The Car Connection Expert Review
Likes
- Near-perfect ride quality
- Not as tech-overloaded as some rivals
- Impressive turbo power
- Sedate nature
Dislikes
- Could use a few more buttons and knobs
- Not much to look at
- A8 can approach S8’s price with options
- Tiny trunk
Buying tip
features & specs
The 2025 Audi A8 wraps its high-tech cabin and advanced driver-assistance tech in blend-in styling.
What kind of vehicle is the 2025 Audi A8? What does it compare to?
The 2025 Audi A8 is a full-size luxury sedan comparable to the BMW 7-Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class, not to mention the Genesis G80.
Is the 2025 Audi A8 a good car?
It may lack the styling punch of some other big cars, but the A8 is a stunner once you’re behind the wheel. It’s quick, confident, and just tech-heavy enough. It earns a 6.4 out of 10 on the TCC scale. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
What's new for the 2025 Audi A8?
Audi made myriad small feature tweaks to its 2025 A8 and S8 sedans, the most notable of which is probably the inclusion of standard rear-wheel steering with the optional Luxury Package on the A8. The S8 also now comes with full leather upholstery.
While the A8 and S8 sedans may have blend-in styling—so much so that casual observers may think they’re A6s—they do have a certain elegance. They’re even more impressive, at least in terms of tech. You won’t find many buttons or knobs, but the three screens here work in concert without overwhelming the user.
A8s have a 335-hp turbocharged V-6 that boasts 48-volt mild-hybrid tech, but the price hike to the 563-hp twin-turbo V-8 in the S8 isn’t all that high. We know which one we’d prefer, so long as we weren’t dependent on the A8’s 22 mpg versus the S8’s mere 18 mpg combined rating.
Either sedan can be somewhat nimble with available four-wheel steering, and they have an exceptionally planted feel befitting a top-end luxury car. S8s are a bit firmer than base A8s, but they’re hardly rough riders. Opt for the predictive suspension that scans the road forward and prepares for bumps ahead of time and you’ll find an especially cossetting ride.
The cabin is full-size spacious and luxury opulent, with 22-way power-adjustable seats that can be heated, cooled, and massaging. The 44-inch rear-seat legroom figure is borderline obscene. It’s spectacular back there.
A8s and S8s haven’t been crash-tested recently, but they do have lots of crash-avoidance tech. Curiously, adaptive cruise control is still optional, but the system includes the ability to go hands-off for shorter spurts. It’s not as relaxing as the Super Cruise system Cadillac offers, but then again that brand doesn’t have a full-size sedan anymore.
How much does the 2025 Audi A8 cost?
The base A8 sedan costs $93,295, though it doesn’t take long to break well into six figures. An S8 runs $126,595 to start.
Where is the 2025 Audi A8 made?
In Germany.
2025 Audi A8 Styling
The 2025 Audi A8 doesn't may not make a strong styling statement, but it's graceful.
Is the Audi A8 a good-looking car?
It’s handsome, if hardly memorable. The 2025 Audi A8 is the antidote to the overstyled BMW 7-Series, though it’s certainly not the kind of car that will attract much attention. We like it well enough and appreciate that it’ll age well—as have its conservative predecessors. It’s a 7 out of 10 here with points above average for its exterior and its cabin.
The 2025 A8 has a classic three-box profile. Up front, its big Audi shield is flanked by headlights with a somewhat intricate design. Audi’s Black Optic package can dress everything—even the wheels—up in black paint, which gives the A8 an even more incognito look. Perhaps too much.
S8s are subtly different with bigger wheels and a slightly more aggressive body kit.
Inside, the A8 has two dashboard touchscreens that take care of audio, infotainment, and climate controls, while a third screen framed by the steering wheel is the instrument cluster. There’s a lot of screenage here, but it’s warmed up by plentiful use of wood, leather, and aluminum for a club-like feel.
2025 Audi A8 Performance
The 2025 Audi A8 is a textbook example for luxury refinement.
Audi’s flagship sedans have good scoot and a spectacular ride quality. The 2025 Audi A8 scores a 7 here and the S8 would get an 8 if rated separately.
Is the Audi A8 4WD?
Yes, these sedans come with all-wheel drive.
How fast is the Audi A8?
