It’s easy to have high expectations when trying to get the “best” or “best” of something, but it’s often not that easy to actually meet them. 2025 Audi The RSQ8 Performance is not only the automaker’s flagship, it is also the most powerful internal combustion Audi Sport production car ever. At first glance, expectations are quite high.

The recipe for preparing a high-po SUV is not complicated, and as we already know, everyone does it. porsche, mercedes, bmw, Range RoverYou name it, they all have more than one on staff—some are pretty goodAnd some not so much. Big engines, stiff suspensions, lowered ride heights and tough faces give them a big growl and an intimidating air, but the biggest challenge with these family race cars isn’t making them go fast. This allows them to do everything else well, too.

With 631 horsepower, the RSQ8 Performance certainly has the makings to go fast, but what about the other features an SUV should check? Is it comfortable? Is it family friendly? So can this an Audi masquerade as a Le Mans-winning race car? Okay, maybe that last one is a bit of an exaggeration, but after all, being the flagship and most powerful combustion Audi means you have to have the skills to pay the bills.

What’s up? What’s up?

Audi divides the RSQ8 into two models for 2025; The best of the new series is RSQ8 Performance and only RSQ8. Like BMW’s Competition and Mercedes-AMG’s S trims, Audi is essentially creating a more powerful, more expensive version of its highest-performance SUV, and it’s the Performance version that I drove and will focus on in this review.

The RSQ8 Performance distinguishes itself from its smaller sibling with a variety of exterior and interior tweaks, but it’s the beefed-up performance features that matter. Under the hood lies a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine that produces 631 hp and 627 lb-ft of torque and is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The quattro all-wheel drive system and optimized self-locking center differential distribute power to all four corners, while the updated 23-inch wheels are now “significantly” lighter and have a similar design. dear RS6s wheels. All-wheel steering and adaptive air suspension are standard, as are carbon ceramic brakes that Audi claims halve rotating mass.

The RS sports exhaust has also been updated for better performance and sound, mostly by reducing backpressure and weight. This is further enhanced by reducing the insulation at the front and rear of the car, providing a more engaging driving experience. Regardless, my fear that this would make for a disgusting driving experience was not realized, so this is a win in the livability category.

As for cosmetic bits, there are new bumpers at the front and rear; but you can hardly see the first one because the front part consists entirely of a grille. Speaking of which, the grille mesh features a new 3D honeycomb pattern, while the frame around it looks like a hexagonal-octagonal mix coated in matte carbon. This coating also adorns the trunk lid, side mirrors and rear diffuser.

Driving Experience

One way or another, all roads around the dramatic Montserrat mountain outside Barcelona lead to the top. At least that’s what a local told me before I got into the RSQ8 Performance for my first taste of the super SUV. That seemed to be the case as the windy, narrow lanes leading up the mountain were packed with locals, tourists and, worse, buses heading at a snail’s pace to the famous monastery at the top of the mountain. I may have worked the steering as I negotiated a dozen hairpin turns, but I never exceeded 25 mph for what seemed like forever. But like a true blessing from above, this all changed once I reached the top and was gifted with some of the best driving roads I have experienced in Europe and better yet, there wasn’t a single car around.

I was so high in the mountains that I couldn’t tell where the early morning mist ended and the clouds began, but that poor visibility allowed me a relatively cool time in Audi on Comfort mode before exploring Dynamic and RS. It also provided a pretty nice background for photos.

My first impression was that the RSQ8 Performance was normal? If there were 600+ ponies under the hood, the coolest driving mode did a great job hiding them. While the suspension felt solid, the car never felt like a wild dog on a chain, waiting to be let loose. Moreover, the steering was light and provided enough feedback to reassure me that I wouldn’t steer incorrectly and go over the cliff to my right. So that was nice.

The chassis looked like a tank (I think), and that’s exactly what the RSQ8 Performance looked like next to most European compact cars. And the cabin, despite the “reduced insulation,” felt like an airtight chamber protecting me from the elements.

When the fog lifted, the clouds cleared and the traffic moved away, I selected Dynamic mode and commanded the SUV to change personality. When I pressed a button, I no longer felt like I was driving to the supermarket in a luxury SUV, but something much worse. Switching to sport mode on most high-performance machines is like transforming into a more athletic version of yourself. Selecting Dynamic or RS mode here is like putting on a Jason mask and seeing a red mist. As project manager Alwyn Watkins explained to me, the aim was to equip children with a wide range of skills, from taking them to piano lessons to carving a path through the Black Forest. Mission accomplished, sir.

Diving deep into corners has become easier thanks to the massive carbon ceramics and Pirelli P Zero 295/35 R23 tires. By the way, these brakes were extremely grippy; It’s like throwing you forward and hoping the seat belt keeps you in place. Turning into a blind corner was handled safely thanks to the communicative and responsive steering wheel, and maintaining a steady line was made easy thanks to the exceptional air suspension. Steering feel in most BMW M cars today is sharp and precise but numb; The RSQ8 has all of the above and the difference it makes when cruising at a fast pace on unknown roads is enormous. This effect provides even more benefit on the track.

On Castellolí’s fast and flowing track, I had the chance to explore the 5,500-pound SUV’s capabilities without fear of colliding with an unsuspecting tourist or a wild boar (or both). There I was able to squeeze most of the engine power and really push the 15.5-inch front brakes. Exploring the top end of the tachometer felt like tsunami surfing on a miniature surfboard. Or at least how I imagine it would feel; I’ve never surfed.

Torque is tremendous, even compared to a comparable EV, and it keeps going until you spook or swerve. In Castellolí’s case, that meant passing Turn 1 at around 60 mph and feeling like the adaptive suspension and electronic systems were keeping body roll under control. A quick and sweeping Turn 2, taken a little quicker, really worked the center differential as it reduced power as the car spun at speed.

The tightest corner, a hairpin of approximately 180 degrees, put all of the above and my driving skills to the test. The trick was to slow the car calmly from about 180 mph, launch it left into the bend, but quickly open wide to get the best acceleration out of the bend, and race towards the approaching straight, losing as little speed as possible.

Compared to the light and agile RS3 (which you can read about) here is my experience on the same road), RSQ8 Performance felt like steering a freight train on a rollercoaster track. Totally overkill, but so talented. The SUV has never missed a beat, and although it’s not technically built for the track, it’s sure to beat one.

Early Decision

Knowing how many ounces of supercar and how many ounces of family-friendly SUV to add to the recipe for a car like this is a balancing act that many automakers fail at. They either produce a soft car that masquerades as a sports car, or a hard SUV that is very difficult to get around in the city. The RSQ8 Performance isn’t the best in any of these areas, but it was closest to the sweet spot of the 600-horsepower SUVs I’ve driven. Rather than a wolf in sheep’s clothing, this is a sheep that can turn into a wolf in an instant.

Yes, the suspension is a bit harsh even on its softest setting, and the brakes’ overgripping is its biggest drawback. But if you compare it to something, let’s say BMWAudi is much more comfortable and practical, and its technology and ergonomics are light years ahead. Compare it to a Mercedes-AMG GLE, by the way, and the Audi could probably lap the Benz around Castellolí. It’s that sharp.

If you’re going to spend nearly $140,000 on a high-po SUV, you’ll want it to be good at more than one thing because you’ll be using it for more than one thing; So ultimately for the whole. the point of a high endurance SUV. 2025 Audi RSQ8 Performance is successful in all areas.

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