Audi A8 (2010-2017) review

The Audi A8 is the German firm’s most luxurious saloon, sitting comfortably above the A6 line-up, and competing with rivals such as the BMW 7 Series, Jaguar XJ, Maserati Quattroporte, Range Rover and Mercedes S-Class.

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There have been just three generations of Audi A8 for sale since the model was first introduced in 1994, but this current one was facelifted in 2013 when it benefitted from a major upgrade of its onboard technology. Like most of the competitors, it’s hard to think of safety, luxury and tech advances that aren’t available on this impressive range flagship.

The Audi A8 comes in standard and long wheelbase versions, the latter known as the Audi A8L. With an all-new replacement – the fourth generation – due on sale in 2018 Audi UK has limited the current engine choices to 258bhp 3.0 and 380bhp 4.2-litre TDI units shared across both bodystyles, plus a 493bhp 6.3-litre W12 petrol option for the A8L, and a 513bhp twin-turbo 4.0-litre TFSI petrol for the sporty S8 variant. All models come with Audi’s trademark Quattro four-wheel drive system, and they share an eight-speed auto transmission.

The Audi A8 SE Executive is the cheapest trim level in the range, but it would seem lavishly equipped to most drivers with its 18-inch alloy wheels, adaptive air suspension, electric leather seats, 7-inch TFT screen, HDD sat-nav, keyless go, climate control, reversing camera and parking system.

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The Audi A8 Sport is next up with bigger 19-inch alloys, a BOSE surround sound system, three-spoke steering wheel and LED Matrix headlamps plus an exterior styling pack. The Audi A8 Black Edition adds whopping 21-inch alloys with titanium finish, sports air suspension, and a high-gloss black exterior styling package. The Audi A8L SE Executive and A8L W12 models are the only options if you want the extra legroom in the back – with the W12 model offering individually adjustable electric rear seats and a CV/DVD player to keep the chairman of the board entertained.

There’s no longer an Audi A8 hybrid on offer, but the hot Audi S8 saloon is available in standard and S8 Plus guises – the latter hiking power from 513bhp to an eye-watering 596bhp.

The Audi A8 luxury saloon is available with a broad range of powertrains, from petrol-electric hybrid to the storming S8 and W12 models. Whichever you go for, all are smooth and refined, as befits a top-of-the-range luxury saloon, delivering strong performance with the added security of Audi’s quattro four-wheel-drive system.

Some buyers in this market will be drawn to the unostentatious styling; others may be put off, and think the A8 too closely resembles lesser models in the Audi range. Either way, most will agree that the car is handsome.

• Audi A8 vs Mercedes S-Class vs Range Rover

It’s also a technological tour de force, with a range of standard and optional kit that makes it hard to beat for either safety or luxury. The car is extremely well built, too, although other premium rivals can offer a more bespoke feel – but it’s the overly firm ride that remains the A8’s only real Achilles’ Heel.

Thanks to its quattro four-wheel-drive system, the A8 has a reputation for being one of the sharpest luxury cars to drive, offering plenty of grip and taut body control. Stability at speed is strong and it’s involving on a twisty back road. The trade-off for this, though, is a firmer low-speed ride. 

Tyre noise is also more of an issue in the Audi than in the ultra-refined Mercedes S-Class. Audi’s Drive Select system is fitted as standard, but even if you tweak these settings, the big A8 doesn’t seem to settle. It never quite manages to match the balance between comfort and handling achieved by the S-Class. 

Engines

The 3.0-litre V6 TDI delivers 258bhp and takes the car from 0-62mph in 5.9 seconds, but claims fuel economy of 49.6mpg. There’s a more powerful 4.2-litre TDI V8 on top of this, with 380bhp and a massive 850Nm of torque. This promises 0-62mph in just 4.7 seconds, which is faster than some sports cars, and all the A8 range has quattro four-wheel drive, which delivers staggering traction and grip in corners.

