Item: Audi A8
Rating: 5
Author: What Car? Team

This 3.0-litre V6 diesel is smooth and quiet, if not quite as refined as the 400d engine in the rival Mercedes S Class. It isn't as powerful as that engine, either, although performance is more than adequate and there's a healthy swell of acceleration available from low revs.

L 50 TDI Quattro

Saloon

Audi is a brand that sets the standard for interior quality, and this, combined with its vast and ever-growing model line-up, has helped it become one of the ‘big three’ German prestige car makers, along with BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

The A3 hatchback, A4 executive saloon and Q7 SUV have all won their classes at the What Car? Car of the Year Awards in recent years, while the TT coupé is the most decorated car in the history of the ceremony.

At least some of Audi's success over the past 30 years can be attributed to the growth in sales of vehicles with four-wheel drive; the company arguably led the way in bringing 4x4 technology into the mainstream, with its Quattro coupé in the early 1980s.

Today, most Audis are available with at least the option of four-wheel drive, while the list of SUVs from the brand includes the Q2, Q3, Q5 and Q7.

AUDI

Standard equipment is very generous. Entry-level Sport models have 18in alloy wheels, leather seats (heated in the front), a powered bootlid, adaptive cruise control, dual-zone climate control and even electric sunblinds for the rear windows.

Standard equipment is very generous. Entry-level Sport models&nbsp;have 18in alloy wheels, leather seats (heated in the front), a powered bootlid, adaptive cruise control, dual-zone climate control and even&nbsp;electric sunblinds for the rear windows.

Sport

50 TDI Quattro Sport 4dr Tiptronic

50-tdi-quattro-sport-4dr-tiptronic

Alpina B5

Alpina D5 S

Aston Martin Rapide S

Audi A6

Audi A8

Audi S8

BMW 5 Series

BMW 6 Series GT

BMW 7 Series

BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe

BMW M5

Bentley Flying Spur

Bentley Mulsanne

DS 9

Genesis G80

Jaguar XF

Jaguar XJ

Lexus ES

Lexus GS

Lexus LS

Maserati Ghibli

Mercedes E-Class

Mercedes S-Class

Porsche Panamera

Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo

Rolls-Royce Ghost

Rolls-Royce Phantom

Volvo S90

Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

The A8 is competitively priced next to the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/7-series/saloon/review/n127">BMW 7 Series</a> and even undercuts the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/s-class/saloon/review/n17355">Mercedes S-Class</a> a little. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/new-official-fuel-consumption-and-co2-tests-explained/n1213">CO2 emissions</a> for the A8’s regular petrol and diesel engines are higher than those of the 7 Series, but beat the S-Class, while the plug-in hybrid 60 TFSIe, with its near 30 mile all-electric range and CO2 rating of just 60g/km, makes company car drivers liable for<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/company-car-tax-bands/n1255"> (benefit-in-kind) tax payments</a> of just 14%. We suspect this will make it the go-to choice for many.

Bear in mind, though, that those who mainly make long motorway journeys won’t feel the 60 TFSIe’s fuel-saving benefits quite so keenly – a plug-in hybrid’s electric motor really comes into its own at lower, urban speeds.&nbsp;

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As for <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/personal-contract-purchase-pcp-explained-car-finance-guide/n19714">PCP finance</a>, the S-Class historically undercuts the A8 thanks to the substantial deposit contributions that Mercedes tends to offer. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/depreciation-what-is-it-and-how-do-i-avoid-it/n1122">Resale values of big limos</a> like these are notoriously poor; they can lose up to half of their value from new – sometimes more in the case of top-end models – in the first year alone.

Standard equipment is very generous, though. Even entry-level cars have 18in alloy wheels, leather seats (heated in the front), a powered bootlid, adaptive cruise control, dual-zone climate control and even electric sunblinds for the rear windows.

