The Audi A8 is the flagship sedan within the model’s vary, however this one is the entry-level tackle the theme – the 2023 Audi A8 50 TDI.
Yep, a diesel engine continues to be the entry-point to this luxurious limousine vary, whereas most different manufacturers are transferring to high-tech hybridised petrol powertrains, or full electrification, because the occasions dictate.
That’ll in all probability occur for the next-gen A8, if there’s one… however the present automobile has been up to date, with this facelifted model utilising a 48-volt mild-hybrid system alongside its 3.0-litre turbo-diesel – it has quattro all-wheel drive customary, too.
It now kicks off at greater than $200,000 earlier than on-roads, too… so, is it nonetheless plush sufficient? Let’s discover out.
How a lot does the Audi A8 50 TDI value?
The 2023 Audi A8 line-up consists of three completely different variations – right here we’ve the ‘entry-level’ standard-wheelbase A8 50 TDI which is priced from a cool $202,700 earlier than on-road prices.
The longer-wheelbase A8 L mannequin may appear expensive for its additional rear-seat legroom, but it surely’s the one to purchase for the final word in chauffeur pushed consolation for occupants.
The A8 line-up is comparatively small in comparison with its principal rivals. The brand new BMW 7 Sequence has three grades, however two are electrical – the petrol 740i begins at $272,900, whereas the i7 xDrive 60 is $306,900, and the i7 M70 xDrive is $344,900.
As does the Mercedes S-Class line-up, which begins from $242,361 (all MSRP pricing), earlier than stepping as much as the S450 L ($266,961), the S580 L ($332,760), and the petrol-model vary is topped by the V12-powered S680 Maybach ($571,662). There’s additionally the EQS 53 4Matic+ electrical limousine, which is $327,075.
By comparability the Audi seems to be like a discount. Much more so when you think about that each one the color/paint choices are at no additional value.
So, whether or not you select Good Black, Mythos Black Metallic, Firmament Blue Metallic, Extremely Blue Metallic, District Inexperienced Metallic, Daytona Gray Pearl, Manhattan Gray Metallic, Terra Gray Metallic, Vesuvius Gray Metallic, Florett Silver Metallic or Glacier White Metallic, there isn’t a added value. However there are some Audi Unique colors that value $7050 extra!
There are some wonderful non-obligatory extras, together with the S line package deal that makes this automobile look much less like one which deserves Rent Automobile plates, and some different selection objects I’ll cowl down beneath.
2023 Audi A8 pricing:
- Audi A8 50TDI: $202,700
- Audi A8 L 50TDI: $222,700
- Audi S8: $273,400
Costs exclude on-road prices
What’s the Audi A8 50 TDI like on the within?
There isn’t practically as a lot wow issue as in a brand new BMW or Mercedes limo – and what? I’m completely okay with that.
That’s as a result of the standard of the supplies and the usability of the know-how is exceptionally good.
This take a look at automobile featured an exquisite wooden end on the dashboard and doorways, Dinamica faux suede materials on the door playing cards, and luxurious Valcona leather-based on the seats and sprint and different components of the cabin space – and mixed, it makes for a critically high-end feel and appear within the cabin.
There’s additionally a touch of theatrics to it. Whenever you change the automobile on, the wooden panelling opens as much as reveal the air vents. There are haptic management pads beneath these vents that help you regulate the pace/circulation of the air, and the vents will shut and the wooden will reappear in case you flip the circulation off.
Sure, it could solely have a ten.1-inch touchscreen media system, but it surely additionally has a secondary display beneath that with haptic suggestions, and it does work very well. I don’t even thoughts that you need to contact the display to regulate the fan pace and temperature – as a result of it’s logical, and learnable.
As is the driving force info display (or Digital Cockpit, in Audi converse), which has an array of readouts and information on it, and could be very simple to familiarize yourself with.
