Note: This article was first published on 17 December 2024.
I’m a very lucky boy because I get to experience many new cars, and as someone who has openly professed to not like SUVs, I cannot believe I’m typing the following words. But the best car I tested this year was a hulking electric SUV – the Audi SQ 8 Sportback e-tron. Never say never, indeed.
What is it about Audi’s flagship electric SUV that is so beguiling that I happily added 500km to its odometer over a single weekend? It may weigh over 2.5 tons, but the way it picks up its skirt and goes when you mash the accelerator will leave your jaw on the floor and cars in the dust.
Because it has adjustable air suspension, it feels like it has two distinct personalities. In Comfort, it’s extremely cosseting and rides like a luxury sedan. Put it in its Dynamic setting and there’s considerably more body control and accuracy in the steering. It won’t suddenly turn into an RS3, but it’s fun enough given the limitations of our local road network.
It’s excellent at all the mundane daily stuff too. There’s ample space for four; a classy and intuitive interior; and loads of tech like adaptive cruise control to make daily commutes as pleasant and stress-free as possible.
But it’s not perfect. It’s not very efficient, especially if you pin the accelerator and use all of its 496hp and 973nm of torque frequently – which you will. To only have 300-plus km of range when you have a large 106kWh battery is tragic. Then there’s the price tag, which can be easily mistaken for a listing of a small apartment on PropertyGuru. But if you could, few cars offer as much performance, comfort, and practicality in one package. That’s why it’s the best car I drove in 2024.
Kenny Yeo /
Deputy Editor
Kenny has been writing about technology for nearly two decades. He is the site’s Apple expert, audiophile, and petrolhead. He also has an interest in the latest laptops, cameras, keyboards, and networking technologies. The one device he cannot do without is his MacBook Pro.
