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There is a newer version of this car Read the latest Audi A8 Saloon review here

Audi A8 Saloon (2003-2011) review

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Parkers overall rating: 4 out of 54.0

At a glance

Price new £46,015 - £83,318
Used prices £1,083 - £9,241
Road tax cost £395 - £760
Insurance group 40 - 50
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Fuel economy Not tested to latest standards
Range 376 - 673 miles
Number of doors 4
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Available fuel types

Petrol

Diesel

Pros & cons

PROS

Superbly refined, excellent build quality, not as flashy as rivals

CONS

Slightly bland image, tame driving experience

Written by David Ross Updated: 15 September 2025

Overview

As a luxury machine, the A8 barely puts a foot wrong, offering satisfying performance, spacious and luxurious interiors along with solid build quality. But despite this it’s never proved as popular as rivals like the Mercedes S-Class and BMW 7-Series. This may be down to the conservative styling and play-it-safe handling dynamics, but it still has plenty of gadgets to keep restless fingers amused.

A long wheelbase version is available and in 2005 the car received a very minor makeover which included Audi’s new-style grille and a new 4.2-litre diesel engine to replace the 4.0-litre diesel.

Parkers top buying tips

As with all used purchases, do remember to get a car history check. It might just save you from an unpleasant surprise later down the line. Also, don’t forget you can use our valuation tool to get an idea of how much you should be paying for a car. You can also check our reviews section for more information about the cars you are interested in.