Used 2021 Audi A8

The 2021 Audi A8 and S8 represent the pinnacle of the German brand’s technology, design, and engineering capabilities. In short, they are flagship luxury sedans with a really high price.

From its advanced safety features to its cutting-edge engine technology that includes a plug-in hybrid powertrain and a turbocharged V8, the 5-seat 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 all-wheel-drive A8 is the least likely to turn heads. Nevertheless, the A8 delivers big in the area of rear-seat comfort, with standard features like power-adjustable seats, a rear-seat foot massager, and a center-mounted control panel for the climate and audio.

For 2021, Audi has added some standard equipment and streamlined some options packages, but it’s otherwise a quiet year. On the sporty S8 model, 21-inch wheels with summer tires are now standard. 

From the powertrain to the interior layout and amenities, the 2021 Audi A8 is all about luxury and refinement. As in 2020, the standard engine is a 335-horsepower 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system.

The hybrid system, integrated between the engine and transmission, powers some of the A8’s systems and accessories while smoothing acceleration and providing a torque assist when needed. Quattro all-wheel drive is standard, as is an 8-speed automatic transmission.

Everything about the A8 is smooth and accommodating, and power delivery is no exception. While the V6 in the A8 L 55 TFSI Quattro has plenty of power for a 4,775-pound car, this A8 isn’t especially quick. Much better is the acceleration and passing power provided by the 453-horsepower turbocharged V8 of the A8 L 60 TFSI Quattro or the 443-horsepower PHEV powertrain in the A8 L 60 TFSI e Quattro model.

In our test car, the mild-hybrid system worked flawlessly and seamlessly in the background. All-wheel steering, now part of the Black Optic Sport Package, gives the A8 the turning radius of a much smaller car. Ride quality is pleasant, and miles easily tick by. At 75 mph, it feels like you’re driving at about 50.

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.

Audi’s Virtual Cockpit, a configurable digital gauge cluster set within a high-resolution 12.3-inch display, remains a treat, aided by gauges on each side and an easy-to-use Google Earth map. Audi’s MMI Touch Response system uses dual-stacked screens with haptic response (it feels like you’re pushing a button).

The A8 PHEV, for the record, can be driven up to 84 mph in electric mode.

The interior of the 2021 Audi A8 is a serene place where folks can escape the noise and stress of the outside world. From this luxury sedan’s e driver’s seat, large touchscreen panels control everything from the driver-assist systems to the climate controls to the audio and infotainment systems. The dual-screen setup may seem intimidating at first, but with use, it becomes second nature.

In true luxury-car form, the A8 is loaded with thoughtful touches. For example, you can get heated rear-side-door armrests, illuminated safety-belt buckles, and LED reading lights in your A8, along with the niceties of the Executive Rear Seat Package. Rear-seat passengers can also use a touchscreen to select the type of back massage they want, or choose to heat or cool their seats.

The Audi A8 is elegant and low-key. It’s finely tailored, like a classic tux. The 2021 A8 continues that tradition, with a wide front grille flanked by LED matrix headlights.

Every A8 sold in America has an A8 L badge because all of them are long-wheelbase models, not the standard-length A8s sold elsewhere. We like the sharp body lines and low, muscular stance. In back, sharpened lines are enhanced by LED taillights, with available animated OLED (organic light-emitting diode) taillights. The sporty S8 model gets S-model bumpers and side sills, plus quad exhausts and a double-slat singleframe grille.

AUDI VIRTUAL COCKPIT
With the standard Virtual Cockpit, the A8’s digital gauges are displayed with crystal clarity on a 12.3-inch color screen refreshed at 60 frames per second. In the A8 PHEV, an MMI display with specific screens shows charging and consumption information, along with statistics to help drivers maximize the efficiency of the hybrid system.

EXECUTIVE REAR-SEAT PACKAGE
After the driver’s seat, the second-best place to sit in the 2021 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 2021 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 a top-view camera, 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, 22-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 are also standard.

The 2021 Audi A8 offers option packages that let you choose the type and level of luxury you want. An Executive Plus Package adds 20-inch wheels (with all-season tires), a Driver Assistance Package, heated front and rear seats, a Cold Weather Package, and a rear-seat remote control. There’s even a connectivity package that 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. The 1,920-watt system includes two acoustic tweeters that rise from the dash. It’s visually (and audibly) intoxicating. 

Audi’s A8 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 smooths initial acceleration, adds torque when necessary, and provides a power source for some of the A8’s systems and accessories.

Optional is a turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 with 453 horsepower. There’s also a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) 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 says the A8 hybrid can hit 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 PHEV)
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 of torque
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 13/22 mpg