Can it reach Baguio?

RANGE is a huge factor when considering an electric vehicle (EV), but why isn't this a major selling point in internal combustion engine (ICE) cars? Unlike gas stations, the network of charging stations is still in the development stage. It's a classic chicken-and-egg dilemma: should infrastructure be built first to encourage EV adoption, or vice versa? Until then, range will remain a key issue for EVs.

Today's EVs, however, have advanced to the point that their range can rival equivalent ICE cars. Recently, we drove an Audi Q8 e-tron 55 from Manila to Baguio and back — an impressive 526-kilometer (km) journey. The Q8 e-tron 55 features a dual-motor all-wheel-drive (AWD) layout with 408 horsepower and 664 Newton-meters of torque, accelerating this SUV from 0-100 kph in just 5.6 seconds. Equipped with a 106-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack, its WLTP-tested range is 582 km, while the more aerodynamic Sportback version can reach up to 600 km.

So yes, a 526-km drive is feasible if your EV can cover up to 582 km. Charging stations en route to and in Baguio are also more common these days, so we could have made stops. However, to showcase the Q8 e-tron 55's maximum range, we didn't charge at any point during the trip. Driving this Audi was both relaxing and invigorating, with the grippy quattro AWD making winding roads enjoyable. As expected with German luxury cars, the Q8 e-tron offered exceptional refinement.

I've often said in EV reviews that if an ICE vehicle isn't known for its sound or «soul,» going electric feels like a natural evolution. Automakers have spent decades refining ICE engines to reduce vibration and improve sound quality. With electric motors, that refinement is inherent; quietness and ease are simply part of the package. The Q8 e-tron 55 is a case in point, combining effortless power with a linear, ICE-like power delivery that feels natural but with the instant responsiveness typical of an EV.

The Q8 e-tron 55 also has all the luxury features to make long drives comfortable and enjoyable: a sublime Bang & Olufsen surround sound system, a beautifully crafted interior, an intuitive Audi MMI twin-screen infotainment system, and my favorite