Audi Q8 e-tron SUV, Sportback get 2023 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ ratings

MANILA: Audi has received the 2023 Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) with its Q8 e-tron models — the sport utility vehicle (SUV) and Sportback kind.

The latest recognition that the non-profit organization gave to the two electric vehicle (EV) models — which were introduced in the Philippine market last August — were based on their crashworthiness, as well as other factors such as crash avoidance and lighting technology.

Joining the two are other electrified Audi models that earned the Top Safety Pick+ this year are the Audi Q4 e-tron and Q4 e-tron Sportback.

The criteria for safety evaluations, Audi Philippines shared, are basically the same for electric vehicles and combustion engine-powered models. “But with its e-tron range, Audi goes further by ensuring the battery is safeguarded in the event of a crash. The e-tron models’ battery system consists of a rigid housing that not only protects its modules even during a major collision, but also acts as an additional reinforcement for the vehicle’s structure,” the company noted in a statement.

Now with more stringent requirements, the IIHS recently updated side crash evaluation to involve 82 percent more energy compared to the original test, along with a new nighttime vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention test.

Per Audi, the standard crash avoidance systems on the Q8 e-tron SUV and Q8 e-tron Sportback garnered a “Superior” rating for daytime use and an “Advanced” rating for nighttime use.

In order to meet the requirements for the two top IIHS awards for the year, a vehicle must have “Good” ratings in the driver- and passenger-side small front overlap and original moderate overlap front collision tests, as well as come with “Acceptable” or “Good” headlights across all its variants.

In the Philippines, Audi offers two configurations for the Q8 e-tron SUV: the 55 and 50 variants.

The Q8 e-tron SUV 55's electric motor can deliver up to 408 horsepower (hp) and 664 Newton-meters (Nm) of torque. Its battery allows it to cover distances of up to 582 kilometers (km). On the other hand, the Q8 e-tron SUV 50’s mill can dish out 335 hp and 664 Nm, and its energy bank gives the vehicle a driving range of as much as 491 km when fully charged.

Meanwhile, the Audi Q8 e-tron Sportback boasts the same output as its SUV 55 counterpart while offering a 600-km range that can be attributed to its aerodynamic coupe silhouette at the rear.

Photos from Audi Philippines

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