Audi A8 Saloon Review 2023
The Audi A8 Saloon is Audi's flagship car and is one of the most luxurious saloon cars on the market. Now in its fourth generation, the A8 Saloon has a slick exterior and a comfortable interior, portraying a perfect example of riding in style.
Rivals to the A8 Saloon include the BMW 7 Series and Mercedes S-Class.
Audi A8 Saloon Pros:
- Exceptional built quality and interior design
- Plug-in hybrid option available
- Comfortable ride
Audi A8 Saloon Cons:
- Expensive to run and maintain
- Boot space smaller than rivals
- On-the-road performance is a little underwhelming
Our Audi A8 Saloon review covers:
- Updated exterior with new grille and redesigned LED headlights
- Luxurious interior with high-quality materials used
- 505-litre boot, decreases to 390-litres on PHEV version
- A choice of diesel, petrol, or plug-in hybrid engines
- Three trim levels: Sport, S Line, Black Edition
The Audi A8 Saloon is now in its fourth generation, and the recent exterior updates are the epitome of class. It comes with an aggressive wide front grille, newly designed LED headlights, and a slick exterior that flows well from front to back.
When inside, you won't be limited by space. There's a vast amount of leg and headroom throughout the cabin, which can be tailored to the passenger through the electrically adjustable front seats. Storage space is also generous; there are two cupholders in the front and two in the back, plus large door pockets and a decent central armrest.
Boot space is 505 litres for the A8 Saloon, although it drops to 390 litres in the plug-in hybrid version to make room for the battery. This is slightly smaller than its rivals, but it should still hold a pair of golf bags or a handful of large suitcases. Unfortunately, the rear seats cannot be folded down.
The interior of the A8 is characteristically luxurious. Wherever you look, you'll find high-quality materials and soft-touch leather, all of which have been crafted into the interior with excellent planning and build quality.
On the dashboard, you'll find a three-screen setup. Behind the steering wheel is the 12.3-inch digital cockpit, and then on the central dashboard is the dual-screen infotainment system. The upper 10.1-inch screen controls the sat-nav and infotainment display, whilst the lower 8.6-inch screen is for climate control.
Technology isn't restricted to those in the front, especially if you choose the long-wheelbase L version of the A8. Here you'll find a tablet in the centre armrest, which can be used to control the climate settings, plus the option of a pair of 10.1-inch screens fitted to the back of the front seats.
Three trim levels are available: Sport, S Line, and Black Edition.
The entry-level Sport comes with 18-inch five-spoke alloy wheels, LED headlights, heated and electric front seats with memory function, two-zone automatic air conditioning, adaptive cruise control, and front and rear parking sensors.
The mid-range S Line adds to this with 20-inch alloy wheels, an S Line exterior style pack, comfort contour seats in a Sports look, privacy glass, HD matrix LED headlights, and acoustic double glazing.
The range-topping Black Edition features 20-inch five-V-spoke star design alloy wheels, a black exterior styling pack, OLED rear lights with specific rear light signature 3, and upper inlays in Piano black.
Three engine options are available for the A8 Saloon: petrol, diesel, and a plug-in hybrid.
The 50 TDI diesel is the entry-level unit and will be good enough for most. It comes with 207bhp, has a top speed of 155mph and achieves 0-62mph in 5.9 seconds. Fuel economy is what you'd expect for a Saloon car, returning a combined 37.7-40.4mpg.
If you want more power, you can upgrade to the 55 TFSI. It still has the same top speed of 155mph but comes with a greater power output of 246bhp and can achieve 0-62mph in 5.6 seconds. However, it sacrifices economy for more power, with mpg dropping to a combined 28.5-30.4.
The most powerful option is the electric 60 TFSI e. Although it continues the trend of 155mph as its top speed, it drastically increases its power output to 462bhp and can achieve 0-62mph in just 4.9 seconds. You'll also get an all-electric range of 37 miles and be able to drive up to 84mph on electric power alone.
On-the-road performance won't blow you away, but the A8 counters this with one of the most comfortable rides on the market. Air suspension comes as standard ensuring that the A8 glides across any surface untroubled. Also, as all models come with four-wheel drive, traction is very good, even in the trickiest of driving conditions.
Handling is also pretty good and is adaptable, making the A8 seem smaller in compact settings such as car parks and driving around town. However, it's still best suited to being a long-distance cruiser, and its something the A8 does exceptionally well.
Prices for the new Audi A8 Saloon start from £74,475.00 OTR* or to lease from £568.42 per month.
Thinking about leasing an Audi A8 Saloon? Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is one of the UK's largest car leasing brokers and has a range of leasing deals available to suit a range of preferences.
Leasing may be cheaper than buying a car outright thanks to a low initial payment, fixed monthly payments, and a range of benefits included in the deal, including road tax and breakdown cover.
*' On the road' price correct at time of publication and includes one year's road fund license, DVLA first registration fee and number plate fee. Prices are subject to change, always check with your nearest retailer.
