Audi's popular Q5 gets its first major overhaul this year, introducing an evolutionary look that hides the latest tech and engineering from Germany's premium all-wheel-drive specialists.
CarsDirect Pricing Insider
What you must know before buying the Audi A8- Dealers taking orders for the 2019 Audi A8; 2018s still available
- Rebates: Huge discount + $1,000 loyalty
- Lease: No special offers again this month, which is common
- Finance: From 4.79% APR for 66 months
Negotiate a great deal on a 2018:
Sales are down on the 2018 A8 lineup, and generous discounts are being made at dealer discretion. Don't be afraid to drive a hard bargain.
The current offers listed below are available nationally and end on October 31, 2018.
Heads up: The 2019 A8, which is due out this fall, will be redesigned to feature semi-autonomous driving technology, an all-new user interface with multiple touch screens, and other upgrades. Dealers are now accepting orders for V6 trims. 4.0T trims will become available early next year.
Extra cash:
Dealers are being incentivized by the manufacturer to sell their remaining 2018 inventories, which means you can get up to $12,500 off a 2018 if you negotiate well this month. These discounts aren’t being advertised, and because dealers aren't obligated to pass on these savings, it’ll be up to you to get the deal you deserve.
Returning customers are also eligible for an extra $1,000 credit on either model year with new financing or leasing through Audi Financial Services. No trade-in is required.
No promotional lease specials:
Audi isn’t advertising any promotional leases on the A8 this month.
For reference, the most recently offered promotional lease rates started as low as $989 per month for 36 months with $3,883 due at signing for the 2017 3.0T Quattro. This offer included an allowance of 10,000 miles per year and an effective monthly cost of $1,097, which was high considering this vehicle’s MSRP.
Note that advertised leases for Audi can vary from dealer to dealer, and sometimes feature different equipment, so be sure to look for that when comparing offers side by side.
Finance rates:
Promotional financing for both model years starts at 4.79% APR for up to 66 months.
Negotiate a great deal on a 2018:
Sales are down on the 2018 A8 lineup, and generous discounts are being made at dealer discretion. Don't be afraid to drive a hard bargain.
The current offers listed below are available nationally and end on October 31, 2018.
Heads up: The 2019 A8, which is due out this fall, will be redesigned to feature semi-autonomous driving technology, an all-new user interface with multiple touch screens, and other upgrades. Dealers are now accepting orders for V6 trims. 4.0T trims will become available early next year.
Extra cash:
Dealers are being incentivized by the manufacturer to sell their remaining 2018 inventories, which means you can get up to $12,500 off a 2018 if you negotiate well this month. These discounts aren’t being advertised, and because dealers aren't obligated to pass on these savings, it’ll be up to you to get the deal you deserve.
Returning customers are also eligible for an extra $1,000 credit on either model year with new financing or leasing through Audi Financial Services. No trade-in is required.
No promotional lease specials:
Audi isn’t advertising any promotional leases on the A8 this month.
For reference, the most recently offered promotional lease rates started as low as $989 per month for 36 months with $3,883 due at signing for the 2017 3.0T Quattro. This offer included an allowance of 10,000 miles per year and an effective monthly cost of $1,097, which was high considering this vehicle’s MSRP.
Note that advertised leases for Audi can vary from dealer to dealer, and sometimes feature different equipment, so be sure to look for that when comparing offers side by side.
Finance rates:
Promotional financing for both model years starts at 4.79% APR for up to 66 months.
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Incentives and Rebates
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2018 Audi A8 Overview
John Diether, Automotive EditorWhat's New for 2018
Audi has consolidated most of the 3.0T's options into the available Executive Package, which now includes adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and upgraded leather upholstery. Those items are now standard on 4.0T, and most remaining options have been combined into the new Executive Plus package. Audi has raised the base price of the 4.0T from $92,475 (including $975 in destination charges) to $92,975.
Choosing Your Audi A8
All Audi A8 models wear the L designation, to identify their 122.9-inch wheelbase – the short-wheelbase A8 was discontinued two years ago. The standard supercharged 3.0-liter V6 engine delivers 333 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque. Buyers seeking exceptional performance can opt for a turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 with 450 horsepower and 444 lb-ft of torque. Surprisingly, both engines are EPA-rated at 29 miles per gallon on the highway, and the V6 has just a slight advantage in the city, 19 mpg versus 18 mpg with the V8.
Both engines work with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, while a standard adaptive air suspension keeps things comfy.
Trims levels correspond to engine choice:
3.0T
Priced at $83,475 including destination, the 3.0T is powered by the supercharged V6 engine. The long list of standard features includes an extended leather interior with wood trim, heated 14-way front seats with memory, power soft-close doors, navigation, power rear sunshades, a single-panel sunroof, and a 14-speaker Bose surround-sound system. Safety assists include parking sensors and collision mitigation with automatic braking. This year's expanded Executive Package ($9,150) tops off the 3.0T with just about everything else you could want: 22-way diamond-stitched front seats with ventilation and massage, heated rear seats, a panoramic sunroof, a heated steering wheel with shift paddles, a head-up display, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, surround-view cameras, and 20-inch wheels.
