2014 Audi A8 L Test Drive Score Sheet

Audi’s flagship represents an extraordinary level of attention to detail and luxury – but, somehow, it still flies under the radar…

You have to admit that there’s a lot of appeal to luxury Audis – especially the A8. If you’re a connoisseur of fine luxury products, you can’t help but sit in the A8 and admire the workmanship that’s gone into making it an object of extreme comfort and desire. It’s one of the very few cars that scored maximum points in three difference categories – Quality, Comfort, and Refinement.

It’s got exactly what a discerning consumer, spending well over a crore of Rupees is likely looking for – style, quality, equipment, attention to detail, and, more importantly, a feeling of complete opulence that should make this the car of choice for captains of industry.

In fact, while the A8 scores slightly lower than the all-conquering Mercedes S Class in this test, the interior design and layout of the A8 certainly feels that tiny bit better than the S. While the S can feel overdone, the A8 always remains classy and restrained. The materials, design, and the tactility of the car just reeks of quality – and that too with a design that epitomises old-school luxury.

Where the A8 loses slightly, however, is when it comes to driving dynamics. While the ride is impeccable, it seems to show its weight much more than the other two German luxury barges here. Despite featuring Audi’s trademark Quattro all-wheel drive system, the A8 seems to understeer more than you would expect. The 3-litre turbo-diesel, on the other hand, works perfectly – delivering torque and power on demand, while the eight-speed transmission works seamlessly as well (both in auto and manual mode).

So, while the A8 is a stellar flagship, it loses out only on a couple of points. One, stylistically, it looks too subdued for something in which people want to make a statement, and, two, it needs to up its game slightly from the driver’s seat compared to its closest rivals. That being said, if you’re looking for rear seat comfort and refinement that’s truly top class, then you ought to give the A8 a second look.

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