All A8s come with a fair amount of safety kit as standard, including <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-aeb-and-how-does-it-work/n3283">automatic emergency braking</a>, traffic sign recognition and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/the-new-car-technology-that-could-save-your-life/n17548">lane-keeping assistance</a>. Unfortunately, the A8 hasn't been crash tested by <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/euro-ncap-safety-ratings-2019-%E2%80%93-how-safe-is-your-car/n17044">Euro NCAP</a>, so we can't tell you how well it's likely to protect you if an accident proves unavoidable.&nbsp;

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<h3>&nbsp;</h3>

The A8’s engine line up is refreshingly straightforward, Audi offering buyers the choice of a 335bhp 3.0-litre V6 petrol (called the 55 TFSI), a plug-in hybrid version (called the 60 TFSIe) that pairs the same V6 petrol engine with a 126bhp electric motor for a combined total power output of 443bhp, and finally a 282bhp 3.0-litre that runs on diesel (badged 50 TDI).&nbsp;

The diesel is smooth and quiet, if not quite as refined as the 400d engine of the rival <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/s-class/saloon/review/n17355">Mercedes S-Class</a>. It isn't as powerful as that engine, either, although performance is more than adequate and there's a healthy swell of acceleration from low revs.

If you spend a great deal of time in a city or you’re simply worried about the future implications of buying a diesel, the plug-in hybrid makes a wholly convincing alternative. With an all-electric range of 28.6 miles, many journeys can be completed on battery power alone, making the 60 TFSIe far cheaper to run than its petrol or diesel stablemates. And given the space, it can even accelerate up to 111mph on battery power alone. This makes for a beautifully serene experience for passengers, with no engine noise or gearchanges disturbing the relaxed ambiance.&nbsp;

However, like all plug-in hybrids, you need to plug it in to get the benefit of the batteries (economy will dip into the low 20s if you treat it like a regular hybrid). That means, if you don’t have a charger either at home or at work, you’d be better off looking at the petrol 55 TFSI. True, it doesn't quite have quite the low-down grunt of the plug-in or diesel, but it's still well-suited to the A8. Its power delivery is buttery smooth and you’ll rarely hear any noise from it, especially when in Efficiency mode. Engage this, and the engine can turn off automatically when you lift off the accelerator pedal, allowing the car to enter a fuel-saving 'coasting' mode. When you want to get a shift on, the 55 TFSI revs more keenly and is ultimately faster than the 50 TDI diesel, although the petrol Mercedes S500 is quicker still.&nbsp;

Whichever engine you choose, you get an eight-speed automatic gearbox. In the petrol and diesel, it can be frustratingly slow-witted. Whether you’re at a standstill or on the move, there’s often a delay between you pressing the accelerator pedal and the A8 gaining speed. This isn’t a problem in the plug-in hybrid; the car always saves enough battery so you can pull away using the electric motor, which responds immediately.

Every A8 has Audi’s quattro four-wheel-drive system, providing impressive all-weather traction and reassurance, while Vorsprung models also get four-wheel steering. At low speeds, this steers the rear wheels in the opposite direction to the fronts, improving manoeuvrability and making the A8 feel shorter than it is in tight spots, such as multi-storey car parks. At higher speeds, the wheels move in the same direction for greater stability when, for example, changing lanes on the motorway. It’s especially useful on the long-wheelbase model and if you spend a lot of time in urban environments.&nbsp;

While the A8 is easy to drive and very surefooted, its big body wallows on its standard air suspension through bends; it definitely prefers going in a straight line. Put simply, the rival S-Class is much more enjoyable to drive – especially on a road with lots of twists and turns.&nbsp;

But, of course, pointy handling isn't really what the big Audi is all about, and the A8's softer edge has an important upside: it's not only the best-riding car in its class, but one of the most comfortable cars full stop. It simply glides along any stretch of road, seemingly untroubled by all but the most pronounced bumps. Whether you’re sitting in the front or the back, you’ll enjoy unparalleled levels of comfort.

It is worth noting, however, that the plug-in hybrid isn’t quite as supple as the regular car over urban imperfections; the weight of its batteries gives the suspension more to deal with. So instead of being by far and away the best riding car in the class, the plug-in is simply on a par with a petrol or diesel Mercedes S-Class.&nbsp;

We’d recommend opting for the smallest wheel possible (18in wheels are available on base Sport trim) to maximise ride comfort, but the A8 remains surprisingly supple and road noise is well contained even on massive 20in wheels. Wind noise is also kept to a minimum even at motorway speeds and if you want even greater separation from the outside world, you can option double-glazed side windows for a reasonable cost.

