As Audi’s chart-topping flagship sedan, the A8 has come to represent the razor-sharp edge of what this German brand has to offer. Historically bringing the firm’s finest and latest technology, this luxurious limousine is a joy to be a passenger in, but it’s also a great experience for whoever is behind the wheel, too. Featuring turbo diesel and large petrol engines, the A8 represents the pinnacle of luxury sedans, accompanied by the Mercedes-Benz S-Class the BMW 7 Series.
The Audi A8 is the kind of car that can make every journey feel special. For those in the back, the A8 has an experience closer to that of a business class flight, but there’s still plenty for the person driving too, thanks to good driving dynamics and strong engines.
Jack is an experienced motoring journalist who has been covering the latest new-car releases for the last 10 years.
Read bioThe Audi A8 is one of this brand’s most expensive saloon cars, with prices starting from £85,710. Step up to popular S Line trim and that price rises to £89,960, while range-topping Black Edition cars start from £92,260, making the A8 an expensive proposition regardless of which specification you opt for.
However, as is the case with many luxury models, depreciation does hit the Audi A8, offering a significant saving to those who are happy to shop for a used model. On AA Cars, we found an A8 in Black Edition for £70,000 with just 10 miles on the clock, while versions that have travelled just over 6,000 miles can be found for £61,000 - significantly less than you’ll pay for an equivalent brand-new version.
Currently, there are just two engine offerings for the A8. There’s a standard and silky-smooth 3.0-litre turbocharged diesel, or a more powerful 4.0-litre V8 petrol which is fitted to high-performance S8 models. The former will prove to be cheaper to run and easier to maintain, though the latter gives the A8 a huge amount of performance and will allow this big limousine to manage 0-60mph in just 3.5 seconds. Across all models you get Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive system, too. Though understated, you can tell S8 model apart from ‘regular’ versions by the quad exhaust pipes which emit a purposeful grumble.
The diesel model is no slouch, mind you, and will still go from 0-60mph in just under six seconds, meaning that you can still make swift progress behind the wheel.
To drive, the Audi A8 plays the role of the classic limousine. It’s big, mind you, so drivers who are unfamiliar with a car of this size would do best to take things steady to begin with. Its long length and reasonable width mean that the A8 takes some extra consideration to drive, particularly around the city.
However, find a long stretch of road or motorway and the A8 comes into its own. It’s a very quiet car - helped no end by lots of sound deadening - so no matter what speed you’re travelling at, the A8 remains hushed. This helps to make it both relaxing to drive and relaxing to be driven in, too.
Though the A8 is a great car to travel in as a passenger, it’s also very rewarding to drive. In typical Audi fashion, the A8 provides stable, secure handling, with quttro all-wheel-drive bringing extra confidence through the bends and particularly in the wet. The handling isn’t as dynamic as something like a BMW 7 Series, but it’s still very pleasant and is settled when you’re moving at greater speeds, too.
Switch to the S8 and there’s a whole new character to explore. With its punchy V8 engine, it’s got loads of performance to offer and this ties in nicely with the assured handling that the standard A8 model has anyway. While some might expect a little more noise from a V8 engine, the S8 is still a very exciting car to drive.
The interior of the A8 offers a refined and very well-executed design. There’s a very solid feel to the cabin throughout, with pleasant materials and some bright finishers giving the interior of this luxury model a very high-end feel. While it may be a little similar to some of Audi’s more ‘ordinary’ models, it’s all very well made and finished to a high standard. You also get Audi’s full MMI infotainment system, which is one of the slickest around and nicely integrated into the dashboard, too.
However, it’s in the back of the A8 where the experience really is at its best. You can stretch out and enjoy things, with all cars getting retractable blinds for the rear windows as standard, so you can shut the world away and enjoy the peace and quiet of the A8’s refined interior.
In terms of in-car practicality, the A8 is hard to beat. Those up front have plenty of space and because this Audi is quite wide, there’s a lot of shoulder room. It means that even taller occupants will be able to get comfortable. Then, of course, there’s plenty of legroom in the rear of the A8 and, for those needing a little more, then there’s also a long-wheelbase version which brings even more space.
With its 505-litre boot, the A8 offers a good amount of luggage space, too. It’s square, though there’s quite a lot of intrusion from the sides, so you won’t be able to get wider items in there easily. You should be able to get several soft weekend bags in there, mind you.
The A8 is Audi’s flagship and, as a result, has always been given a high level of standard equipment. There’s a dual-screen infotainment system up front, with the lower display providing access to heating and ventilation controls, while the upper one handles media and navigation features. It’s clear, easy to control and intuitively laid out. Smartphone mirroring systems work well, too.
In the rear of the A8 is where you’ll find more entertainment-led functions. Some versions get headrest-mounted screens, via which back-seat passengers can watch films or DVDs, or even connect a laptop to manage work on the move. There’s also a large central media tunnel between back-seat passengers on some models, and in most cars, the passenger seat can be fully extended forward toward the nose of the car to provide the best-possible space for the person riding behind.
Being a high-end, premium model, the A8 comes equipped with lots of equipment as standard. There’s air suspension for a cloud-like ride, as well as front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view parking camera to aid when positioning the car. Audi’s full MMI system with a virtual cockpit system is also included on standard Sport cars, meaning there’s not too much reason to go delving into more expensive specifications.
However, if you do want more equipment, then there are options. Step up to S Line and you get a sportier exterior design with a redesigned grille, more intricate alloy wheels and a greater use of piano black interior finishers. These cars also get acoustic glazing for the windows, making the A8 even quieter when you’re moving at speed.
The range tops off with Black Edition, bringing - as the name suggests - a range of gloss black-coloured elements in areas such as the wing mirrors and wheels. Black Edition cars also get carbon inlays to help give the interior a sportier edge.
You’ll find mainly subdued, executive-style colours available on the A8 and S8 cars, though an ‘Ultra Blue’ stands out as something a little different.
The Audi A8 comes equipped with loads of assistance systems to help keep things as secure as possible. There’s traffic sign recognition, adaptive cruise control with emergency assist and a range of pre-sense features that use clever technology to lessen the effect of any impact or collision. The A8 also gets a head-up display which projects key information ahead of the driver and reduces the amount of time that a driver has to take their eyes off the road.
In terms of reliability, the A8’s use of tried-and-tested engines and mechanicals means that it should prove to be pretty solid. However, as with any high-end model, the sheer level of technology included on this model means that it could be prone to electrical gremlins and, if you’re shopping used, we’d make sure to test all key functions to make sure that they’re working just as they should be.
Opt for the diesel-powered A8 and this car’s efficiency isn’t too bad at all. You can get just over 40mpg on certain models, meaning that this car won’t actually be too costly to run. It’s a particularly good option if you’re looking to use the A8 as a business vehicle as this will reduce your overheads in general. Of course, with its V8 engine, the S8 model can’t match the diesel for efficiency and, even when driven smoothly, will only manage around 24mpg. Fully loaded and with all passengers on board, there’s a good chance that S8 models will struggle to scrape 20mpg.
Emissions range from 183 to 260g/km, which is quite good for a car of this size. Insurance costs will be high on this premium model, however, and since all versions cost over £40,00 new, all models will incur the Expensive Car Supplement for the first five years after registration, making those opening years of ownership quite expensive.
London
Brentford
London
Connect with us