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If drivers want the ultimate in luxury performance, the S8 offers 513bhp from its 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, and will demolish the 0-62mph sprint in just 4.1 seconds. The S8 Plus ups the ante with 596bhp, a 0-62mph time of 3.8 seconds and a 189mph maximum speed. Agility gets a boost, too, thanks to the sophisticated Sport quattro rear differential, which channels power to individual rear wheels.  

The top-spec A8 W12 uses the same 6.3-litre engine as the Bentley Continental GT, detuned here to produce 493bhp. It’s extremely smooth, but not cheap to buy or run.

The A8 features stop/start and regenerative braking in order to keep running costs in check – 40mpg is a realistic possibility from the 3.0 TDI if you’re careful.

Audi’s official economy figure is as high as 49.6mpg, with CO2 emissions quoted at 149g/km. That means the Benefit in Kind tax rate is a relatively low 27 per cent, but the A8 still can’t compete with the newer Mercedes S-Class in this respect – especially if you opt for 19-inch alloys, which hike fuel consumption by as much as 2.5mpg, and increase emissions enough to bump the saloon into the next tax bracket.

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The 4.2 TDI V8 promises official economy of 39.2mpg, while CO2 emissions stand at 189g/km, which mean a Benefit in Kind tax rate of 35 per cent. So it’s a more expensive proposition all-round.

Not surprisingly, the top-of-the-range S8 Plus and A8 W12 are the two least efficient models in the line-up, with Audi quoting 28.2mpg and 231g/km for the S8 Plus and 25.7mpg and 254g/km for the W12. If you’re tempted to use even a fraction of the performance potential of these cars, you won’t get close to those fuel economy figures, and if you have to ask about the company car tax rates you’re probably not on a high enough pay grade… it’s 37 per cent.

Insurance groups

The Audi A8 may cost less to insure than the Mercedes S-Class, but it’s still not exactly cheap. Buyers are looking at insurance group 43 for the entry-level 3.0 TDI, while the 4.2-litre diesel sits in group 47.

The petrol S8 and W12 models offer supercar levels of performance, and not surprisingly attract the highest possible rating as a result – both are in group 50.

Depreciation

Unfortunately, according to our experts’ predictions, the A8 has poorer residual values than both the Mercedes S-Class and the Range Rover. Best not to think about depreciation, at least in the first few years of ownership; it will be eye-watering.

The Audi A8 has always traded on its understated looks, but from a distance it can often be difficult to distinguish from smaller, less expensive models in the Audi range, as styling cues are shared with the rest of the line-up.

For many potential buyers this will be a positive, as it’s a car that doesn’t shout about its appearance. The A8 is handsome and well proportioned, although it won’t turn heads like the Mercedes S-Class or Range Rover, which have more standout styling details.

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On the inside, the A8 maintains Audi’s reputation for building some of the best interiors in the business. Top-quality materials are used throughout, with a logically laid-out dash, plus there’s a vast array of leathers, veneers and inlays to give the most opulent feel possible. Again, though, it doesn’t have the bespoke look of its two main rivals. 

Even before buyers start adding options, the A8 has a suitably upmarket feel inside. Standard equipment includes 12-way electrically adjustable heated leather seats, sat-nav and four-zone climate control, as well as hi-tech features like a touchpad for the MMI cabin control system.

Also offered are MatrixBeam LED headlamps, available with a pedestrian detection system. Thermal imaging cameras identify people in the dark and strobe them with a separate beam while sounding a warning chime to the driver. On quieter roads, the lights can track up to eight cars to keep the main beam on at all times while masking out specific areas of light to avoid dazzling drivers travelling in the opposite direction. This not only improves safety, it looks great, too.

Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment

As you’d expect, even the SE-spec A8 has a pretty comprehensive spec list. On the infotainment side that means a seven-inch colour screen on the dash, and Audi Music Interface that replicates your smartphone or iPod music display. You also get HDD sat-nav, DAB radio and Bluetooth.