OUR PICK

Fuel 

Gearbox

0-62 MPH

http://example.com

50 TDI

l-50-tdi-quattro

For those worried about the future implications of buying a diesel, the petrol makes a wholly convincing alternative. True, the 55 TFSI doesn't have quite the low-rev grunt of the diesel, but it's still well-suited to the A8. Its power delivery is buttery smooth and you barely hear any noise from it.

55 TFSI

l-55-tfsi-quattro

We have yet to try this engine

60 TFSI e Quattro

60-tfsi-e-quattro

S8 Quattro Vorsprung

s8-quattro-vorsprung

If you’re the kind of person who spends their time closing million-dollar deals or planning hostile takeovers, you’ll probably have very little time left over for driving. If there’s a business meeting, a power lunch or a glitzy black-tie gala you need to get to, you simply pay someone else to get behind the wheel.That’s why luxury limousines are the conveyance of choice for the rich and powerful, and the Audi A8 is one of the mainstays of the genre.

Alongside its arch rivals&nbsp;the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/7-series/saloon/review/n127">BMW 7 Series</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/s-class/saloon/review/n17355">Mercedes S-Class</a>, it's the go-to choice for anyone who wants a level of luxury&nbsp;above regular saloon cars (such as the smaller <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a6/saloon/review/n61">Audi A6</a>), but doesn't want or need the elite badge of a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/bentley">Bentley</a> or a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/rolls-royce">Rolls-Royce</a>.

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As with both of its key rivals, the A8&nbsp;is available in standard-wheelbase form and as a stretched, long-wheelbase 'L' model –&nbsp;the latter of which provides even more leg room for those sitting in the back. There's also a choice between petrol and diesel power, although&nbsp;there's no&nbsp;plug-in hybrid version yet.&nbsp;

But here's the crucial question:&nbsp;is the A8 good enough to beat the S-Class&nbsp;and 7 Series for comfort, luxury and technology? 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.

And whichever luxury limo you end up deciding&nbsp;is the one for you, don’t forget to head over to our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Buying</a> pages to find out how much you could save on the brochure price.

<h3>&nbsp;</h3>

Slide behind the A8's steering wheel and you’ll find a huge range of adjustment for the supportive, 22-way electrically operated seat. Four-way powered adjustable lumbar support is standard, and even the steering wheel moves in and out, and up and down, electrically.

The Audi A8 is also beautifully finished inside, with superbly luxurious materials, lashings of soft leather, and a standard of assembly that trumps even the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/s-class/saloon/review/n17355">Mercedes S-Class</a>. Granted, the A8’s interior design might be a little conservative compared with the S-Class, but the A8 is the plushest car of its type, and that’s way more important.

The A8 is easier to see out of than most of its rivals. Its broad side windows and large rear screen provide a good view in all directions, and you get front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera on all trims. If you need a little more help, a surround-view camera is available as part of the reasonably priced Comfort and Sound pack. Standard LED headlights also make for outstanding visibility at night (adaptive Matrix LED versions, which shield oncoming traffic from being dazzled while maintaining main beam, are available as an option on S line trim and above).

And despite having so many gadgets on board, the A8 is relatively easy to interact with. The 12.3in digital instrument display behind the steering wheel (called Virtual Cockpit) conveys a lot of information with admirable clarity, as does the standard head-up display that projects selected information onto the windscreen so it's even closer to your line of sight.

Meanwhile, the dashboard itself features two high-definition touchscreens – a 10.1in top screen and 8.6in one below – which dominate the dashboard. These are easy enough to use when you're parked up but can be a little distracting when you're on the move; imagine trying to operate an iPad while driving and you'll get the idea. Both the S-Class’ and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/7-series/saloon/review/n127">BMW 7 Series</a>’ systems are easier to-use, the latter being especially easy to use on the move.

True, the graphics are sharp, the system responds quickly to commands and you even get haptic feedback from the screen so you know that your prod has been registered. However, there's no doubt that the infotainment system in the rival BMW 7 Series is much more user-friendly.

