DRIVEN + VIDEO: If You're Shopping For A BMW 7-Series Or Mercedes S-Class, Should You CONSIDER The Audi A8?

Non brand-whores agree the A8 is best in class right now.

By what metric other than you idiotic opinion?

I know you've never been in contact with cars like these so let me give you a few examples:

Better build quality. Better materials. Better ride. Better technology. More space. More luxury features...

That enough for you troll?

It is NOT which car is best - and NO I do not agree without YOUR assessment that the Audi is best -

People do not buy cars at this class level solely for performance
There has got to be certain PRESTIGE and CLASS that Audi never attained since Audi was originally a Volvo(Et al) Mid-level competitor. People still do not recognize these cars as being at the same level.

The Audi just never LOOKED like a large prestige level car - and it still doesn't, because it still looks the same. Why spend the money on a European Buick - when you can buy the real thing? Mercedes works differently than AUdi - the restyle the TOP cars - then trickle the new style down to the smaller cars - but you can still tell an S class. Audi (And BMW) style their Compact class cars first- because they are the sellers - but then making their so called premium entry look like a compact car simply does not work for the buyers.

AS far as Mercedes S class being all over the place and "common" - being the clear market leader does encourage more sales - but they certainly are not "common" in any way. ANd if you want real exclusivity - get the Maybach verson as I have. Pull up to the Valet at most Expensive restaurants - the Audi will get you nowhere - but the Maybach will get you a place nearby.

I think the "prestige" thing is a little overplayed, at least as it pertains to any single model inherently possessing it.

I would agree that road presence and styling play a big factor in perceived "prestige", but that's variable on any given model from generation to generation. It's not inherent to one car.

The A8 is the most comfortable of the big four right now (S, 7, A8, LS). It easily surpasses the competition in terms of sheer isolation. The ride is so plush and the cabin is so quiet. Build quality is excellent, as is the technology.

Where I think it's let down is the styling. Audi is hamstrung by their FWD proportions, and they do very well given that limitation, but there's only so far they can take it.

The interior also has too much "piano black", which is just plastic. If it were real black lacquered wood like on, you know, a piano, that would be fine; but, a car in this segment shouldn't have that much plastic front and center. It needed to be wood or leather or suede even.

The driving dynamics are also too wallowy for my tastes. I know none of the vehicles in this segment are sports cars, but the A8 felt MUCH bigger than my 7-Series, even though they're comparable in size. I have no problem with the 7 on tight northeastern roads, but I was not confident in placing the A8 while piloting it.

Finally, I'm still wary of the touchscreens. The A8's are better than almost anything else in the industry, with large icons and quick responses. But a wheel and some physical buttons will always be preference.

Lol the thing is, I could pick up an A8 from 10-20 years ago for a fraction of the cost and the General public wouldn’t know the difference

Great features and tech don't mean much when it has the presence of a slice of white bread.

Toyota really cleaned up the Avalon it looks like from the picture. Old people will love this. The styling is so dated that it brings out nostalgia.

If you are looking to buy the best luxury sedan look no further than the S Class. It may not be the best handler but it has the smoothest ride, largest interior, highest quality and tech, and never fails to announce you have arrived.

Exactly, there’s the S Class, and then there’s simply “others”...

The S Class is better than the 7 Series and both are a lot better than the Audi Avalon. I'm so unimpressed by the 7 Series, A8, LS that I'd drop from an S Class to a G90.

I have to disagree with this in part.

The S is a nearly unassailable automobile. It does everything extremely well, and for many looking to buy in this segment (okay, most), it's the best overall package.

However, its ride comfort and smoothness is outdone by the A8. The 7-Series has a longer wheelbase and more room. The A8 and 7 are both more technologically advanced, and both have better build quality in the interior as well. The S-Class disguises the latter with its more dramatic design, which has been extremely successful and I find very appealing.

When speaking of market share and mind share, the trope of S vs. All Others is pretty much spot on. That doesn't automatically make it the best vehicle in the segment, now does it? It may indeed the best for you, and it's certainly not bad for anyone, but my preferences lead me towards other options, while still respecting the competition.

Also, no you wouldn't "drop from an S Class to a G90", because you couldn't "afford them in the first place".

Let's get real.

335hp for Audi's flagship model in the U.S. Too funny!

The Audi A8 is an after thought in the large luxury sedan segment for 3 main reasons:

1) Exterior design doesn't change enough from one generation to the next so people can confuse the current A8 with the same car from 10-20 years ago.


2) Underpowered engines for the U.S. market. A 335 horsepower V6 unless you get the S8 is pathetic considering both the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW 7-Series feature 450+ horsepower V8 engines without forcing buyers to get an AMG or M-spec vehicle.

3) The dual touchscreen interior, while looking cool, is distracting to use and not everyone likes the new Audi interior design setup.

I commend you for your growth, I remember there was a time on here when Audi could do no wrong and you were for everything they did, now you call it like you see it...progress is a beautiful thing

Kudos

Another Mercedes? Nope. They are all over the place and have become common.

Besides, Mercedes had made their cheapest models resemble the more expensive models so the exclusivity factor of Mercedes has been destroyed.

Lol unfortunately the market disagrees with you heavily by making the brand the #1 luxury automaker in the world ....keep reaching

As mentioned above, there is the S-Class and then there is everything else. The S-Class has a presence on the road that others have not matched.

I think the 7 facelift matches the S in terms of road presence.

However, the 7 accomplishes this by aggressive in-your-face styling and the S is more effortless and elegance in its execution.

Up to personal preference on which approach you prefer, but the previous 7's (comparatively) tiny grill wasn't exactly turning heads.

I'm sure it's a really good car. If it didn't look so homely.

Audi Oldsmobile

Completely agree - (a) low power engine, (b) strange interior stuff, (c) Oldsmobile like styling, (d) magnet for old people, (e) kinda small inside for such a huge car, (f) generally ugly

Snobs would never allow themselves to look at a G90, but a person may look at the G90 and not buy an A8.

I'd go so far as to say the Continental and CT6 do the idea of a large luxury sedan better than the A8. Hell even the Avalon is more compelling than an A8.

The A8 should look NOTHING like a giant A3, which it does.

So that's where Cadillac's new headlights design copied off of. No one brought it up since it wasn't a Hyundai.