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The standard audio system is a six-speaker, 190-Watt set-up, but if you upgrade to Sport trim – or beyond – you get 14 speakers and a 600-Watt Bose surround-sound set-up.

While it’s more lavishly equipped than most, the front of the A8 offers a similar level of ergonomic excellence to the rest of the Audi range. That means loads of seat and steering wheel adjustment for the driver, although of course everything will be power-assisted – and the seats can even give you a massage.

There’s masses of space in the cabin, and lots of storage for bits and pieces, including an optional cool box. Folding tables are available in the rear; perfect for using a laptop on the move.

The absence of a folding rear bench limits the A8’s abilities as a versatile holdall. Still, the added security of four-wheel drive makes the Audi a strong choice if you plan to use it in snowy or wet weather on a regular basis. In fact, as Audi’s technology flagship, the car is absolutely weighed down with advanced electronic systems to help take the strain out of driving. This ranges from night vision cameras to predictive navigation that adjusts the car’s transmission, lights and cruise control to suit the next stretch of road.

Size

On the road, the A8 can sometimes be deceptive as its looks are so similar to smaller models in the Audi range; only when you try to park do the dimensions become more obvious. At 5,135mm long, it’s bigger than most cars on the road: for example, the Range Rover measures 4,999mm, although the Mercedes S-Class is 10cm longer, at 5,346mm.

Leg room, head room & passenger space

It’s no surprise to find the A8 features an extremely spacious interior given its luxury car status – even the short-wheelbase model benefits from plenty of head and legroom. Opt for the long-wheelbase version, and passengers in the rear are afforded a further 130mm of space in which to stretch out. 

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If your A8 is going to be chauffeur-driven, it’s well worth considering one of the optional rear seat packages. This turns the A8 into a strict four-seater, but the two individual rear chairs have 12-way electric adjustment, plus the front passenger seat can be remotely moved forward to provide even more legroom in the back. 

There are ISOFIX child seat mounting points on the front passenger seat and in the rear.

Boot

Lifting the bootlid reveals a well shaped 520-litre luggage space in the W12. It drops to 490 litres for the two diesels and just 335 litres for the A8 Hybrid, due to the location of the battery pack.

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While not many limousines end up being used as tow cars, it’s worth knowing that most versions of the A8 can pull a 2,300kg braked trailer; the optional electrically retracting tow ball costs £825.

In the Auto Express Driver Power 2015 satisfaction survey, Audi ranked 13th in the manufacturers’ chart, slipping one place on its 2014 result – and, crucially, finishing behind arch rival BMW. The company’s dealers came a disappointing 26th out of 31 official networks, too, which isn’t what you’d expect from a premium brand.

The A8 hasn’t been subject to Euro NCAP’s crash tests, but there’s little reason to doubt its safety credentials. It comes with six airbags, on top of a strong and rigid structure.

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Audi’s pre-sense system is included, too; this automatically tensions the seatbelts and closes the windows if it detects an imminent collision. Tyre pressure monitoring and electronic stability control are also standard, and of course the standard quattro four-wheel-drive system will keep the car out of trouble for longer when traction is in short supply.  

As is the case across the Audi range, and with other upmarket cars, the A8 is available with a host of optional safety upgrades. These include lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control and a night vision camera, which picks out pedestrians and animals in the road.  When combined with the hi-tech LED Matrix headlights, which can project 250 metres ahead without dazzling oncoming traffic, the night vision kit helps the A8 inspire confidence behind the wheel after dark. 

Warranty

The Audi A8 warranty package includes two years’ cover with unlimited mileage, followed by a third year during which the mileage is capped at 60,000. This is only average for the sector, although you can extend the warranty to four years and 75,000 miles for just over £1,000 or five years and 90,000 miles for around £2,500. 

Servicing

Audi’s fixed-price servicing makes it easy to budget for maintenance. Buyers can pay around £350 to cover dealer servicing of A8 and S8 models for the first three years, although it’s not applicable to the more complex W12 version.