Used 2020 Audi A8

As luxury-flagship sedans, the 2020 Audi A8 and S8 showcase the pinnacle of the German brand’s technology, design and engineering capabilities. In layman terms, these are really nice cars with some really high-tech toys for a really high price.

From its advanced safety features to its cutting-edge engine technology that includes a new-for-2020 plug-in hybrid and turbocharged V8, the A8 has everything it needs to compete with the BMW 7 Series, Lexus LS and Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

However, compared with these three rivals, the A8 is arguably the least dynamic in terms of exterior design. Cars like the A8 are as much about rear-passenger comfort as they are the driver, and in this area too the A8 goes big, with features like a rear-seat foot massager, rear-center-control panel for climate and audio, and power-adjustable rear seats.

With the 2020 A8, Audi’s goal is to provide an experience of serene luxury, and from the powertrain to the interior layout and amenities, the automaker has succeeded. The standard engine is a 335-horsepower 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system.

The hybrid half of this equation serves as an additional power source for some of the car’s systems and accessories, smooths out power with initial acceleration, and adds torque assist when necessary. Quattro all-wheel drive is standard, and the engine comes with an 8-speed automatic transmission.

Everything about the A8 is smooth and accommodating, and power delivery is no exception. The V6 has plenty of power for this 4,700-pound car, but it isn’t the quickest engine/transmission combination in the large-luxury-sedan segment. Those looking for prime acceleration and passing power can shell out a few grand more and land either a 453-horsepower turbocharged V8, or 443-horsepower plug-in hybrid.

In our test car, the mild-hybrid system worked flawlessly and wasn’t noticeable as it performed in the background. Available all-wheel steering makes the A8’s turning radius like that of a much smaller car. Ride quality is pleasant, and miles easily tick by.

The seats, door panels, and dash use gorgeous, well-crafted materials in beautiful color combinations, and the cabin is wonderfully quiet. The interior is clean and uncluttered, yet filled with useful technology that’s there when you want to use it.

Audi’s Virtual Cockpit, a configurable digital gauge cluster set within a high-resolution 12.3-inch display, had gauges on each side and a clear, easy-to-see layout of the Google Earth map. The new MMI Touch Response system uses dual stacked screens (instead of a knob), which when you make a selection, offers a noticeable click-feel as if you’re pushing a button.

Inside the 2020 Audi A8 luxury sedan is a serene oasis where passengers can escape the noise and stress of the outside world. From the driver’s seat, large touch-screen panels control everything from the driver-assist systems to the climate controls to the audio and infotainment systems. The dual-screen setup can feel a bit intimidating at first, and does require a learning curve before it feels second nature.

In true luxury-car form, the A8 is loaded with little touches that may never have seemed obvious, but once experienced, become must-haves. Available features like heated rear-side-door armrests, illuminated safety-belt buckles and configurable LED reading lights are just some, with more important upgrades such as the contents of the Executive Rear Seat Package (see Favorite Features). Rear-seat passengers can also utilize a touch-screen console to select the type of back massage desired, as well as to heat or cool their seats.

The Audi A8’s design has typically been elegant and low-key. It’s finely tailored, like a classic tux, not a brazen in-your-face statement. The 2020 model continues that tradition, but adds flair inspired by the company’s Prologue concept. In front, there’s a wide, flat grille flanked by LED matrix headlights.

Every A8 sold in America has an A8 L badge, because all of them will be long-wheelbase models — only global markets receive the standard-length wheelbase. The Audi A8’s bodylines are sharper than in previous generations to wear the badge, and the fenders and low stance make the Audi look more muscular. You can get 19- or 20-inch wheels. In back, sharpened lines are enhanced by LED taillights, with available animated OLED (organic light-emitting diode) taillights.

BANG & OLUFSEN ADVANCED 3D SOUND
The most exclusive of the A8’s three available B&O audio options, the Advanced 3D sound system is to music lovers what Amedei of Tuscany is to chocolate connoisseurs. The system drives 1,920 watts through 23 speakers, including two acoustic tweeters that rise from atop the dash once the system is activated. It’s a design that is both audibly and visually intoxicating.

EXECUTIVE REAR-SEAT PACKAGE
After the driver’s seat, the second best place to sit in the 2020 Audi A8 is in the rear, especially when the available Executive Rear Seat package is ordered. Included in the bundle are heated and ventilated rear seats, a heated door armrest, a fold-down center control station, folding productivity tables and a passenger-side relaxation seat with heated and massaging footrest.

The standard-equipment list on the 2020 Audi A8 is extensive. In addition to the V6 mild-hybrid engine, 8-speed automatic transmission, and Quattro all-wheel drive, all sedans come with 19-inch wheels, LED headlights and taillights, headlight washers, adaptive air suspension, a hands-free power trunk lid, and auto-dimming and power-folding heated side mirrors.

Leather, 18-way power-adjustable heated front seats, 4-zone climate control, a panoramic sunroof, and power rear and rear side-window sunshades greet Audi A8 passengers. Bang & Olufsen audio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, navigation, the Audi virtual cockpit, and a 4-spoke multifunction steering wheel with paddle shifters, plus a power-adjustable tilt/telescoping steering column, are also standard.

The 2020 Audi A8 offers option packages that let you choose the type and level of luxury you want. An executive package adds 22-way-power front seats, wireless smartphone charging, a head-up display, an expanded roster of safety features, ventilated, massaging front seats, a 360-degree top-view camera system, and a heated steering wheel.

A cold-weather package adds adaptive windshield wipers and heated seats. Adaptive cruise control, turn assist and active lane assist are offered. You can get front and rear ventilated, heated massaging seats and keep 5-passenger seating. Going with a 4-passenger layout places a leather center console in the rear with a SmartRemote control, plus folding tables and a right-passenger relaxation seat with a heated, massaging footrest. A connectivity package adds two 10.1-inch removable tablets for rear-seat passengers.

Stand-alone options include all-wheel steering, night-vision assistant, 20-inch wheels with summer tires, and a 23-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system.

Audi’s A8 luxury sedan for 2020 offers a choice of four engines. In the A8 line, the standard powerplant is a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system producing 335 horsepower. The hybrid system performs multiple tasks, smoothing out power with initial acceleration, adding torque assist when necessary, and serving as an additional power source for some of the car’s systems and accessories.

Optional is a new 4.0-liter turbocharged V8 that bumps output to 453 horsepower. Lastly, there is a plug-in hybrid version that combines the 3.0-liter V6 with a 14.1-kWh battery pack and electric motor for a combined output of 443 horsepower. Audi claims the hybrid can dash to 60 mph in just 4.9 seconds and has an electric-only cruising range of 17 miles.

The performance-oriented S8 employs a 4.0-liter twin turbocharged V8 good for 563 horsepower. All A8 models come standard with quattro all-wheel drive and an 8-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission.

3.0-liter turbocharged V6 (A8 55 TFSI)
335 horsepower
369 lb-ft of torque
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/26 mpg

4.0-liter turbocharged V8 (A8 60 TFSI)
453 horsepower
487 lb-ft of torque
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 15/23 mpg

3.0-liter turbocharged V6/14.1 kWh hybrid (A8 60 TFSI e plug-in hybrid)
443 horsepower
516 horsepower
EPA combined city/highway fuel economy: 23 mpg, 54 MPGe

4.0-liter bi-turbocharged V8 (S8)
563 horsepower
590 lb-ft or torque
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 13/22 mpg