2015 Audi S8
At $126,900, the S8 is not the top model in Audi's sedan lineup. That distinction belongs to the A8L with a W12 engine. It starts at $169,000 and is more rare than a winged unicorn.
The real difference between the S8 and W12 model is that the former is meant for you to drive, while the later is meant for you to be driven in. (Overall score: 6.6)
Walkaround
The first thing you should know about the 2015 S8 is that it's due for replacement soon-ish. Just this week, a rumour leaked that the next A8 will be able to drive itself at speeds under 60 km/h. It will be a technological tour de force and a major step towards the autonomous driving revolution.
This current S8 is a car at the end of its lifecycle. Despite that, Audi's conservative styling means the S8 has aged very well. From the outside, there's nothing to criticize except for the fact it's quite hard to tell apart from its smaller S6 sibling. (socre: 6.2)
Interior
This car is meant to carry four adults in comfort. As you'd expect, every possible amenity is on offer, including massaging seats. (With several types of massage motions and even adjustable strength settings.) No tip necessary.
The seats are wide and comfortable. Every surface is covered in leather or carbon-fibre or metal. Rarely in this car must you touch plastic. Our tester also came fitted with the $1,700 Alcantara headliner. (Score: 8.3)
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Tech
For the driver there is every modern assistance: heads up display, night vision, and an adaptive radar cruise control system that is perhaps the best in the world.
Audi's button-based infotainment system is better than any current touchscreen offering. For me, it's not quite as intuitive as BMW's, but that will likely be a matter of preference for you.
As with the S6, the central screen in the S8 can retract into the dashboard. We spend more than enough time looking at screens, and so hiding it away feels like the ultimate luxury. (Score: 7.3)
Driving
The S8 is tuned so that it handles better than a large sedan should. Body roll is minimal, but ride comfort doesn't suffer. The steering has very little feel, but it is perfectly direct, making it easy to position this behemoth even in traffic. (Forward and rear-looking cameras make it easy to park too.)
But don't fool yourself, no amount of engineering can turn this into a truly sporty car. If you're coming from a mid-size, the S8 will still feel large and heavy, despite its all-aluminium construction. Think of it as a get-away car rather than a sports car.
The engine is the heart of the S8. It's the real reason you'd choose it over a lesser A8 model. Specs are as follows: 4.0-litre twin-turbo V-8, 520 horsepower, 481 lb-ft of torque, 0-100 km/h in an insane four seconds flat. Quattro all-wheel drive is standard.
Official fuel consumption is 14.2 L/100 km city and 8.8 highway. I averaged around 12.0 L/100 km over a week. (Score: 6.7)
Value
Our test car was fitted with $14,800 worth of options — including the $7,000 Bang & Olufson stereo and $3,600 Driver Assistance Package — bringing the total sticker price up to $141,000.
There is one school of thought that says cars this expensive can never be good value. Compared to, say, a Volkswagen Passat, which performs the same basic function of moving four people in comfort, the S8 is indeed overpriced.
But, there are people who have the money to spend on a high-performance luxury sedan, and they will not want a Passat. They'll be cross-shopping a Mercedes S 63 AMG, or an Alpina B7 from BMW. (Score: 4.5)
Conclusion
The S8 is refined, fast and spacious. It accomplishes its mission with aplomb. However, if you can wait you may want to hold out another year or so for the next-generation model.
Autofocus.ca is a Canadian automotive website dedicated to making car shopping easier and driving more fun. Follow Autofocus on Facebook and Twitter.
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