Introduction
What Car? says...
Think of the Audi A8 – and those being chauffeured around in one – and you’ll probably have an image of people closing million-pound deals between long lunches, black-tie events and private jet trips.
And that’s exactly what Audi wants you to think, because while the A8 does share a space in the luxury car class with the cheaper (and smaller) Audi A6, it belongs in the upper echelons of the class
So, the crucial question is: "Is the Audi A8 good enough to beat the 7 Series and S-Class for comfort, luxury and technology?" In other words, is it one of the best luxury cars around? Read on over the next few pages and we'll give you the answers, as well as recommendations for which engine, trim and options to go for.
Whichever luxury limo you decide is the one for you, don’t forget to check out the deals available through our free What Car? New Car Buying service. It could save you thousands of pounds off the list price of most makes and models of car, and has lots of Audi A8 deals.
FAQs
The Audi A8 didn’t feature in the 2021 What Car? Reliability Survey but it’s worth noting that Audi finished a slightly disappointing 18th out of 30 brands. That was still enough for it to beat Jaguar and Mercedes, but Tesla came 15th, BMW 13th and Lexus first. Read more here
The Audi A8 isn’t available as a fully electric car but there is a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) model: the 60 TFSIe. It combines a 339bhp 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine with a 126bhp electric motor, which results in properly punchy performance. However, it’s the PHEV’s ability to run for up to 36 miles on electric power alone, and its low company car tax rate, that make the 60 TFSIe our pick of the A8 range. Read more here
In addition to the 60 TFSIe engine, we recommend Sport trim, which includes leather seats (heated in the front), a powered bootlid, adaptive cruise control, dual-zone climate control and a head-up display. Even electric sunblinds for the rear windows are included as standard. Read more here
Upgrading from Sport to S line trim brings a sportier look, with 20in (rather than 18in) alloy wheels, an exterior styling pack and darkened privacy glass. You also get clever matrix LED headlights that can keep the main beam on without dazzling oncoming drivers. Read more here
Everything is controlled through a touchscreen, which is more distracting to use on the move than the physical control dial in the BMW 7 Series.The Audi system does at least offer intuitive menus and quick responses. It also helps that you can operate many functions using steering wheel-mounted buttons linked to the Virtual Cockpit digital instrument display directly in front of the driver. Read more here
Most versions of the Audi A8 have a 505-litre boot, which is big enough for eight carry-on suitcases and comparable with the amount of space you get in rivals. However, like those rivals, the A8 has a boot that’s barely any bigger than in a Volkswagen Golf if you go for the PHEV version (the boot floor needs to be raised to accommodate the battery below it). Read more here
| RRP price range | £75,035 - £117,730 |
|---|---|
| Number of trims (see all) | 7 |
| Number of engines (see all) | 4 |
| Available fuel types (which is best for you?) | petrol, hybrid, diesel |
| MPG range across all versions | 134.5 - 40.4 |
| Available doors options | 4 |
| Warranty | 3 years / 60000 miles |
| Company car tax at 20% (min/max) | £1,906 / £8,533 |
| Company car tax at 40% (min/max) | £3,812 / £17,066 |
| Available colours |
