Fit and finish beyond reproach, but...
No one will ever say that the inside of an Audi feels cheap. The S8 is filled with smart-looking leather seats that offer countless power adjustments, a leather-trimmed dash and solid-feeling switchgear. Even the rear seats are heated and offer optional power-adjustable lumbar support; a little more space back there would be nice, though.
It's a personal opinion, however, but we don't feel as though the interior of the S8 stands out compared to the cockpits of the Maserati Quattroporte, Mercedes S-Class and Jaguar XFR. That may be Audi's own fault, since virtually every model in their line-up sports a well-finished interior and share a family resemblance. The inside of an S8 looks a lot like an S4's but bigger.
Still, there are some neat features, like the navigation screen that swivels out of the dash when you start the car, and the tweeter speakers that pop out of the dashtop at the base of the windshield. The optional Bang & Olufsen audio system sounds phenomenal but costs as much as a slightly-used Chevy Aveo.
Competition
The Audi S8 5.2 quattro starts at $127,000, and our test car includes a bunch of options that hike the final price up to $140,775. Major options are the power sunroof with solar panels ($1,200), the carbon fibre interior trim ($650), the lane-departure and blind-spot monitoring systems ($750), the four-zone climate control ($900), and the sound system upgrade (ouch--$7,800).
The Audi S8 faces rivals such as:
BMW 750i with options, 400 hp, $126,500
Jaguar XFR (2010) with options, 510 hp, $88,800
Jaguar XJR, 400 hp, $98,500
Maserati Quattrosporte Sport GT S, 433 hp, $133,700
Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG, 518 hp, $150,000
Porsche Panamera Turbo (2010), 500 hp, $155,000
You may also consider the Lexus LS, but it's more of a competitor to the A8 than the S8. The Jaguar is smaller than most of these supersedans, but costs much, much less.
No one will ever say that the inside of an Audi feels cheap. The S8 is filled with smart-looking leather seats that offer countless power adjustments, a leather-trimmed dash and solid-feeling switchgear. Even the rear seats are heated and offer optional power-adjustable lumbar support; a little more space back there would be nice, though.
 |
| Virtually every model in their line-up sports a well-finished interior and share a family resemblance. |
It's a personal opinion, however, but we don't feel as though the interior of the S8 stands out compared to the cockpits of the Maserati Quattroporte, Mercedes S-Class and Jaguar XFR. That may be Audi's own fault, since virtually every model in their line-up sports a well-finished interior and share a family resemblance. The inside of an S8 looks a lot like an S4's but bigger.
Still, there are some neat features, like the navigation screen that swivels out of the dash when you start the car, and the tweeter speakers that pop out of the dashtop at the base of the windshield. The optional Bang & Olufsen audio system sounds phenomenal but costs as much as a slightly-used Chevy Aveo.
Competition
The Audi S8 5.2 quattro starts at $127,000, and our test car includes a bunch of options that hike the final price up to $140,775. Major options are the power sunroof with solar panels ($1,200), the carbon fibre interior trim ($650), the lane-departure and blind-spot monitoring systems ($750), the four-zone climate control ($900), and the sound system upgrade (ouch--$7,800).
The Audi S8 faces rivals such as:
BMW 750i with options, 400 hp, $126,500
Jaguar XFR (2010) with options, 510 hp, $88,800
Jaguar XJR, 400 hp, $98,500
Maserati Quattrosporte Sport GT S, 433 hp, $133,700
Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG, 518 hp, $150,000
Porsche Panamera Turbo (2010), 500 hp, $155,000
You may also consider the Lexus LS, but it's more of a competitor to the A8 than the S8. The Jaguar is smaller than most of these supersedans, but costs much, much less.
 |
| There's nothing to dislike in this car, and for the price, there shouldn't be. |