2021 Audi A8 Review

Name: 2021 Audi A8 Review
Brand: Audi
Price: 44139 USD

+240

At this price, luxury is more than just a state of mind. It's found not only in the wealth of features but also in the way the vehicle behaves and how it can make its occupants forget the stresses of daily life. The Audi A8 has all the trappings of luxury, but it never feels entirely special or cohesive, and it lacks that last little bit of personality and luxury you'll find in other large luxury sedans.

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Audi A8 model years

Audi A8 for Sale

Audi A8 types

Sedan
Plug-in Hybrid

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2021 Audi A8 Review

byReese Counts^{Vehicle Test Editor
Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at Edmunds in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at Edmunds and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.}

Pros

Impeccably crafted cabin
Impressive interior technology
Responsive steering and cornering for a big sedan
Exceptionally comfortable seats all around

Cons

Relatively small trunk
Infotainment interface can be tough to learn
Powertrain is a little unrefined
Ride is too floaty at high speeds and bumpy around town

What's new

Some previously optional features are now standard
Packages consolidated to include more equipment
All-wheel steering added to optional appearance packages
Part of the fourth A8 generation introduced for 2019

Overview

The 2021 Audi A8 is a large luxury sedan that sits atop the German automaker's lineup. The A8 was redesigned in 2019 and carries on into 2021 with just a few minor adjustments to options and features. Like other flagship luxury sedans, the Audi A8 is impressively spacious, comfortable and well appointed. It also offers Audi's latest technology features as well as an available plug-in hybrid version.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 Audi A8 L 4dr Sedan AWD w/55 TFSI (3.0L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.45 per gallon for premium unleaded in Ohio.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio

$264/mo

$219/mo

Avg. Large Car

Calculate my fuel costs

While there's a lot to like with the A8, it doesn't seem as polished as the Mercedes-Benz S-Class or BMW 7 Series. The ride quality, powertrains and infotainment aren't quite on the same level of German rivals, which is a bit of a surprise given how well Audi's smaller sedans otherwise stack up. Is the A8 still worth getting? Check out the categories of our Expert Rating below to read our in-depth evaluation on the 2021 A8.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict^{The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.}

Average

7.4

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

Rated for you by America's best test team.

Performance

7.5/10

How does the A8 drive? At this level, a car's performance should be almost transparent and allow passengers to enjoy the experience of a true luxury car. But the A8 gets most of its athletic aptitude from optional summer performance tires instead of a more well-rounded approach. The A8 with the base V6 is by no means slow, but that doesn't mean it couldn't do with a little more in the power department. We recommend upgrading to the V8 or plug-in hybrid.

The A8 also comes across as a bit numb and clumsy in aspects that you wouldn't expect it to. The brakes performed well in our panic-stop tests but were jumpy in traffic, making it hard to stop smoothly. The transmission was also slow to downshift when we wanted it to. The A8 is good overall, but there's room for improvement.

Comfort

7.5/10

How comfortable is the A8? On the right road, and in the right conditions, the A8 is nearly as good as they come, offering supremely comfortable seats for all passengers. The optional four-seat configuration adds adjustable and heated rear seats with a full center console.

But the ride quality can feel decidedly unrefined on less than perfect roads. It can be too soft over dips and crests, resulting in wallowy body motions, but then too firm over potholes and rough surfaces. Other negatives include a climate control that has to work a bit harder than it should have to in a car of this status and more road and engine noise than we'd expect.

Interior

8.0/10

How’s the interior? To put it simply, if Audi retained the use of its old MMI infotainment system, the A8 would have received a higher score. The latest system offers a lot of features, but the learning curve is steep. The new dual touchscreens, though not impossible to figure out, are not intuitive and the screens can look dirty after a day's use. We do, however, like the standard digital instrument cluster.

Visibility and interior space are difficult to fault thanks to the large windows and thin roof pillars. As a result, this large car is relatively easy to park. There's plenty of space, especially for rear passengers. The optional four-seat setup offers the ability to slide the passenger seat forward for more rear legroom.

Technology

8.0/10

How’s the tech? The A8 is definitely impressive to look at and absolutely impressive to listen to. You'd think the A8 should be the runaway class leader when it comes to in-car tech. But some usability issues as well as some conservative tuning with the adaptive cruise control system show there's room for improvement.

We like the standard Bang & Olufsen audio system and Google Earth-based navigation, but we had some graphical glitches in our test car. Voice recognition works well, as does the handwriting recognition system. The driver aids feel slow to respond and can feel behind the beat in traffic.

Storage

7.0/10

How’s the storage? Audi's streamlined styling and optional Executive Rear Seat package take a bit of a toll on cargo capacity for both passengers and trunk space. Both front and rear passengers will need to declutter since there aren't many places to hold small items beyond sunglasses and a smartphone. The trunk can't hold more than a couple of large suitcases.

Fuel Economy

6.5/10

How’s the fuel economy? The A8 with the base V6 gets an EPA-estimated 21 mpg in combined city/highway driving. That's right in the mix with other similarly equipped executive sedans. But in our time with our test car, we saw only one tank barely exceed 22 mpg, even though it was made up of mostly highway miles. You might have trouble matching the EPA's numbers in your car.

Value

7.5/10

Is the A8 a good value? Luxury-car buyers are right to expect a lot from their purchase, especially when the price tag exceeds $100,000. The A8 does impress prospective buyers with exceptional build quality. Audi's limited warranty is pretty typical for the segment, and Audi offers four years of roadside assistance with unlimited miles. That's good, but some competitors offer better plans.