The base model is plenty peppy with its mild-hybrid turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 that puts out 335 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. It’ll run to 60 mph in around 5.6 seconds, aided by the mild-hybrid system’s ability to churn out a little more torque at lower speeds to alleviate any hint of turbo lag. It’s smooth and strong.
Better yet is the S8, which has a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 that puts out a hearty 563 hp and 590 lb-ft. It also benefits from 48-volt mild hybrid tech, but it's mostly the engine that helps it zip to 60 mph in just 3.8 seconds. While not quite as pin-your-head-back fast as, say, a Tesla Model S, the S8 accelerates with authority, and it has a lovely underhood snarl.
Both cars use an 8-speed automatic transmission that behaves just wonderfully.
The A8 has an exceptionally stiff aluminum structure, which allowed the automaker to soften its springs a bit more than you might expect. The result is a plush, comfortable ride paired with able handling when the road starts to get twisty thanks to the standard air suspension and adaptive dampers. Dial in Comfort mode and the A8 can wallow a bit, but Dynamic mode is a bit too firm. Best to leave things alone. The steering is a bit light, especially compared to the automaker’s smaller cars, but it’s still quite precise.
Some models have rear-wheel steering that gives these big sedans an even more planted feel at highway velocity, and trims their turning radius in town. It’s worth trying out.
A8s and S8s brake very well, too.
2025 Audi A8 Comfort & Quality
The 2025 Audi A8 has a big, spacious, and beautifully outfitted cabin.
Audi puts a proper flagship interior into its costliest sedans. The 2025 Audi A8 and S8 score an 8 here thanks to good comfort in the front and rear seats and high-end materials.
All models have 22-way power-adjustable front seats with standard heating, cooling, and massage. Rear-seat riders can stretch out in an exceptionally spacious 44 inches of legroom. Some models have individual rear seats separated by a console; they’re particularly comfortable. Pub fact: The A8 and S8 models in the U.S. market are actually the long-wheelbase versions of the car; one sold in Europe is several inches shorter.
While the A8 doesn’t have quite the same level of interior customization that you might find in some rivals, there are still plenty of ways to dress up an already pretty cabin. Materials impress even at the bottom of the lineup, and most models have extra-soft leather now.
Curiously, the A8 has a tiny trunk. It can hold just 12.5 cubic feet of stuff, which is more like a compact sedan.
2025 Audi A8 Safety
The 2025 Audi A8 range can be equipped with great driver-assistance tech.
How safe is the Audi A8?
We can’t say for certain since it has yet to be crashed by either the NHTSA or the IIHS. Given its tiny sales volumes and hefty pricetag, we doubt it will be.
It comes pretty well equipped with automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitors, a surround-view camera system, and active lane control, though Audi charges extra for adaptive cruise control that allows for limited stints of hands-off driving. While it won’t drive you across Nebraska on its own, the system still lets drivers relax for a bit behind the wheel.
Additionally, the Predictive Active Suspension uses cameras to detect and prepare for a side-impact collision by lifting that side of the car by as much as three inches to let the lower structure absorb most of the hit.
2025 Audi A8 Features
The 2025 Audi A8 appeals as a tech machine.
The 2025 Audi A8 starts at $93,295, so our expectations for its standard features are high. Even then, the A8 impresses with its tech, creature comforts, and high-end options. It’s an 8 on the TCC scale.
The base version is no slouch. It comes with leather upholstery, a heated steering wheel, heated/cooled/massaging front seats, a Bang & Olufsen audio system, a big panoramic sunroof, and a trio of screens.
Which Audi A8 should I buy?
We suggest adding the Executive Package, which for around $3,700 adds softer leather, adaptive cruise control, upgraded matrix headlights, and a head-up display.
How much is a fully loaded Audi A8?
The S8 starts at $126,595, though it now comes with full leather upholstery and 21-inch alloy wheels, features that were previously optional. It can be further outfitted with around $10,000 in optional features such as a head-up display, power-adjustable outboard rear seats with memory, massaging and cooled rear seats, and matrix headlights.
2025 Audi A8 Fuel Economy
The 2025 Audi A8 uses a lot of fuel.
Is the Audi A8 good on gas?
It’s not thrifty, that’s for sure. Even though it boasts mild-hybrid tech, the A8 is a guzzler. The EPA rates it at 20 mpg city, 26 highway, 22 combined for the 2025 model year. That’s a 2 on our scale.
The S8 would score just 1 out of 10 at 15/24/18 mpg.
