Audi S8:Review the specs, features and pros & cons

Audi S8 Safety

Over the years, Audi has incrementally increased the number of safety and advanced driver assistance features on its vehicle, with the Audi S8 being no exception. The 2016 Audi S8 Plus comes standard with:

• Anti-lock braking system
• Electronic stability control
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Audi's Pre Sense Basic and Rear – to provide pre-crash vehicle detection and post-crash braking

The optional Driver Assistance Package upgrades Audi's signature system to Pre Sense Plus, which monitors traffic and alerts the driver of a potential collision. The system is capable of automatically stopping the vehicle, if driving below 30 km/h, if there is the potential for an immediate collision.

Audi S8 Interior

Passengers of the Audi S8 are certain to be impressed thanks to the handsome and considered design of its interior. Top-grade materials, such as premium leather, suede and aluminum line the interior of this sleek, executive sedan. Equipped with 22-way power-adjustable front seats, the 2020 Audi S8 offers standard heating, cooling and massage for optimal comfort during trips both short and long. Increasing the luxury of the vehicle's interior even more, the Rear Seat Comfort package adds power-adjustable outboard seats with heating, cooling and massage, heated armrests and a remote control for the infotainment system.

Audi S8 Technology

Thanks to its long production life, the Audi S8 is available in a variety of forms, each with differing levels of technological innovation. Although several models from 2009 and earlier still include Audi's MMI system for audio and climate control, they don't feature many of the more eye-catching systems that are found in later years. The all-new 2020 Audi S8, for example, comes standard with Audi's 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit digital gauge cluster as well as an improved MMI Touch Response infotainment system with dual stacked 10.1-inch upper and 8.6-inch lower touchscreen displays. Passengers can wirelessly charge their smartphone while connecting to either an onboard Wi-Fi hot spot, Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

Audi S8 Space

Equipped with a cockpit-like driver's seat, it's fair that one might assume that the Audi S8 was a driver-first vehicle. However, as is plainly evident in older models of the vehicle as well as newer ones, Audi places a great emphasis on the comfort of all passengers. With a wealth of leg and headroom, even rear passengers will feel comfortable during long-distance rides. Some drivers have noted that the Audi S8's 14.2 cubic foot trunk isn't large enough, however, a wide selection of interior pockets and storage spaces help passengers stow away objects while keeping them close at hand.

Audi S8 Comfort

Although the vehicle's engine has changed slightly over the years, the Audi S8 has always been equipped with exceptional power. The base 2016 model is outfitted with a 520-horsepower twin-turbocharged 4.0 L V8 engine that can go from 0 to 100 km/h in a blistering 3.7 seconds. The combination of an eight-speed automatic transmission with Audi's Quattro all-wheel drive (AWD) system delivers a smooth ride that feels confident in city streets and on highway stretches. The Audi Drive Select system allows drivers to switch through various drive modes to best match the conditions at hand.