macan:
- True EV platform (Q8 is ICE-modified platform)
- More mature MMI
- Better range (though ‘24 Q8 closes the difference)
- Charging speed (but Audi is quite good with very flat curve)
- Sportiness (can’t wait to take the Macan on the back mountain roads)
- No inspections until second anniversary (Audi is every 10,000 miles)
- Over the air updates (effectiveness TBD; not available in Audi)
- Newer design (Audi Q8 design is good, but now six years old)

I’m guessing the upcoming Cayenne EV will be a great blend of the best of these two vehicles.

 

[dgkhn]

Announcement when I am exiting the vehicle: "Your mobile device is still in the vehicle."

Ooh, this would be nice.

 

[W1NGE]

Q6 etron is the sibling of the Macan EV and would be a more accurate comparison.

Q8 production has ceased and factory to close due to poor sales.

Soft close eventually came to the Taycan at refresh time and so will likely make an appearance at some point.

 

[USMA81]

Yes, the factory producing the Q8 has closed for retooling and launch of the next generation, reportedly based on the PPE platform. Styling likely will change too.

I agree that the closest comparison to the Macan is the Q6, but I don’t have a Q6. The changes from even a few years ago (Q8 design to Macan design) are significant.

 

[W1NGE]

Yes, the factory producing the Q8 has closed for retooling and launch of the next generation, reportedly based on the PPE platform. Styling likely will change too.

I agree that the closest comparison to the Macan is the Q6, but I don’t have a Q6. The changes from even a few years ago (Q8 design to Macan design) are significant.

I think the Q8 is dead - no plans to retool and the factory (Belgium - only place they were made) is up for sale from what I read a while back. Audi are blaming slow EV sales / market confusion rather than they built a car that no one actually needed.

Macan EV + Q6 e-tron are as similar as the Touareg and Cayenne (and Bentayga, Urus) in terms of platform and battery.

 

[USMA81]

I think you're being a little hyperbolic in saying nobody needed the Q8 (OK, nobody needs any of the cars we discuss here). Admittedly, volume was not high, largely, I think, for two reasons. First, it was priced high, as are most luxury vehicles made in the EU. Second, its performance is not stellar, being built on an ICE platform. Still, Audi produced 66,000 units, about 10,000 per year. For me, it is a terrific vehicle for in-town use, certainly better than most of the electric vehicles on the market, once one gets past the price. Despite some shortcomings, I was willing to pay for the luxury it provides and for much better safety tech than my previous ICE vehicles had. I'm not an Mercedes guy and the Taycan didn't fit my needs. I could have waited 18 moths for the Macan for my first EV, but I wanted to try an EV sooner.

Audi is not going to abandon the top of their SUV line, and so I think the chances that it is "dead" are pretty low.

https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/audi/e-tron/356867/new-audi-q8-e-tron-confirmed-launch-2026

The bigger issue is how well the VW group can compete on the world stage in the future. That is an issue that might affect all their brands, not just Audi.

 

[W1NGE]

I think you're being a little hyperbolic in saying nobody needed the Q8 (OK, nobody needs any of the cars we discuss here). Admittedly, volume was not high, largely, I think, for two reasons. First, it was priced high, as are most luxury vehicles made in the EU. Second, its performance is not stellar, being built on an ICE platform. Still, Audi produced 66,000 units, about 10,000 per year. For me, it is a terrific vehicle for in-town use, certainly better than most of the electric vehicles on the market, once one gets past the price. Despite some shortcomings, I was willing to pay for the luxury it provides and for much better safety tech than my previous ICE vehicles had. I'm not an Mercedes guy and the Taycan didn't fit my needs. I could have waited 18 moths for the Macan for my first EV, but I wanted to try an EV sooner.

Audi is not going to abandon the top of their SUV line, and so I think the chances that it is "dead" are pretty low.

https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/audi/e-tron/356867/new-audi-q8-e-tron-confirmed-launch-2026

The bigger issue is how well the VW group can compete on the world stage in the future. That is an issue that might affect all their brands, not just Audi.

Time will tell I'm sure. The article is from early Dec and I think the axe fell soon after.

Cayenne EV will be on sale in 2026 which will be another reason to avoid an Audi equivalent.

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