The consolation is outstanding for front-seat occupants as properly, with very comfortable and properly adjustable seats, with a bunch of various features obtainable as properly, together with heating, cooling, a therapeutic massage perform, electrical adjustment, and reminiscence settings on either side.
With regards to storage, there’s a pair of moderately first rate door pockets with bottle holsters, though the entrance doorways have an asymmetrical design – which means the driving force’s door has completely different components than the passengers door.
So the passenger door will get an even bigger bottle holder and a distinct form to the seize deal with, whereas the driving force’s door will get much less storage, but in addition has extra controls.
Between the entrance seats is a lined centre console bin with a twin-opening lid. Inside that could be a wi-fi cellphone charger with one of many cleverest holsters to maintain your cellphone in place and out of sight that I’ve seen in any automobile.
There’s a pair of USB-C ports in there as properly, whereas in entrance of that storage space is a pair of cupholders and a 12-volt port.
Within the second row, there’s ample house for an grownup of my dimension – as you’ll anticipate. At 182cm or 6’0” tall, I’ve sufficient knee-room and headroom to be snug, however it’s going to be a greater two-person rear-seat expertise than a three-person job.
The outer seats are superbly sculpted and cozy, whereas the center seat is flatter and there’s a enormous transmission tunnel intrusion that does get in the way in which of issues.
In fact that middle-rear seat is designed to be folded down to separate up the house within the second row, creating an armrest for the backseat occupants – in addition to a management centre for media, lighting (together with Matrix LED studying lights!), shades and way more – because of the 5.7-inch display between the seats.
There’s additionally a pop-out cupholder part, and a lined centre bin with a pair of USB-C ports. It additionally has a pleasant closing movement and damping if you fold that armrest part away.
Rear occupants additionally rating a pair of pockets on the seat backs, and bottle holders within the doorways. Additionally there are pop-up screens for the home windows.
These within the rear are additionally handled to the wooden end on the seat backs of the entrance seats, and alongside the doorways.
With regards to air flow, there are directional air-vents within the B-pillars, and likewise at the back of the entrance centre console space. And there are vivid overhead LED lights for studying, or for getting a baby in or out of the again seats.
On that subject, there are ISOFIX factors obtainable in every of the rear window seats, and three top-tether factors as properly.
Maybe the strangest factor within the again is the pair of 12-volt ports – clearly designed as cigarette lighters! How bizarre.
As you’ll anticipate, the boot house is ample, with sufficient house for baggage switch from the airport.
There’s 505 litres of cargo capability within the boot, however there’s a hump in direction of the entrance of the cargo space, which does eat into the house a bit bit. However there’s additionally a gap between the boot space and the cabin for storage of longer objects like skis.
There’s a netted part to the left of the again of the automobile with a 12-volt port as properly, and beneath the boot ground is a space-saver spare tyre.
What’s below the bonnet?
This model of the A8 comes with a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 paired with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, which provides this ultra-large sedan a wholesome 210kW of energy (3500-4000rpm) and 600Nm of torque (1750-3250rpm).
It has an eight-speed computerized transmission, and quattro all-wheel drive as customary.
The efficiency claims are stable, too: 0-100km/h is 5.9 seconds, and the highest pace is 250km/h – best for these autobahn sprints… not a lot for the M5 tunnel in Sydney.
How does the Audi A8 50 TDI drive?
Let’s not child ourselves. This automobile is as a lot about what it’s wish to be within the again seat as it’s for these up entrance.
I can attest, although, that irrespective of the place you sit, the posh of this expertise is outstanding. It’s correctly posh.
Essentially the most excellent component for all occupants is the automobile’s elegant journey consolation.
The adaptive air suspension is, for my part, unparalleled by way of the quantity of composure and management on provide when the automobile encounters bumpy sections of highway, and even pace humps – it does an amazing job of cosseting these within the cabin, and making for snug and really clean progress.
