2021 Audi A8 Review
Price Range: $43,699 - $51,590





+144
Average
7.4
out of 10
edmunds TESTED
At this price, luxury is more than just a state of mind. It's found not only in the wealth of features but also in the way the vehicle behaves and how it can make its occupants forget the stresses of daily life. The 2021 Audi A8 has all the trappings of luxury, but it never feels entirely special or cohesive, and it lacks that last little bit of personality and luxury you'll find in other large luxury sedans.
2021 Audi A8 Review
by the Edmunds Experts
What's new
- Some previously optional features are now standard
- Packages consolidated to include more equipment
- All-wheel steering added to optional appearance packages
- Part of the fourth A8 generation introduced for 2019
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Audi A8 L 4dr Sedan AWD w/55 TFSI (3.0L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.49 per gallon for premium unleaded in Texas.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Texas
$207/mo for A8 L
A8 L
vs
$170/mo
Avg. Large Car
See Edmunds pricing data
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Reliability Ratings by RepairPal
2 out of 5 stars2/5Average
#38 out of 48 among Luxury Fullsize Cars
RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.
Cost
The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Audi A8 from 2008-2022.$824/yr
vs. $729/yr
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car
Frequency
The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).2.23x/yr
vs. 1.74x/yr
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car
Severity
The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).21.6%
vs. 14.7%
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car
powered by RepairPal Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.
Audi A8 Reviews
Owner Reviews
5(67%)
4(5%)
3(0%)
2(11%)
1(17%)
Most Helpful Owner Reviews
Trending topics
Too Many Issues to be Audi's Flagship
1 out of 5 starsC. R., 01/12/2023
2019 Audi A8 L 3.0 TFSI quattro 4dr Sedan AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric hybrid 8A)
We purchased a CPO 2019 Audi A8 with 32,000 miles. In the first 16 months of ownership our car has been in the Audi Dealership 82 days. Even after 82 days in the shop we have a return visit schedule to address outstanding items. We continue to have brake issues with no resolution from Audi. If you don't want a car with a lot of service issues this is not the car for you. This is also my … 4th Audi and far worse than any of my other A6's. Don't get be wrong the car is beautiful but is it worth all the hassle, probably not.
11/4/22 – 12/22/22 48 DAYS
8/18/22 - 8/29/22 13 DAYS
2/25/22 - 3/7/22 10 DAYS
1/14/22 – 1/20/22 6 DAYS
12/29/21 - 1/3/22 5 DAYS
Total 82 Days
Absolute lemon
1 out of 5 starsRC, 12/18/2019
2019 Audi A8 L 3.0 TFSI quattro 4dr Sedan AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric hybrid 8A)
My third A8 and seventh Audi, never any issues but this one has been over engineered electronically , buggy and dangerous ( the steering froze up mid-drive with family inside the car), even more painful is dealing with VW group to get it resolved been over 6 months
Unreliable Car
1 out of 5 starsJamie, 07/06/2021
2019 Audi A8 L 4.0 TFSI quattro 4dr Sedan AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo gas/electric hybrid 8A)
Very gorgeous car, but it turned into an expensive paperweight soon after purchasing. After buying the car, dealership then told me they needed to do minor work on the cooling system. That took about 3 weeks. 2 weeks of having the car, the temperature light started spazzing with 5 miles of driving. Towed to the dealership and was told that the car was throwing codes and the technician … cleared them and the car drove perfect. Picked the car up and the car acts up in the same manner within 10 minutes in traffic. Car has been in the shop for another month with 0 repairs. Two months of ownership and the car has been down majority of the time. Complete CPO lemon!
Falling out of love with this car
2 out of 5 starsRobertinCT, 12/14/2021
2019 Audi A8 L 3.0 TFSI quattro 4dr Sedan AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 8A)
This is my third Audi. It is by far the best. It is extremely quiet and smooth. Loaded with tech and safety features. Love the rear seat comfort package and 4-wheel steering. Car is quick and gets pretty good mpg. Took the car on a 7,200 mile cross country road trip. Car performed flawlessly and was extremely comfortable. Lane keep assist and radar cruise made the driving stress … free.
We have been piling on the miles and now have 44k miles on the car. We have had zero issues. MPG continues to impress. Approx. 30 MPG on highway at 75 MPH. We are getting 23-24 MPG around town.
UPDATE: A previously wrote her review in 2021 of my 2019 A8L and at that point was very happy with it. Since then it just seems like one thing after another. From the alternator breaking an Audi having no spares in the car being in the shop for 2 1/2 months to just multiple little things happening lots of little electrical gremlins. Anything that needs to be fixed seems to be thousands of dollars. I think I will be going back to Bmw.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2021 Audi A8, so we've included reviews for other years of the A8 since its last redesign.
2021 A8 Highlights
Sedan
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $86,500 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Mild hybrid |
Combined MPG | 21 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $207/month |
Seating | 5 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 12.5 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | all wheel drive |
Warranty | 4 years / 50,000 miles |
Safety
Our experts like the A8 models:
- Pre Sense Side
- If it detects an imminent side collision, the system can roll up the windows or raise the suspension if necessary.
- Pre Sense Rear
- Reacts to an imminent rear-end collision by tensioning seat belts, closing windows, and adjusting the seats for optimal protection.
- Active Lane Assist
- Warns the driver if he or she deviates from a lane without using a signal. Can also apply steering to help maintain lane integrity.
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