Highs Quiet cabin with plenty of luxuries, all the best tech features are standard, comfortable but still capable in the corners.
Lows Somewhat anonymous styling, less-than-generous warranty, base V-6 engine is merely adequate.
Verdict In the same way that a simple but well-tailored tuxedo elevates one's style, the quietly luxurious 2021 Audi A8 is handsome and looks expensive without being flashy.
Overview
Audi's largest and most luxurious sedan—the 2021 A8—hides its high-dollar cabin behind a handsome-yet-understated façade. From a distance, it's easy to mistake this nearly six-figure sedan for a humble A4, but that sort of anonymity may actually be appealing to more restrained millionaires. Inside, buyers will find a cabin that is just as spacious and elegantly outfitted as the showier Mercedes-Benz S-class and BMW 7-series, including available massaging seats for front and rear passengers. Audi has rolled out its entire cavalcade of infotainment and driver-assistance technology here, as the A8 serves as a rolling showcase of whiz-bang features.
What's New for 2021?
Audi is ratcheting up the luxury on the A8 for 2021 by making 22-way, power-adjustable front seats with heat and ventilation standard across the lineup. Also now standard is a wireless smartphone charging pad and a 360-degree exterior camera system. The top-flight 60 TFSI model now comes with the Sport Style package (20-inch wheels, front-lip spoiler, and chrome lower body cladding) as well as Matrix-design LED headlights and soft Valcona leather upholstery.
Going with the 60 TFSI model puts the A8's best feature under the hood: A 453-hp twin-turbocharged V-8. In addition to the more powerful engine, we'd also order the Rear Seat Comfort package, which adds power rear seats with massage and heat to really pamper our passengers. The Executive package makes our list too. It includes massaging front seats, a head-up display, a heated steering wheel, blind-spot monitoring, and interior ambient lighting.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The base 55 TFSI comes with a turbocharged V-6 rated at 335 horsepower, and the 60 TFSI has a 453-hp twin-turbo V-8 engine. Both versions use a 48-volt hybrid system. 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 and a rear-mounted 14.1-kWh battery pack. The 2021 Audi A8 TFSI e is rated at 443 hp. So far, we've only tested the V-6 55 TFSI 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. The Audi's engine is smooth, but there's no fanfare to its power delivery, and sound-deadening measures are so extensive that it's practically inaudible with the windows up. The A8 offers a very Audi-like blend of athleticism and ride comfort. An adjustable air suspension and driver-adjustable ...
