Q8 e-tron Owner Considering a Cayenne EV – Worth It?

[Gkoroglu]

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for some honest advice from current Cayenne owners.

I currently drive an Audi Q8 e-tron. While it’s been a comfortable car, I’ve been disappointed by the real-world range and the fact that Audi ended production of the model so quickly. Because of that, I’m considering selling it and moving to the new electric Porsche Cayenne.

The decision isn’t easy because it means taking a significant financial hit. I tend to keep my cars for many years, so resale value isn’t my biggest concern. What matters most to me is driving experience, comfort, quality, technology, reliability, and long-term satisfaction.

For those of you who have owned multiple Porsche models or have driven the new Cayenne EV:

• If you were in my position, would you sell the Q8 e-tron and make the switch?
• Do you think the Cayenne EV will feel like a substantial upgrade, or is it more of a marginal improvement?
• Is there anything you think I should know before making such an expensive decision?

I’d really appreciate opinions from people who have experience with both Audi and Porsche. Thanks in advance!

 

[RMI]

I've been in quite a few e-tron's (both the original e-tron and after the facelift when it became Q8) and I've had two Q7 PHEV's (2nd gen en the facelift) which essentially had the same interior.

First of all the Cayenne is going to feel like a larger vehicle, the e-tron always felt more Q5 than Q7 size-wise to me. The Cayenne electric, while physically slightly smaller feels more like a Q7, Q8 (original Q8), X5 etc.

Having spent a bit of time in the showroom in the Cayenne electric it feels about the same as my last Q7 as far as general build quality but with less corners being cut so to speak. The Audi's always had touch points that didn't feel quite as premium unless you specced Audi exclusive options for extended leather etc.

You're still in an Audi from when they actually had good interiors, so I wouldn't expect a night and day difference on the interior quality. If you would be comparing it to a current Audi model it would be a completely different story.

Comfort will depend a lot on whether or not you currently have air suspension (don't know if it was standard or not).

EV tech has come a long way since the e-tron was introduced so for the EV aspect it'll be a significant upgrade (although even a Q6 would be a significant upgrade). At it's core the e-tron is now an 8 year old platform.

As far as other tech goes, the HUD in the new Cayenne looks amazing as does the general responsiveness of PCM. As far a driver assists go I'm not expecting a significant improvement from what I had in the last Q7 the ACC and Active lane centering was already really good in that one. (much better than the GLE I'm currently driving for work).

But ultimately it comes down to what you truly want, I said the same in the iX5 thread. The Cayenne has never been the rational choice in it's segment nor has it ever tried to be that, you bought it because you want the Porsche. If you're looking for the objectively "better" car the X5, Q7/8, GLE have always been the more rational choice.

Although I'd argue that for most Cayenne buyers the above mentioned cars were never in the competition to begin with.

 

[Gkoroglu]

Thanks for the detailed comparison, I really appreciate it.

What you said about the Cayenne not being the “rational” choice but the car you buy because you want a Porsche really resonates with me. That’s honestly where I am.

My biggest disappointment with the Q8 e-tron hasn’t just been the range, but the fact that Audi discontinued the platform so quickly. It makes the car feel like a dead end despite still being a very comfortable vehicle.

The new 800V architecture, much faster charging, improved efficiency, and the new PCM are probably the biggest reasons I’m considering the switch. I’m not expecting a night-and-day difference in interior quality either, since I agree the Q8 e-tron came from Audi’s best interior era.

I also don’t really care about depreciation or whether it’s the most rational financial decision. If I’m going to keep a car for years, I’d rather drive the one that makes me smile every time I walk up to it. That’s something I’ve always associated with Porsche.

Hopefully I’ll get to test drive the Cayenne Electric soon before making the final decision. Thanks again for sharing your experience.

 

[RMI]

My biggest disappointment with the Q8 e-tron hasn’t just been the range, but the fact that Audi discontinued the platform so quickly. It makes the car feel like a dead end despite still being a very comfortable vehicle.

The new 800V architecture, much faster charging, improved efficiency, and the new PCM are probably the biggest reasons I’m considering the switch. I’m not expecting a night-and-day difference in interior quality either, since I agree the Q8 e-tron came from Audi’s best interior era.

I wouldn't say they necessarily discontinued it THAT quickly, ultimately the orginal e-tron made it's debut in 2018, so 7 years for an EV doesn't seem to that crazy to me.

I wouldn't count on the platforms we're seeing today lasting much longer than that, so if that's your main worry it might be better to jump on this train now rather than in a year or two.

Of course the current platforms meet the demands of a lot more people than the previous gen did so the current gen might feel less dated when it gets surpassed. But I wouldn't count on today's architectures lasting much longer than yours.