2024 Audi S8

When you go toe to toe with full-size luxury sedans like the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, BMW 7 Series, and Lexus LS, you better bring your A game. To the A8’s credit, it offers one of the finest interiors in the segment that’s library quiet to boot. A highway cruiser of the first order, the A8 energizes its driver while pampering its passengers. No, it’s not a boy racer – we suggest the S8 variant for enthusiasts – but it is surefooted in corners and smooths out pavement wrinkles along the way.

Audi fills the A8 with all manner of connectivity and driver-aid technology. We are particularly impressed with its Virtual Cockpit Plus, featuring a 12.3-inch full-color driver’s display.

We remain among the A8 faithful because of its competitive pricing, high-level of comfort, and aura of classiness.

We’ve logged hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of flagship luxury sedans, including the 2024 Audi S8 seen here in District Green Metallic with an all-in sticker price of $141,845.

Audi put the A8 lineup through an update for 2022, then upgraded the S8 leather interior for 2023. Consequently, it was content to let things ride for 2024.

Before buying any vehicle, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. The A8 holds its resale value about as well as its competitors, with the S8 doing a bit better in that regard. Remember, recouping more money when you sell a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on your next one.

We’ve already established that the Audi A8 is primarily a luxury cruiser. This is reinforced by our readers, who all echo its long-haul highway prowess. Its adaptive air suspension allows it to sail over pavement imperfections with little bother to those relaxing in its spacious cabin. Yet we find its steering responsive enough, and it corners without drama.

The A8 has always had aluminum-intensive construction, helping to keep its weight in check. However, it still represents some serious heft, what with all the luxury, safety, and mild-hybrid systems on board. Not to mention, it’s all-wheel drive (AWD). Consequently, the A8’s 335-horsepower turbo V6 is vigorously challenged in motivating this full-size sedan. It can get to 60 mph from a standstill in 5.6 seconds. That’s fast enough, certainly, but it’s still a bit slower than either the Benz S-Class (4.9 seconds) or the BMW 7 Series (5.2 seconds).

However, if your passion is sprinting rather than touring, and your pockets are sufficiently deep, we suggest you step up to the S8. It retains all the comfort and opulence of the A8, but Audi has bred performance into it. Oh, and the S8’s twin-turbo V8’s horsepower count is 228 more than the V6, allowing it to do the zero-to-60 sprint in a pavement-scorching 3.8 seconds.

A feature we really find useful is the rear-wheel steering, which is standard in both models. Especially in a vehicle as large as this, the added maneuverability rear-wheel steering provides in tight spaces, like parking garages, is invaluable. One of our readers hailed it as a game-changer.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of full-size luxury sedans, including the Audi A8.

Fuel Economy

The AWD A8’s turbo V6’s combined mileage is 22 mpg (19 city, 28 highway). Doing better in rationing its fuel, the rear-wheel-drive (RWD) BMW 7 Series (740i) gets 27 mpg (25 city, 31 highway). With fuel economy much closer to the A8, the AWD Mercedes-Benz S500 4Matic delivers a combined 23 mpg (20 city, 28 highway).

As you might expect, the S8 with its twin-turbo V8 gets less. Its numbers are a combined 18 mpg (15 city, 23 highway).

As with all the rivals we list above, the manufacturer-recommended fuel for the A8/S8 is premium grade. Any way you cut it, fuel economy is not a reason to buy a large luxury sedan.

More Audi A8 and S8 fuel information is available on the EPA’s website.

With more than 44 inches of rear legroom – massive, and about average for the segment – the A8’s cabin can truly accommodate five adults. In terms of trunk space, however, the A8’s 12.5 cubic feet is at the lower end of the segment. It’s about the same as the Benz S-Class but falls short of the BMW 7 Series (18.2) and the Lexus LS (17.0).

Nearly everywhere you lay your hand, it is in contact with a soft leather surface, metal, or real wood. Comfort appears to be Audi’s top priority in its interiors. We especially appreciate the 22-way power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats.

Classy and timeless are solid descriptors for the A8’s exterior. Its looks don’t turn heads; however, the image the A8 projects is stately and grand. It states, “I’ve arrived,” but in a more subtle way than its German rivals. Its styling may not leave curb standers agape, but it looks mighty fine pulling up to the valet stand at the country club.

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

All wheel steering
A boon to maneuverability and cornering, this system turns the rear wheels in the opposite direction of the front wheels at low speeds and in the same direction as the front wheels at higher speeds. We found it makes much easier work of getting around crowded parking lots.

Quad-zone automatic climate control
This separates the cabin into four zones with temperature preset capability for each zone. Once set, the system automatically maintains the preset temperature.

Animated Digital Matrix LED headlights
These cutting-edge headlights not only automatically adjust to changing light conditions, but they can also project animated patterns on walls when the car is parked.

Bang & Olufsen 3D audio system
A 755-watt amp drives 17 speakers to deliver dynamic, concert-hall sound.

Comfort adaptive air suspension
Constantly monitoring road and driving conditions, this system not only softens for ride comfort on straight roads and stiffens when cornering, it also lowers the vehicle as the speed increases.

Audi assigns different engines to the A8 and S8. The A8 offers a 335-horsepower turbocharged V6 to rotate all four wheels via an 8-speed automatic transmission. A 48-volt mild-hybrid (MHEV) system is also onboard. Its function is to power some of the A8’s electric components, thus allowing the engine to devote all its efforts to motivating the wheels. Both the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and the BMW 7 Series deliver more horsepower; therefore, we’d like Audi to offer a more powerful engine option for the A8. The overworked V6 is fine for cruising; however, we argue the A8 needs an optional mill with a little more pizzazz.

The S8 gets the same MHEV system and transmission; however, its thrust comes from a 563-horsepower twin-turbo V8.

4-Year/50,000-Mile Warranty

Audi protects its new cars with a 4-year/50,000 bumper-to-bumper limited warranty that covers the powertrain, as well. This is average for warranty protection for this segment.

Safety Rating

Neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has published safety ratings for the Audi A8. Standard advanced safety features include high-beam assist, lane-departure warning, front-rear park assist, a surround-view camera, and forward emergency braking with pedestrian detection.