The Audi A8 is a full-size Audi premium sedan flagship made for those who love driving, but also want to be driven with utmost comfort and technology. The A8 is the very top end of Audi’s sedan offering which means that it rivals the likes of the Mercedes Benz S-Class and the BMW 7-Series.
These luxury yachts are not the most reliable cars on the market because they are extremely complex. They offer pretty much everything you’d ever want from a luxury car, and sadly most of these features are expendable. However, not all A8 models are made the same and we are going to tell you which one you should consider.
Starting off with the best year for the Audi A8, you should consider the 2011 model as it is highly acclaimed by most owners. The 2007 model A8 features a timeless design and the reliability is also good, especially if you come across a lower mileage example. The 2023 Audi A8 is also a good year for the A8 because it is the latest and most advanced A8 you can buy.
When it comes to large luxury cars, they need tender love and care. They need to be maintained throughout their lifespan because mistakes tend to add up. If you don’t take proper care of these cars, they will become nightmare cars that keep breaking down all of the time.
Read more about how great an Audi A8 is and the problems and issues that Audi A8 has.
2011 Audi A8
According to quite a few customer satisfaction surveys, the 2011 A8 seems to be a highly ranked A8, maybe even the best A8 year of all time. The reason why the 2011 is so good is that it is considerably more reliable than the models that came both before it and after it. With proper maintenance, the 2011 can do hundreds of thousands of miles without needing major overhauls.
The 2011 also showcased one of the most highly-acclaimed A8 interiors because that was the era when Audi peaked with the interior build quality. All cars from that era, especially the A6, the A7, and the A8 got interiors that are difficult to rival even to this very day.
Furthermore, the 2011 Audi A8 is now a really popular car because of its price. The car has depreciated significantly over the last 10 years which means that it is now attainable by pretty much anyone. It needs to be stated that these types of cars are high-maintenance, no matter the model year or the overall reliability.
2007 Audi A8
The 2007 Audi A8 is also considered one of the best Audi A8 models of all time. The reason why the 2007 is so highly acclaimed is that it solves many issues that plagued the model that came before it. The 2007 was also highly acclaimed for its comfort and refinement, and many people believe that even the newest A8 can’t rival the 2007 for comfort.
Audi was busy tweaking the mechanics of the 2007 A8 which means that they didn’t do all that much with the exterior. The A8 got LEDs in 2007 which certainly is impressive considering that some Audi A6 models from 2022 still don’t get LEDs from the factory.
The 2006 and 2007 Audi A8 models were the two with the highest numbers of recorded sales which brought the A8 closer to its main rivals. It cemented the A8 as a true competitor to the S-Class and the BMW 7-Series. This is something the Jaguar XJ always wanted, but never really managed to do.
2023 Audi A8
The 2023 Audi A8 is the newest, best Audi A8 money can buy and it just got refreshed a few months ago. This means that the 2023 A8 is basically an improved version of the 2022 model. The main differences are in the suspension department, exterior design department, technology department, and safety department.
It is also worth mentioning that the new A8 costs considerably less than its competitors, the BMW 7-Series and the new Mercedes S-Class. This means that you can get a high-end Audi S8 with a 4.0L V8 for more or less the same price as an entry-level S-Class.
The 2023 model also improves over the 2022 A8 in reliability as it seems to have ironed out a good portion of issues that plagued the 2022 model. We will have to wait and see if this is 100% the case, but most journalist reviews seem to be on the positive side.
Looking for the best Audi A7 years to buy used.
FAQ Section
Should I buy an Audi A8?
An Audi A8 is an expensive car which means that most people are not able to afford it. However, the ones that can afford the A8 can likely afford many other full-size luxury sedans such as the Lexus LS, the Mercedes Benz S-Class, and the BMW 7-Series. Between all of these, the new A8 seems to be the value pick of the bunch.
This is a car designed to do lots of miles in uttermost comfort which means that it isolates you from the outside world amazingly well. This is the type of car that you comfortably do a thousand miles without feeling obliterated when you reach your final destination. If this is something you are after, you should consider buying the A8.
Is the Audi A8 more luxurious than the Mercedes S-Class?
Mercedes came out with the brand-new S-Class model just a year ago which means that the new S-Class is fresh as opposed to the A8 which has only gotten a mid-cycle refresh. As such, the A8 can’t compete with the S-Class in outright luxury, but no one can say that the A8 is not luxurious enough.
Is the Audi A8 more luxurious than the BMW 7-Series?
A month ago, BMW came out with the new 7-Series which seems to be the biggest leap we have ever seen in the 7-Series lineup. Some people hate the way the car looks on the outside, but the inside can not only rival the A8, but it can also completely obliterate it. As such, the new BMW 7-Series is a lot more luxurious than both the A8 and even the S-Class.