2018 Audi S8 Review

Few sedans are more powerful than the 2018 Audi S8. With 605 horsepower courtesy of its twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 and an optional 190 mph top speed, the S8 falls into an elite group. Combined with standard all-wheel drive, the resulting acceleration can make some supercars envious.

As preposterous as its abilities may seem, the S8 remains an understated machine. It is a flagship luxury sedan, after all, and in this role comfort is as big of a priority as performance. Like the A8 on which it's based, the S8's interior boasts extensive leather upholstery and attractive materials throughout. From its smooth-riding air suspension to its extensive number of standard features, the S8 delivers on every front.

The 2018 Audi S8 is a full-size, high-performance luxury sedan that is available only in Plus trim. It employs a turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 (605 horsepower, 517 pound-feet of torque) that is connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is standard.

As Audi's flagship sedan, the S8 comes well equipped with standard features, including 21-inch wheels, a sport-tuned adaptive air suspension, LED exterior lighting, a top-down parking camera system, parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, a panoramic sunroof, a power trunklid and soft-close doors. Interior amenities include keyless entry and ignition, a head-up display, diamond-stitched leather seating, four-zone climate control, 22-way power-adjustable front seats (with massage, heating, and ventilation), and power rear window sunshades. The infotainment system is accessed through an 8-inch retractable center display, and it's supported by a 14-speaker Bose surround-sound system. Satellite radio is included, but the S8 continues to have Audi's proprietary music interface instead of a regular USB port.

Last year's Cold Weather and Driver Assistance packages have been combined into the Executive Plus package, which includes lane departure warning and intervention, traffic-adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning and mitigation, a heated steering wheel, heated rear seats and rear-seat pass-through. The Dynamics package fits the S8 with carbon-ceramic brakes and increases the car's top-speed limiter to 190 mph.

Notable stand-alone options include a night-vision camera system and a 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system. The rest of the S8's packages are related to customizing the sedan's color and trim combinations.