Audi A8L 2021 Sedan
Highs Isolates you from the chaos of the world but still engaging to drive, user-friendly touchscreen controls, exquisite interior materials.
Lows Business-formal styling, V-6 lacks personality, skimpy warranty coverage.
Verdict Packed with innovation, the Audi A8 is easy to drive and unexpectedly athletic.
Overview
Anyone seeking an executive sedan that offers convenience and technological innovation in large quantities should take a hard look at the 2021 Audi A8. Although some of its leading-edge tech features haven't yet made it to the United States, this is a very advanced car that simplifies the act of driving, while its lavish cabin shields you from the chaos of your commute. It's also pretty entertaining for an extra-large sedan (Audi sells only the long-wheelbase A8 version on our shores), thanks to exceptionally precise steering and impressive grip through corners. If there's anything not to like, it might be the car's all-business aesthetics. Rivals have more character—in some cases, a lot more. If you're okay with that, the Audi A8 is a fine choice for an elite luxury sedan.
Audi expands the 2021 A8 lineup with a plug-in hybrid model: The A8 60 TFSI e sedan combines the 3.0-liter V-6 engine with an electric motor and a lithium-ion battery pack located beneath the trunk. Combined output is 443 horsepower.
Although the value of the 2021 A8 55 TFSI is undeniable compared with six-cylinder German rivals, we'd go for the standard gas-powered 60 TFSI model to get Audi's potent, twin-turbocharged V-8 engine. Standard content is basically identical between the two, but the 60 TFSI has a slightly longer options sheet. We'd select the Executive package, which upgrades the front seats with ventilation and massage features, while adding a heated steering wheel and a very useful camera system with 3D imaging, as well as the Driver Assistance package, which provides adaptive cruise control with Level 2 self-driving capability.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The base 55 TFSI comes with a turbocharged V-6 rated at 335 horsepower, while the 60 TFSI has a 453-hp twin-turbo V-8 engine. Both versions use a light-hybrid system in which the alternator doubles as a starter (belt-alternator-starter, or BAS, in Audi lingo). An eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive are standard. The plug-in hybrid 60 TFSI e combines the V-6 with an electric motor built into the torque converter of a modified version of this transmission and a rear-mounted 14.1-kWh battery pack. The 2021 Audi A8 TFSI e is rated at 443 hp. So far, we've only tested the V-6 version, which sprinted from zero to 60 mph in 5.3 seconds at our test track. Among six-cylinder executive sedans, that's on par with the Mercedes-Benz S450 but a few tenths off the rapid pace of the BMW 740i. This engine is smooth, but there's no fanfare to its power delivery, and sound-deadening measures are so extensive that it's practically inaudible with the windows up. The A8 offers a very Audi-like blend of athleticism and ride comfort. An adjustable air suspension and driver-adjustable adaptive dampers are standard. Optional with the V-8 is a more advanced active suspension that scans the road ahead for bumps and takes measures to compensate. With the base suspension, the Audi A8 isolates you from road irregularities but can still hammer down a back road when the mood strikes. The steering is striking in its precision, though there's not much feedback. Braking is a strong suit, as our 55 TFSI test car stopped from 70 mph in just 149 feet.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
Impressive passenger space is an A8 hallmark, and its long wheelbase ensures that rear-seat passengers are well accommodated. Five-passenger seating is standard, but an optional four-passenger seating package deletes the rear center seat and provides a pair of power-adjustable rear seats with heating, ventilation, and massage as well as a heated foot-massage function and a pair of individual entertainment tablets (while reducing power adjustments for the front passenger seat to make room for all that). Fine materials are in abundance, and you can order up extended leather and a small forest's worth of wood inlays. But much like the A8's exterior, the interior ambience is sober and not as lavish as that of the Mercedes-Benz S-class. Trunk capacity is modest for a big luxury sedan at just 13 cubic feet.