However it additionally handles itself properly in corners, with a tied-down and assertive dynamism that you simply won’t anticipate of a automobile of this dimension, and with this a lot weight.
It isn’t sports activities car-like, however it’s way more satisfying to drive than you would possibly anticipate will probably be – in case you do discover the form of highway the place you may give it a little bit of a push, or perhaps it is advisable to ferry some VIPs alongside a twisty highway to their secret hideout.
The steering additionally gives an honest quantity of directness and responsiveness to it. It isn’t the final phrase in really feel, but it surely’s nonetheless predictable and manageable in all conditions.
The three.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 engine can also be terrific, with a robust surge of torque from low within the rev vary, and linear energy supply as you construct pace.
There’s a sensible eight-speed auto transmission that enables the engine to do its greatest work, both simply through the use of its pulling energy, or by dropping a gear and serving to issues out.
Regardless of which scenario the drivetrain finds itself in, although, it’s quiet and really refined. The one points with that refinement may be when the 48-volt stop-start system kicks in on the low speeds, and there may be some slight jerking or hesitation – however it isn’t on a regular basis, and it’s actually not a dealbreaker.
Whenever you’re utilizing adaptive cruise management and coasting the automobile can reduce the engine utterly, too, and it’ll reduce the engine in case you’re coasting to a cease.
There are a number of drive modes obtainable, together with auto, consolation, dynamic, and particular person. Whereas the dynamic mode does tighten issues up by way of suspension, steering, engine and transmission responsiveness, consolation mode is the place it’s at if you’re driving a automobile like this, or in case you’re a passenger in a automobile like this, as a result of it makes issues that rather more relaxed and comfortable.
I can’t overstate simply how spectacular the noise, vibration and harshness suppression is on this automobile – it feels correctly luxurious, and so it ought to.
There’s an amazing degree of consolation on provide, and that’s precisely what there ought to be. And you may barely hear the highway floor, even on coarse-chip roads, and there’s however a whisper of wind noise at pace – bear in mind, that is designed to chop by the air cleanly at autobahn speeds, so it’s quiet.
As for the protection know-how and the programs on provide, the adaptive cruise management gives a selection of lane-keeping help or not, and I discovered it labored extraordinarily properly in each conditions.
Nevertheless, throughout my time on this take a look at automobile, I had an occasion the place one of many automobile’s parking sensor programs failed, which means the auto-parking system was unavailable, and so have been security programs just like the intelligent manoeuvre braking system that can hit the brakes if it thinks you would possibly hit an impediment at decrease speeds.
What do you get?
A8 50 TDI highlights:
- 20-inch alloy wheels
- Area-saver spare wheel
- Digital Matrix LED headlights
- HD Matrix perform
- LED daytime operating lights
- OLED tail lights
- Prolonged mild sequencing
- 5 dynamic picture/animation projections
- Entrance, rear dynamic indicators
- Adaptive air suspension
- Constantly variable adaptive damping on all 4 wheels
- Keyless entry and begin
- Electrical boot lid with gesture management
- Exterior mirrors
- Heated, folding and auto dimming with reminiscence; kerb-side perform on the passenger aspect
- Energy assisted door closure (aka mushy shut)
- Panoramic sunroof with electrical shade
- Double glazed glass
- Electrical entrance seat adjustment
- Valcona leather-based upholstery with perforated leather-based on entrance and outer rear seats
- Prolonged leather-based package deal
- Centre console, door armrests, airbag cowl on steering wheel, higher dashboard and door rails in Nappa leather-based
- Heated entrance seats
- Heated entrance armrests
- Heated entrance centre console lid
- Heated steering wheel with paddle-shifters
- Electrical steering wheel adjustment
- Ventilated (cooled) entrance seats
- Therapeutic massage entrance seats
- Ambient lighting with 30 selectable colors, 6 color profiles
- 12.3-inch driver data show (digital cockpit)
- Head-up show
- 10.1-inch touchscreen media system
