Insurance Group: 43
MPG: 32.1
CO2: 204
0-62 Mph: 6.1 secs
BHP: 286 BHP
Range: 635 miles
This is a very expensive car and the running costs are high as well, although the petrol engine is still fairly efficient for a 3.0 litre.
PROS: An impressive engine with loads of power and speed. The cabin is sleek and comes with loads of equipment as standard with the good value for money SE trim.
CONS: The steering is not as sharp as it should be for a car this expensive and some of the A8’s competition has more boot space and are sportier looking models.
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 and the adjustable air suspension means you can select the level of firmness, although it still suffers a little on uneven ground. The steering can be a bit unresponsive.
The petrol powered V6 engine delivers plenty of power to this car with a maximum output of 286 bhp and 309 lb-ft of torque. This helps to give the car good grip on the road and makes it feel safe and secure when driven. The engine also works quietly thanks to high levels of refinement and this means the cabin is well insulated from external noise disruption.
Performance credentials for this model are high with a top speed of 155 mph and acceleration speeds of 6.1 seconds when travelling from 0-62 mph.
The interior of the A8 is well-designed and of a high-quality, living up to the reputation of Audi as a stylish manufacturer. The seat and steering wheel adjust comfortably and the dash is free from clutter and well organised, with a touch-screen display offered on the built-in sat nav.
Rear view visibility is not great due to the high set rear of the car but other than that the cabin is comfortable with plenty of room in the front and rear seats for passengers and the driver.
The 3.0 TFSI Quattro SE comes with leather seats, metallic paint, power steering, satellite navigation, cruise control, climate control, stability control, rear parking sensors, alloy wheels, MP3 connectivity and stereo as standard with optional extras including Bluetooth for £410.
The A8 comes with all the safety equipment you would expect in a high-quality car such as this and that means drivers can have confidence when on the road. Standard safety features include driver, passenger and front side airbags to protect occupants from harm and an alarm and immobiliser to protect it from theft.
It also has stability control to prevent accidents and anti-lock brakes and there are front and back ISOFIX child seat mounting points and options to fit adaptive xenon headlights, lane-departure, a rear-view camera and blind-sport warning systems.
Despite the strong safety credentials, reliability is not expected to be great as Audi’s recent record has been poor. The brand did not fare well in the 2011 JD Power survey and this means that concerns over the reliability of this range are high.
The boot is fairly sizeable offering 510 litres even when all of the seats are in place. In addition there is ample leg and head room within the cabin, making it a comfortable environment in which to be.
The running costs are high with the A8 range due to the large size of the engines and this model is no different. The 3.0 TFSI Quattro SE model costs £56,925 and has a combined economy of 31.0 mpg and CO2 emission rate of 213 g/km meaning the cost of refuelling and taxing the vehicle will be high.
However, there is a good range of features and practicality offered which is an attractive feature when combined with the high performance credentials and the range also benefits from strong resale values, making them a better investment than might originally appear.
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