2024 Audi SQ8 e-tron
21/22" wheels
Luxury Electric SUV · AWD
Based on battery health, build quality, owner data, EPA range, and market pricing
Above average for 2024 EV SUVs (class avg 66 · top 30%)
Personalize this scoreIs a low score bad?
Last scanned 22 days ago
The 2024 Audi SQ8 e-tron (21/22-inch wheels) comes with 218 miles of EPA range, 170 kW fast charging and a 106 kWh battery, and plan around the short range and check that home and route charging cover daily use.
Score read
A 69/100 makes this worth comparing, not chasing. Software and driver-assist score is 100/100, but range and efficiency score is only 37/100. Reddit threads cluster around software tech and owner satisfaction — verify both against the service records. Treat missing repair records as a price problem, not a footnote.
Price context
This trim started from $89,800 new. Used examples have come down since launch, but pricing varies by miles, condition, and how the model is moving right now; pull a current KBB Fair Purchase, an Edmunds True Market Value, or an active dealer listing for this exact trim, and anchor your offer there. Walk if the seller will not move off new-car-style pricing.
Who this is for
✓ Good for
- ⏱ Daily commuter ≤50 mi/day, predictable charging
✗ Avoid if you are a
- ☷ Family hauler 3+ kids, cargo, towing
- ↦ Road tripper Long trips, needs DC fast network
- $ Bargain hunter Best TCO, reliability + low depreciation
Gotchas
- Serviceable Recall paperwork has to match the exact VIN.
Mitigation Use NHTSA and the automaker lookup, then require repair records instead of a verbal promise.
- Built in Range is the easy place to overbuy this trim (37/100).
Mitigation Check your commute, winter margin, and fast-charge plan before you assume the EPA number fits your use.
- Verify Current market pricing is not confirmed well enough for this trim.
Mitigation Compare KBB, J.D. Power, and live listings for the same trim before treating price as a buying signal.
Pre-purchase inspection
- 1 Run the exact VIN through NHTSA and the automaker recall lookup before discussing price.
- 2 Compare the dashboard range estimate with the EPA 218-mile rating after a full charge.
- 3 Confirm how much of the 8-year/100,000-mile battery warranty remains and whether it transfers.
- 4 If road trips matter, run a short DC fast-charge session and watch whether speed tapers normally.
- 5 Map your normal highway route and winter margin against the EPA range before you treat it as a road-trip car.
VIN status first This model has 2 NHTSA recall records. The exact VIN lookup decides whether the car in front of you is clear.
Complaint context This scan found 1 NHTSA complaint record (2 per 10K VINs, low for any vehicle class). Read the themes below before treating the raw count as the verdict.
Price anchor Current market range is $52,500-$59,641. Use that range to compare listings for the same trim, mileage, and condition.
Pricing & Market Value
Score Breakdown
What matters most to you?
Drag the sliders to prioritize what you care about. Your TrimIndex Score recalculates instantly.
Vehicle Specifications
EVs at your price point that match or beat this trim
Price-gated peer set: vehicles within $44.9K–$67.3K market value (±20% of $56.1K). 4 outscore · 2 score within ±2. Mixed across makes — no "spend more, score better" comps.
4
- ✓ +82 mi more range
- ✓ Better build quality
- ✓ 800V DC charging
EV9
- ✓ +86 mi more range
- ✓ 800V DC charging
SQ8 e-tron
- ✓ Different trade-offs at the same price
EQE
- ✓ +89 mi more range
iX
- ✓ Happier owners overall
- ✓ 800V DC charging
Model Y
- ✓ +93 mi more range
- ✓ Happier owners overall
- ✓ Stronger safety record
The federal $4,000 used-EV credit ended Sept 30, 2025.
But 10 states still run their own used-EV rebate programs — some up to $5,000. Pick your state to see what's available for this trim.
Source & disclaimer
Dealers make ~$13,784 on the average car loan.
After the price is set, the finance manager runs four plays to rebuild margin. Every buyer without a pre-approval is a target. Here's exactly what they run — and what stops each one.
78% of dealer loans carry a hidden +1.13% markup above what the lender actually charges. You never see it — it's buried in the contract. · CFPB
Dealer must match or beat your lender — they can't add margin invisibly. The markup play is dead on arrival.
Once you answer, they stretch the term to hit your number. Median result: $4K less off the price, 12 more months on the loan. · Industry avg
Financing is done. Only the sale price is on the table — and the dealer knows it.
Back-office F&I profit averages $1,975/vehicle, up 8.5% YoY. These products exist — but dealer markup is 4–10x what you'd pay elsewhere. · Dealership Guy
Dealer GAP runs $500–1K. Your insurer sells the same coverage for $100–250 over 5 years. Now you know.
"Your loan fell through — come re-sign." This pulls your APR up +5% on average. It's legal. It works because you've already driven the car home. · Ctr for Responsible Lending
A lender commitment letter means the deal is final. "Pending dealer approval" doesn't apply. You can't be yo-yo'd.
That's 17 months of your car payment — handed to the dealer's finance department for nothing.
Takes 2 minutes. No obligation to use it — but you'll walk in with all the leverage.
