For The A8 is a technologically advanced, refined and beautifully made luxury car. Standard equipment is comprehensive and the 3.0-litre diesel model combines effortless performance with impressive economy.
Against It's not as roomy as some rivals, the subtle styling won't appeal to everyone and drivers will wish the steering provided more feedback.
The A8 offers all the refinement and technology you could want, and has one of the classiest cabins around. Not the biggest limo, but it's far from cramped.
The A8 is available with three engines and two trims but, however you spec it, it will be expensive to buy or lease and suffer from heavy depreciation.
The pick of the range is the 3.0-litre V6 diesel with Audi's quattro four-wheel-drive system, but business users might be tempted to wait for the front-wheel-drive version. This will go on sale towards the end of the year and be quite a bit cheaper to run.
Audi is also working on a hybrid A8 that will be able to run on electric power alone for a few miles, making short zero-emission journeys feasible.
Every A8 comes with a long list of standard equipment, and Audi lets you personalise your car with a range of high-tech options, including night-vision assist, internet connectivity and all-LED headlights.