Wildcard

6.0/10

The Audi A8 strives to mix Audi's tech-forward heritage and high-end luxury appointments with a touch of sport into a long-wheelbase executive express. But the recipe never feels fully baked, and the A8 winds up feeling only like a bigger Audi instead of a special one.

Which A8 does Edmunds recommend?

Standard equipment is generally the same on all trims, so we suggest going with the 60 TFSI e plug-in hybrid. It's quicker than the V6-powered model and more fuel-efficient than either the V6 or V8.

2021 Audi A8 models

The 2021 A8 comes in three well-equipped trim levels separated by a choice of powertrain: 55 TFSI, 60 TFSI and 60 TFSI e. The only A8 sold in the U.S. is the long-wheelbase A8 L, which provides extra legroom for rear passengers.

55 TFSI
The 55 TFSI uses a 3.0-liter V6-powered (335 horsepower, 369 lb-ft) paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. Audi includes even more standard equipment for 2021 than last year's model. Feature highlights include:

19-inch wheels
LED headlights
Soft-close doors (catch as they're being closed and gently pull shut)
Adaptive air suspension
Power-adjustable front seats with heating and cooling
Four-zone automatic climate control
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration
Wireless charging pad with Audi phone box signal booster
Digital instrument cluster (Audi's Virtual Cockpit)
Heated and ventilated seats
Panoramic sunroof
360-degree camera system (gives you a top-down view of the A8 and its surroundings for tight parking situations)
Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)

There are a handful of options. They include:

Executive Plus package

Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front)
Lane keeping assist (steers the A8 back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)
Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing)
Heated armrests
Heated rear outboard seats
Heated steering wheel
Ambient interior lighting
Dual-pane acoustic windows
Massaging front seats
Traffic sign recognition
Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line on the windshield)
20-inch wheels

Luxury package

Faux suede headliner
Aluminum buttons
Extended leather upholstery
Rear outboard ventilated and massaging seats
Heated rear armrests
Power rear outboard seats with lumbar and memory function

Black Optic/S Line Plus package

20-inch wheels
Black exterior trim
All-wheel steering

The 60 TFSI swaps a turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 (453 hp, 487 lb-ft) in place of the V6. Standard features mirror the 55 TFSI, with the addition of a Bang & Olufsen audio system that's otherwise optional on the 55 TFSI.

The 60 TFSI e uses a turbocharged V6 plug-in hybrid (443 hp, 516 lb-ft). Options mirror those on the 60 TFSI.

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

2/5Average

#38 out of 48 among Luxury Fullsize Cars

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Audi A8 from 2008-2022.}

$824/yr

vs. $729/yr
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

2.23x/yr

vs. 1.74x/yr
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

21.6%

vs. 14.7%
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2021 Audi A8.

5 (70%)

4 (5%)

3 (0%)

2 (7%)

1 (18%)

4.1

17 reviews

Write a vehicle review See all 17 reviews

Most helpful consumer reviews

Unreliable Car

Jamie, 07/06/2021

2019 Audi A8 L 4.0 TFSI quattro 4dr Sedan AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo gas/electric hybrid 8A)

Very gorgeous car, but it turned into an expensive paperweight soon after purchasing. After buying the car, dealership then told me they needed to do minor work on the cooling system. That took about 3 weeks. 2 weeks of having the car, the temperature light started spazzing with 5 miles of driving. Towed to the dealership and was told that the car was throwing codes and the technician …

Too Many Issues to be Audi's Flagship

C. R., 01/12/2023

2019 Audi A8 L 3.0 TFSI quattro 4dr Sedan AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric hybrid 8A)

We purchased a CPO 2019 Audi A8 with 32,000 miles. In the first 16 months of ownership our car has been in the Audi Dealership 82 days. Even after 82 days in the shop we have a return visit schedule to address outstanding items. We continue to have brake issues with no resolution from Audi. If you don't want a car with a lot of service issues this is not the car for you. This is also my …

Absolute lemon

RC, 12/18/2019

2019 Audi A8 L 3.0 TFSI quattro 4dr Sedan AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric hybrid 8A)

My third A8 and seventh Audi, never any issues but this one has been over engineered electronically , buggy and dangerous ( the steering froze up mid-drive with family inside the car), even more painful is dealing with VW group to get it resolved been over 6 months

Love this car

RobertinCT, 12/14/2021

2019 Audi A8 L 3.0 TFSI quattro 4dr Sedan AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric hybrid 8A)

This is my third Audi. It is by far the best. It is extremely quiet and smooth. Loaded with tech and safety features. Love the rear seat comfort package and 4-wheel steering. Car is quick and gets pretty good mpg. Took the car on a 7,200 mile cross country road trip. Car performed flawlessly and was extremely comfortable. Lane keep assist and radar cruise made the driving stress …

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2021 Audi A8, so we've included reviews for other years of the A8 since its last redesign.

See all 17 reviews of the Audi A8

Write a vehicle review

2021 A8 Highlights

Type:

Sedan

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$86,500
Engine Type	Mild hybrid
Combined MPG	21 MPG
Cost to Drive	$264/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	12.5 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the A8 models:

Pre Sense Side: If it detects an imminent side collision, the system can roll up the windows or raise the suspension if necessary.
Pre Sense Rear: Reacts to an imminent rear-end collision by tensioning seat belts, closing windows, and adjusting the seats for optimal protection.
Active Lane Assist: Warns the driver if he or she deviates from a lane without using a signal. Can also apply steering to help maintain lane integrity.

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2021 Audi A8 Review

2021 Audi A8 Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which A8 does Edmunds recommend?

2021 Audi A8 models

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Most helpful consumer reviews

Unreliable Car

Too Many Issues to be Audi's Flagship

Absolute lemon

Love this car

2021 A8 Highlights

Safety

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