2021 Audi A8L - Exterior and interior Details (Luxury Sedan)
- 2 years ago
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 2020 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.
What's New for 2020?
Audi expands the 2020 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 2020 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 2020 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 ...
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 2020 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.
What's New for 2020?
Audi expands the 2020 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 2020 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 2020 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 ...