Used 2022 Audi A8

The 2022 Audi A8 and 2022 S8 large luxury sedans are really the perfect Audi cars. They’re full of great tech, have high-quality cabins, come with all-wheel drive as standard, and the exteriors are too classy to go down that “look at me” route.

Flagship sedans like the Audi A8 still have their place. They’re often the first to showcase new technology and cutting-edge safety features. And they can cosset their occupants while still maintaining a respectable gallop — something most top-heavy luxury SUVs can’t manage.

Thanks to the stratospherically high bar set by past and present versions of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, large German luxury sedans tend to dominate this class. The A8 also competes with the BMW 7 Series and Porsche Panamera. All truly excellent machines. But the A8 or S8 will make subtle yet positive statements about the discerning nature of their owners.

The streamlining of variants means there’s only one 2022 A8 model, and it employs a turbocharged V6. There are many instances where a 335-horsepower engine would be more than enough, but this A8 isn’t one of them.

Even though Audi’s flagship sedan has an aluminum-intensive construction (a typical A8 trait), the weight of all those plush materials, technologies, safety systems, and now a mild-hybrid addition to the drivetrain, adds up to a fair amount of mass. Which the V6 can push around, but not to a particularly entertaining degree.

Then again, not many people purchase large luxury cars to squirt around mountain roads. And the standard adaptive air suspension ensures that the A8 is suitably serene.

Just in case there is an urge to take a big, brawny car through the mountains, the S8 will do the trick, thanks to a twin-turbocharged V8 generating 563 horsepower. As well as standard all-wheel drive (also fitted to the A8), the S8 packs a sport rear differential for optimum traction. And it has all-wheel steering, which makes it wonderfully maneuverable — this is optional in the A8.

It seems that every Audi cabin is a masterclass on how to create a sublime interior. That’s never more true than in the 2022 A8 and S8 flagship sedans, with designs that marry high luxury to futuristic technology, placing them in a clutter-free habitat.

Only long-wheelbase versions of the A8/S8 are brought into the United States by Audi (hence the L in the A8’s full name). BMW and Mercedes-Benz do the same thing with the 7 Series and S-Class. It results in abundant passenger space, though — 44.3 inches of rear legroom should be enough even for a pro basketball player.

Trunk space of 12.5 cubic feet is nothing special, but probably adequate for most requirements.

This is where the 2022 A8 and S8 flagship sedans differ from last year’s counterparts. Audi has performed some styling revisions. The grille is larger, the tail end is tweaked, and the previously optional S line package is now standard on the A8, bringing larger air intakes up front and a blacked-out grille.

A Black Optic package is on the options list, with more features (like wheels, mirror housings, and badges) finished in the same color as Darth Vader’s wardrobe.

The A8 comes standard with 19-inch alloy wheels. The S8 has its own design of 20-inch alloys. Bigger wheels are also available.

VIRTUAL COCKPIT PLUS
This 12.3-inch, full-color digital driver’s display is standard in every new A8/S8, taking the place of traditional dials and gauges with a choice of information. It’s easy to get to grips with, and it just looks like the future.

PREDICTIVE ACTIVE SUSPENSION
Only available as an option in the 2022 S8, the level of body control while delivering a smooth and comfortable ride is hugely impressive. This large luxury sedan can power through quick corners while retaining complete composure.

Because this is a large luxury sedan, the 2022 A8 comes with a lot of standard equipment.

Some of the highlights include an adaptive air suspension tuned for comfort, heated/ventilated/22-way power-adjustable front seats, extended leather upholstery, powered shades for the rear window and rear side windows, soft-closing doors, powered trunk lid operation, power-adjustable steering column, quad-zone automatic climate control, wireless charging, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration, and a Bang & Olufsen audio system.

Driver aids include a 360-degree camera system, automatic high beams, front/rear parking sensors, and forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking. The more sophisticated stuff is optional.

Along with most of the above, an adaptive air suspension is also standard in the 2022 S8, but it’s set up for a sportier drive. The S8’s side windows are dual-pane for better noise suppression (not that the A8’s cabin is anything less than hushed), while the front seats have a massage function. The headlights are HD matrix-design LED units — where the multitude of light sources can create extensive illumination without dazzling oncoming traffic.

Both the 2022 A8 and 2022 S8 offer an Executive package that includes adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, intersection assistance, and (for some reason) larger alloy wheels. Some S8 features — like dual-pane side windows and massaging front seats — are optional in the A8.

Variations on the theme of plusher rear accommodations are available for the A8 and S8 alike, such as seating for two with heat/ventilation/massaging, power adjustment, and a center console.

The S8 is eligible for a predictive active suspension, adding greater comfort and curtailing body roll. Night vision — showing the images from an infrared camera — is also offered in the S8, plus a 23-speaker/1,920-watt Bang & Olufsen audio system.

A turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 thrums under the hood of the 2022 A8, developing 335 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. It’s augmented by a 48-volt mild-hybrid system that uses an electric motor for the fuel-saving stop/restart function and smooths out that action, so there’s no irritating thud when the engine comes back in. This setup also provides the energy for a few ancillary systems as well as the optional predictive active suspension in the S8.

A twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 propels the 2022 S8 with 563 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque. This is also enhanced by the same 48-volt mild-hybrid hardware. An 8-speed automatic transmission sends power to a standard Quattro all-wheel-drive system in both cars.

Premium gasoline is recommended. And despite these mild-hybrid systems, neither model could be described as frugal.

3.0-liter turbocharged V6 (A8)
335 horsepower @ 5,000 rpm
369 lb-ft of torque @ 1,370 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 19/28 mpg

4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 (S8)
563 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
590 horsepower @ 2,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 14/23 mpg