4.0T
For $92,975, the 4.0T delivers the turbocharged V8 engine, along with many of the 3.0T's options as standard (like the panoramic sunroof and upgraded front seats and steering wheel). The new Executive Plus Package ($4,750) adds everything else available on the 3.0T, plus these exclusive touches: automatic high beams, a rear controller for the front passenger seat, and power diamond-stitched rear seats with ventilation and massage.
Both models are eligible for a Black Optic Package ($1,000) with gloss black exterior trim and 20-inch titanium-finish wheels (21-inch available for $950 extra).
CarsDirect Tip
The 3.0T's Executive Package is more expensive this year due to its added content. Although the price seems steep, it essentially replaces all of last year's packages, so you'll actually pay a bit less for a fully loaded model. As for the 4.0T, its new Executive Plus Package only makes sense if you intend to carry rear passengers on a regular basis.
Our Take: 2018 Audi A8
Matthew Keegan, Contributing Editor
The full-size 2018 Audi A8 flies the brand’s flag high. It's an elegant sedan with the power and high-end amenities to match. When outfitted with an available V8 engine and rear seat executive trim, the A8 proves its worth. But prices can climb quickly, easily reaching six figures when fully equipped.
Best Value
The 2018 Audi A8 is a full-size luxury sedan with room for five and has standard all-wheel drive. Audi provides a standard supercharged V6 or a turbocharged V8 engine and pairs both with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Every model comes well equipped, offering such features as a full-leather interior, heated front seats, navigation, a Bose audio system, and a sophisticated interface. The current A8 is actually the long-wheelbase version, which was previously known as the A8 L.
- Model: 2018 Audi A8 3.0T
- Engine: 3.0-liter supercharged V6
- Output: 333 hp / 325 lb-ft
- Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
- Drivetrain: All-wheel drive
- Fuel Economy: 19 City / 29 Hwy
- Options: Executive Package ($9,150, high beam assist, 20-inch, five-spoke-blade-design wheels, a panoramic sunroof, a surround-view camera system, 22-way power and heated front comfort sport seats, ventilated and massaging front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, a head-up display, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, lane keeping assist, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, lane change assist, and a rear-seat pass-through)
- Base Price: $83,475 (including a $975 destination charge)
- Best Value Price: $92,625
Performance
No matter which engine you choose, you’ll find generous power at the ready. We selected the standard 3.0-liter supercharged V6 engine, as it's more than capable to move this large sedan with authority. The twin-turbocharged V8 is certainly enticing, but most people may find it superfluous and costly.
In any event, the standard engine makes 333 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque, good enough to move this lightweight sedan from zero to 60 mph in just 5.5 seconds. The eight-speed automatic transmission does its best to keep up with this engine, working nearly seamlessly in the background. We found the A8 light and agile.
Working in this sedan’s favor is the brand’s laudable all-wheel-drive system, dubbed Quattro. It splits power at a 40/60 ratio front to back, but it can also send up to 60 percent of its power to the front axle, when needed. If driving dynamics are important to you, an available Sport Package adds a rear sport differential, a variable ratio steering rack, an air suspension, and summer tires.
All models have Drive Select, an electronically controlled system that oversees engine and transmission responses, suspension feel, and steering weight. Choose between Comfort, Auto, and Dynamic modes to find the level of driving engagement that suits you best. Select the driving engagement you want, but you should know that the electric power steering rack tempers driving enjoyment somewhat.
Style
The 2018 Audi A8 has a handsome yet conservative design. However, the look has aged and its competitors have newer designs. We like the A8’s drawn-out shoulders and elegant LED headlights, but beyond that, the canvas simply blends in.
Step inside and the narrative changes dramatically. You can tell that Audi’s designers poured their hearts into the interior, with upscale materials everywhere. This means leather, wood, and aluminum are in abundance, yet are carefully applied throughout the cabin. The few soft plastics present simply blend in.
The cockpit is driver-centric and the front seats are quite comfortable. With the available Executive Package, the rear compartment may offer the most enjoyable seats in the cabin. With this arrangement, it has the look and feel of a limousine, German style.
The Best and Worst Things
We’re glad that Audi made the long wheelbase standard with the A8. Even without the Executive Package, the rear compartment is amazingly comfortable and roomy. However, Audi is a step behind the competition when it comes to self-driving technology. We think this deficiency will be resolved when the all-new A8 debuts in 2019.
Right For? Wrong For?
Whether you have a chauffeur or not, the Audi A8 offers a level of comfort befitting a full-size luxury sedan. Consider this model if you want maximum comfort without sacrificing performance. On the other hand, the A8’s dated design may not be sufficient enough for everyone’s tastes. You can either wait for the new model or look closer at the competition from Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Genesis, or BMW.
The Bottom Line
The consumer market for full-size luxury sedans may be small and dwindling, but a market remains nevertheless. The 2018 Audi A8 hits all of the necessary highlights, while providing a comfortable ride and superior driving dynamics. It isn’t the most modern model in the segment, but that may not be enough to dissuade some shoppers from taking a closer look.