Of course, with luxury coursing through the A8's veins, it’s not just those in the front who have access to the A8's gadgetry. Rear passengers in the long-wheelbase 'L' version of the A8 benefit from a standard 5.7in tablet stored in the centre armrest, which can be removed and used as a remote control for several of the car's functions, including the climate control system and the optional electric rear seats.

The standard stereo features a six-channel, 180-watt amplifier and 10 speakers, including a subwoofer. If that’s not good enough, a 17-speaker, 730W Bang &amp; Olufsen upgrade is available as part of the Comfort and Sound Pack (this comes as standard on Vorsprung models).

The A8’s blend of performance, comfort and serenity make it the most relaxing limo you can buy. It's also beautifully built, practical and well equipped

Passengers in the back are treated to first-class levels of comfort, too – especially in the long-wheelbase 'L'&nbsp;version, which of course&nbsp;provides even more room to stretch out your legs.

There's actually slightly more space than in the back of an equivalent long-wheelbase <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/s-class/saloon/review/n17355">Mercedes S-Class</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/7-series/saloon/review/n127">BMW 7 Series,</a> but frankly all three are ridiculously roomy.&nbsp;The optional&nbsp;electrically adjustable rear seats give you the ability to tailor your seating position for using a laptop,&nbsp;a snooze and anything in between.

All A8s offer decent interior storage, too. There are two cupholders in the front and two in the back, plus a rear central armrest and deep door pockets.

For those who love a stat, the boot's capacity is 505 litres. But that’s just a number, so what does it mean in practice? Well, it means the load bay is&nbsp;roughly the same size as the Mercedes S-Class' and&nbsp;is&nbsp;big enough to hold eight carry-on suitcases. It also means there’s room enough for a couple of sets of golf clubs, should&nbsp;you and a chum fancy a quick round between important business meetings.&nbsp;

That said, if you go for the plug-in hybrid variant, you’ll have to make do with just 390 litres, the batteries taking up a good chunk of boot space. Plug-in rivals suffer from the same problem, however; the plug-in S-Class offers around the same amount of space. For reference, the much smaller <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a4/saloon/review/n105">Audi A4</a> offers around 480 litres of space. And regardless of model or option pack, there’s no way of folding the rear seats down to increase the size of the boot.

<h3>&nbsp;</h3>

Petrol, Petrol/Plug-In Elec Hybrid, Diesel

sport

Opting for S line trim gets you larger 19in wheels, Matrix LED headlights with LED rear lights, front sports seats and rear privacy glass.

S Line

s-line

Black edition mainly adds styling touches on top of S Line trim

Black Edition

black-edition

The performance-focussed S8 won't leave you wanting for features, either.

We are yet to try out this variant

Vorsprung

vorsprung

The Vorsprung is the top trim level of S8, and leaves virtually no option box unticked

S8 Vorsprung

s8-vorsprung

The A8’s blend of performance, comfort and serenity are wedded to a beautifully built, practical and well-equipped interior. In fact, by a whisker, it beats the Mercedes S Class, which shows just how good to drive and be driven the Audi A8 is

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Plush ride and the ability to cruise in near-silence </li> <li>Powerful and efficient engine</li> <li>Space for passengers to stretch out in the rear seats</li> <li>Exquisite materials and build quality</li> <li>Endless luxuries on the options list</li> <li>Sensible fuel and tax bills</li></ul>

If you’re in the market for a luxury car, you’ll be after a sumptuous interior, a ride that can soak up the worst of the UK’s pockmarked roads and supreme refinement that allows you to travel at speed in near-silence.

Your cheapest (and smallest) options are the Audi A6, Mercedes E-Class and brilliant BMW 5 Series, the latter of which is so good we voted it our 2017 Car of the Year. Larger options that are definitely worth considering if you plan to travel in the back include the BMW 7 Series, Audi A8 and the Mercedes S-Class, which is beautifully finished inside and not as expensive to run as you might think.

Or if money really is no object at all, the Rolls-Royce Ghost is hard to overlook – especially in extended-wheelbase form. It’s as opulent as cars get.

Audi A8 review

Introduction

What Car? says...