- Satellite tv for pc navigation
- DAB digital radio
- Wired and wi-fi Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
- 17-speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo system with subwoofer
- 4x USB ports (2 x entrance, 2 x rear)
- Wi-fi cellphone charging
- Audi join on-line companies
- On-line site visitors info, hazard alerts, Google Maps connectivity, parking info, climate data, gas costs, Google companies, and Safety & Help package deal with distant locking/unlocking, automobile finder, emergency calling and on-line roadside help
- Rear-seat management system with 5.7-inch OLED display
- Local weather management, seat, lighting and comfort features obtainable
If that’s not sufficient, a number of the non-obligatory packages embody:
- Sensory Package deal ($17,000): Rear outer heated seats (customary gear for lengthy wheel base mannequin); full leather-based package deal; 23-speaker Bang & Olufsen superior sound system; adaptive windscreen wipers; headlining and parcel shelf in black Dinamica; extendable solar visors; privateness glass – darkish tinted rear and rear aspect home windows; air high quality package deal – contains 2 fragrances and air ionisation to enhance the air high quality within the cabin
- Rear Seat Consolation Package deal ($7000): Seat air flow with therapeutic massage perform at rear; 3-seater rear seat system contains rear outer seats with energy adjustment; consolation head restraints; outer heated seats within the again row
- S line exterior package deal ($NCO): Adjustments entrance and rear bumpers for aero-focused S line variations, black exterior highlights and results (not proven on this take a look at automobile, which has the no-cost Chrome Exterior Package deal.
Is the Audi A8 50 TDI protected?
There isn’t a ANCAP or Euro NCAP crash take a look at security score for the Audi A8. By no means has been, in reality.
However being the flagship mannequin within the line-up, you may relaxation assured that whereas it doesn’t have an unbiased security score, it does have an unlimited array of energetic security know-how and options to maintain you protected.
These objects embody:
- Adaptive cruise management with cease & go, together with site visitors jam help
- Energetic lane help
- When activated helps the driving force keep within the lane by light corrective steering intervention and thru steering vibration
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- 360-degree cameras together with kerb view perform
- Entrance, rear parking sensors
- Driver consideration alert
- Ahead autonomous emergency braking
- Pedestrian and bicycle owner detection, and intersection help
- Collision avoidance help
- Helps steering torque in crucial conditions the place the driving force initiates evasive motion
- Flip help (junction help)
- Screens oncoming site visitors when turning proper at low speeds
- Emergency help
- Inside system limits, detects when the driving force fails to reply. In such occasion, the system supplies the driving force with a visible, acoustic and haptic warning
- Exit warning system
- Detects vehicles and cyclists when opening doorways
There’s additionally an non-obligatory Night time Imaginative and prescient Assistant, which may establish and illustrate folks and bigger wild animals. The airbag rely is beneficiant (9), with twin entrance airbags, entrance aspect airbags, rear aspect airbags, a entrance centre airbag, and curtain airbags.
How a lot does the Audi A8 50 TDI value to run?
The A8 is roofed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee, and you should buy a five-year service plan for $4290. That may cowl your first 5 companies, due at both 12 months or each 15,000km.
There’s service-initiated roadside help as properly, so in case you keep the automobile with Audi, you’ll be capable to take benefit.
As for the operating prices, the official mixed cycle gas consumption for the A8 50 TDI is 6.6 litres per 100km – fairly spectacular for a 2095kg luxurious sedan.
In my testing, which included a couple of hundred kilometres of combined driving, I noticed a return of seven.7L/100km.
CarExpert’s Tackle the Audi A8 50 TDI
The opponents would possibly make the A8 really feel a bit behind the occasions by way of the know-how, however this stays a splendid uber luxurious sedan with a simple powertrain and a tremendously good journey.
It looks as if a terrific purchase for the cash, contemplating how a lot the opponents value, too.
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