Insurance Group: 47
MPG: 38.2
CO2: 195
0-62 Mph: 5.5 secs
BHP: 345 BHP
Range: 756 miles
The exterior and interior are classic Audi chic (although this model is understated) and the cabin comes with loads of features as standard.
PROS: Good diesel engine with improved efficiency. The cabin comes with loads of equipment as standard and looks great.
CONS: Expensive to buy and to run, even with the efficient diesel engine. The V6 engine is fast enough without the extra costs of the V8. The steering is not as responsive as it should be for this price.
All the A8 cars are powerful saloons even with the smaller engines in the range. The car has good grip, especially with the four-wheel-drive. The adjustable air suspension means you can select the level of firmness, although it still suffers a little on uneven ground and the steering can be a bit unresponsive.
The V8 engine conmbines with an eight-speed tiptronic automatic gearbox to provides smooth acceleration and effortless driving. The car handles fairly well and the performance credentials are strong thanks to the 345 bhp engine which provides 590 lb-ft of torque.
This gives the car a top speed of 155 mph whilst acceleration speeds allow the car to reach 62 mph from rest in just 5.5 seconds.
The interior of the car offers high levels of comfort - as expected from a car of this class and from an Audi. Not only is there a good range of features but there is also plenty of adjustment within the seating and steering wheel, allowing all occupants to find the ideal position for their journey.
The range of in-car features helps to improve comfort and entertainment within the cabin and standard features of the 4.2 TDI Quattro SE include leather seats, metallic paint, power steering, satellite navigation, cruise control, climate control, stability control, rear parking sensors, alloy wheels and MP3 connectivity with the stereo. Bluetooth connectivity can also be added for an extra £410 whilst the satellite navigation benefits from a touchpad display.
For fuel economy, the A8 has a start/stop system and electromechanical power steering as standard, which allows for great efficiency and low CO2 emissions.
Practicality of the car is fairly high with plenty of room available within both the cabin and the boot. In terms of storage capacity, the boot offers a decent 510 litres when the seats are in place and there is plenty of head and legroom in the front and rear of the cabin for passengers and drivers.
Safety levels are also high and the car offers good credentials in this area. Numerous airbags are fitted across the car to protect the occupants from harm during a colision and there is also an alarm and immobiliser fitted to protect the car from theft. Central locking also helps to keep the vehicle safe and other features such as stability control help to keep the car safely on track.
For relaibility the car could be a concern for buyers with Audi having performed poorly in customer satisfaction surveys of late. The car does come with a standard three year warranty for 60,000 miles to allay fears but buyers should be cautious over the investment given Audi's recent track record.
The running costs are high with the A8 due to the size of the engines and this model, which costs £65,865, has a combined fuel economy of just 37.2 mpg and a CO2 emission rate of 199 g/km - making it uneconomical and detrimental to the environment.
That being said, buyers will get a good level of kit for their money and the performance of this model is a great asset. Resale values are also fairly good - as they are with most cars of this class - and the service offered by Audi is high, making it a wise investment. The only real problem is the lack of efficiency and questionable reliability which should be given serious thought.
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