Pre-approval is a soft credit inquiry — no score impact. FICO treats all auto-loan hard pulls within 14 days as one, so you can still shop rates at the dealer.
NHTSA Recalls (2)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019-2026 vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may prevent the rearview camera image from displaying as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Check VIN status at NHTSA.govVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2023-2024 SQ8, RSQ8, Q8, Q7, and 2024 SQ7 vehicles. The driver's seat side air bag may have been improperly mounted to the seatback frame. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 214, "Side Impact Protection."
An improperly mounted air bag may not restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Check VIN status at NHTSA.govNHTSA Complaints (1 total · 2 per 10K US vehicles · low for any vehicle class)
Our electrical system is going craze. The electronic door handles will lock us in and out of the car, the instrument cluster will black out for periods, safety sensors go off at random, other screens in car will black out leaving controls in operable, and wireless car charger will heat the phone so hot that we have been burnt. We have take to the dealer several times. Some visits they claim they can not duplicate. They have replaced two of the door handles but they still at random do the same thing. There have been numerous system updates done to the car but it does not seem to help. We are told that the solution for these problems have not been developed yet by the manufacturer. There are no warning signs as to when these items will fail, it just happens at random. We do not feel safe driving the car as all the safety components are tied to the electrical system such as steering, braking, lighting, etc.
Our electrical system is going craze. The electronic door handles will lock us in and out of the car, the instrument cluster will black out for periods, safety sensors go off at random, other screens in car will black out leaving controls in operable, and wireless car charger will heat the phone so hot that we have been burnt. We have take to the dealer several times. Some visits they claim they can not duplicate. They have replaced two of the door handles but they still at random do the same thing. There have been numerous system updates done to the car but it does not seem to help. We are told that the solution for these problems have not been developed yet by the manufacturer. There are no warning signs as to when these items will fail, it just happens at random. We do not feel safe driving the car as all the safety components are tied to the electrical system such as steering, braking, lighting, etc.
What Owners Are Saying
"I am in the Sacramento area and I have been looking for a non Tesla EV & found the Etron. For the last few days I have been doing tons of research and I also would love to buy a 2014 or 2015 Q8 Etron. I am worried as this will be my first EV and I initially assumed it would be less maintenance due to being an EV, but if anything does go down on this Etron it’s gonna be very expensive. Hopefully some Etron owners can chime in and advise of their experience owning the vehicle. Going from a Prius to a Audi Etron is gonna feel like a dream ☺️"
"- Much faster boot-up and finding LTE signal - Much smoother swipe response and press response - Weather and News panels have disappeared - When adjusting audio while listening to music, the black box says “Entertainment” as opposed to “Volume” - When adjusting audio while listening to route guidance, the black box says “Navigation” as opposed to “Volume” - When adjusting audio while listening to Hey Audi response, the black box says “Speech recognition” as opposed to “Volume” - Apple Maps turn by turn directions show up in the virtual cockpit and in the HUD - Seeing 11.0 kW displayed for AC charging versus max 10.4 kW before - e-tron route planner has more options for minimum charge on arrival at charger and arrival at destination - Route planner will now add charging destinations and an audio prompt says “the charging destination will be added” if your charge on arrival at a destination is lower than what you have in the settings - There is an on/off switch for preferring charging stations with more than one charger - There is a list of preferred charging providers and charging providers to avoid, but both lists are empty and there is no indication of how to add to those"
"The reason for the cheap price is EVs don't hold value. If/when you need a new battery it will cost more than that used car price... Judging by what Audi dealerships charge for basic things like brakes... According to google the parts alone cost $34k-$50k... Not including labor. It's basically a disposable vehicle."
"#3· Mar 4, 2025 Can you elaborate on specific software annoyances you've encountered? Are there any particular features that are more prone to glitches? #4· May 12, 2025 Software-Probleme. Das Auto ist derzeit nicht fahrbar. Termine dauern ewig. Never Audi again #5· May 27, 2025"
"What's most troubling with Audi's vehicle software, is the refusal of dealers, probably directed by Audi, to admit there are serious problems. I have a '24 Q8 eTron. Lane assist randomly turns on even though I have repeatedly turned if off in the settings menu. Audi dealers deny there is a problem. About one third the time my wife and I are together in the vehicle, both with our keys, driving, music playing, the car set to my profile, the screen will go black, the music stops, my seat starts moving forward to her position. The screen comes back on saying it is now set to my wife's profile. Audi dealers deny there is a problem. One more issue that may or may not be software related is brake "stutter", the same sensation that older drum brake cars occasionally experienced. It's worse when regen braking is enabled. Audi dealers deny there is a problem. #6· May 27, 2025"
"Audi Q8 E-tron reliability I am looking to get an Audi Q8 etron 2023-2025. They seem to be depreciating very quickly so I am wondering if it is just because it’s an EV or if it has some reliability issues. Does anyone have any experience with it. I would love to get the Tri-motor SQ8 etron but they basically don’t exist. I haven’t seen a single one for sale. So probably sticking with a Q8 etron. I’m hoping that since they have sold it under the etron name since 2019 that they worked out the kinks by 2023."
Showing 6 of 12 owner excerpts (sorted by sentiment strength)