2013 Audi A8 facelift review, test drive

Are subtle styling tweaks, incrementally improved engines and new headlight technology enough to keep the big Audi relevant?

Published on Oct 29, 2013 07:45:00 PM

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2013 Audi A8 facelift review, test drive

The A8 is available in Europe in both the regular and long wheelbase (India will only get the long wheelbase) versions and Audi says the new car is the sportiest in its class, something that the driving position certainly suggests. The A8 also gets Audi’s Drive Select System (controlled via the MMI) which allow the driver to choose from pre-existing Comfort and Dynamic modes or use the individual setting to create his own combination of throttle, gearbox, steering and damping mapping.

The ride quality is quiet, refined and settled and the improved damping ensures much less pitch than before (the front end rises less under hard acceleration and dives less under braking) and the A8 also rolled less when pushed hard on the narrow country roads of our test route. What was a bit disappointing though was the steering feel. Despite the A8’s sporty positioning (within its segment), the electro-mechanical steering feels a bit remote and disconnected when positioned near the centre line. It is quite direct and gets more responsive off-centre but doesn’t really offer true feedback or genuine weighting.

While all the changes in the mid-life update have only served to enhance an already luxurious and premium car, the biggest problem facing the updated A8 are the sky high standards set by the new Mercedes S-class, a car that feels like it is genuinely a generation ahead of its rivals. But if you are a fan of the Audi brand and are looking for a true luxury car with some of the highest quality levels around – the A8 could well be what you need.

The new A8 goes on sale in Europe in November 2013 and is expected to come to India in the first half of 2014.