Audi A8

Flagship Audi A8 luxury saloon takes the fight to Mercedes S-Class, BMW 7 Series and Jaguar XJ

Auto Express Car Reviews

Rating:
Latest deal price: from £15,566 to £22,520
On the road price: £16,910 - £28,355
For : Performance, quality cabin, driving dynamics
Against : Firm ride, excessive tyre noise, bland looks

All-new Audi A8 flagship aims to steal the luxury car crown from the Mercedes S-Class. And with its lightweight aluminium construction, classy cabin and sharp driving dynamics, the newcomer certainly has all the raw ingredients. All versions benefit from the firm’s trademark quattro four-wheel drive system and eight-speed auto gearbox. Go for the diesel-engined versions and you’ll be rewarded with strong performance and surprisingly strong fuel economy.

Styling

The A8 takes its cues from smaller Audi models and doesn't really stand out from the luxury car crowd as a result. From a distance it could easily be mistaken for an A6 or A6. It’s handsome and well proportioned, but the A8 can’t match the Mercedes S-Class and Jaguar XJ for kerb appeal. Climb aboard and it’s immediately clear that Audi’s designers have made more of an effort inside. It is beautifully built from top quality materials and features a logically laid-out dashboard – the touch pad that allows you to spell sat-nav instructions with your finger is a particularly neat touch. Generous kit includes leather trim, climate control and sat nav.

Driving and Performance

Thanks to its lightweight aluminium construction, the A8 delivers strong straight line pace. There’s a choice of 3.0-litre V6 and 4.2-litre V8 petrol powerplants, but for most buyers the diesel versions deliver the best blend of performance and economy. The 3.0-litre TDI sprints from 0-60mph in 6.1 seconds, yet promises claimed economy of 42.8mpg. All models get quattro four-wheel drive, which delivers staggering traction and grip in corners. However, the price you pay for the Audi A8's sharp handling is a very firm low speed ride. Tyre noise also takes the edge off refinement.

MPG and running costs

Given its huge dimensions and punchy performance, the Audi A8 is remarkably efficient. As you’d expect, the entry-level 3.0-litre TDI is best bet for keeping fuel and tax costs to a minimum. Stop/start technology and regenerative braking help achieve CO2 emissions of only 174g/km, while 40mpg returns at the pump should be possible. Servicing costs will be pricey on all models.

Practicality

Given its luxury car status it’s no surprise to find the Audi A8 features an extremely spacious interior. Even the short wheelbase model benefits from bags of head and legroom. Go for the stretched long wheelbase option and rear seat passengers get an extra 120mm of space to stretch out in. Opening the bootlid reveals a well-shaped 510-litre luggage area, although the absence of a folding rear bench limits the A8’s abilities as a versatile holdall.

Safety and reliability

The Audi A8 hasn’t been subjected to the tough Euro NCAP crash tests, but there’s no reason to doubt its safety credentials. A strong structure and six airbags are standard, as is the firm’s pre-sense system, which automatically tensions the seat belts and closes the windows if it detects an imminent collision. Further confidence inspiring additions include the standard-fit quattro four-wheel drive system, electronic stability control and tyre pressure monitoring.

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5 Comments

Who in their right mind?

Who buys these ridiculous cars?

They are worth about 10pence after 5 years and are an absolute tax, insurance and running cost liability...

Possibly the most idiotic purchase a person can make with 4 wheels on them.

Luxury car economics... Cost a shed load, need a bigger shed load to run and then loose a bigger shed load still when you dispose of!

No wonder the global economy is in such a state... May as well burn twenty thousand pounds of used tenners, as soon as one touches the wheel...

Two and half tons of utter Stupidity!!!

By LegioIXHispana on 9 March, 2011, 3:11pm

Never beat S Class

Audi A8 will never beat S class in a million years. These executive cars are getting more greener. The only way to make them more efficient is to half the size of the engine or to make them hydrogen only.

By THREEPOINTEDSTAR on 10 March, 2011, 6:14pm

LegioIXHispana, you have some points mister, about the target audience. Mostly I cringe here when I see one and its got hire car plates on. Agree it will also depreciate, but just about any new car has lost 50%+- of its value after 3 short years. I'd be delighted with anything that did 40mpg, even if it was stinky diesel and sounded like a washing machine full of nuts and bolts [from the outside].
THREEPOINTEDSTAR, think Audi are already there cobber. Streets ahead with construction technique AND weight, then they ALL have 4WD. Its a well known fact [per most car mags] Audi sets the benchmark for interiors. Can appreciate your obvious devotion, but for me MB's have always been over-engineered, VERY overweight, over-priced, over complicated, [fancy de-contenting over 1000 bits OFF a car!!!] and over-promoted. Its horses for courses though eh.
I most certainly DO NOT like AE telling ,me its a 'bland' car, and giving it a black mark. What utter garbage saying it could be mistaken for an A4. One is twice the size of the other. Sure, comment on how the body has changed etc but never presume you have the rights to subjective emotive opinion. How many times has this been written in a blog.....BEAUTY IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER!

By barina47 on 20 April, 2011, 2:15am

All I need now is to see a white one as a funeral car, just to really upset me.

By barina47 on 20 April, 2011, 2:20am

I bought one on 2006 - paid £47,000 - offered 3 years later by Audi £17,000 - ouch. Good second hand buy though. Mine was also mistaken for an A4 frequently which was one of the reasons I bought it - I like understatement.

By onlineshine on 14 May, 2011, 10:24am

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Pictures

Audi A8