Having a chance to compare the 2004 Audi A8L with BMW 745i and Mercedes-Benz S500 during a MotorTrend event, I was utterly impressed with the A8L. The even included a performance evaluation as well as an evaluation of the vehicles’ ride over rough surfaces.

Performance

The “performance” part consisted of slalom, turns and bends of different radii as well as straight line acceleration and braking areas. Having a chance to drive all three vehicles and immediately compare them was very helpful in determining what vehicle I liked the most. And it turned out to be the Audi.

I liked it on the performance course, because it provided very neutral handling in turns, unlike S500, which understeered and downshifted in the middle of the turn (upon slightest throttle application), unsettling the chassis on the exit. The engine note was quieter than the S500’s and the transmission action was more transparent.

The engine, however, was the smallest in class (at 4.2 liters vs. 4.5 and 5.0 liters) and it showed. The acceleration felt a little slower than the other two cars and the transmission seemed tuned more for comfort than sport. But I don’t mind, the acceleration was still good (various auto magazines tested the acceleration 0-60 mph in less than 7 seconds, which works for me).

If Audi looses the 0-60 race when compared with the S500 and 745i, it does so not by much, despite its displacement disadvantage.

The A8L features all-wheel-drive, and that contributes to its neutral handling in turns. Unfortunately, it does not contribute to keeping the weight low. Despite having aluminum body, this Audi is not light.

The steering is well-weighted, unlike the BMW’s, which is, dare I say it, overassisted.

Rough Road Handling

On the rough road course, the A8L proved to be stiff-sprung. The car uses pneumatic devices to replace conventional springs, but the ride is quite stiff (the car had beautiful optional 19-inch wheels, which make the car look great, but contribute to stiff ride).

Although the ride was stiff, the chassis was solid as a rock. I could not feel any cowl shake, or shake of any kind for this matter.

Exterior

I like the new A8’s exterior, especially with the optional 19-inch wheels. It looks distinct and luxurious. But the most impressive part of the car for me is its interior.

Interior

I must say that I have never seen a better executed interior. It may be somewhat of a personal preference, but the design, materials, fit and finish of A8L are breathtaking. The dark interior of the A8s I drove contains beautiful wood trim, chrome accents and soft rich-looking plastic, Alcantra simulated suede and leather. From the chrome rings round the instruments and shiny MMI interface controller to the colorful lighting of displays and navigation system, the interior of the A8L says “luxury” like no other automobile I have seen.

The seat controls are relatively conventional, unlike confusing controls of the BMW 745i (although the S500 has better controls). There is a lot of leg room in the back and both front and rear seats are very comfortable. The controls on the steering wheel are comfortable and the steering wheel itself has just the right rim width.

The Audi’s answer to BMW’s iDrive is MMI (Multi-Media Interface). It is easier to use than the iDrive and has separate buttons to select a subgroup of functions to control, but it is still on the complicated side. Good thing some functions can still be controlled with their own controls.

The transmission tunnel is high in the car, which looks nice. The transmission shifter moves in one line between Park, Reverse, Drive, etc. This is unlike Benz and, even more quirky, BMW. I like it.

Trunk

The trunk is large with a good-sized opening. The nice instrument kit is included.

Safety

A full range of airbags, including front, front and rear side, knee and head airbags in conjunction with a stiff chassis, ABS and stability control provide a good measure of safety. The tires are sized 235 mm with standard 17-inch wheels and 255 mm with optional 18 or 19-inchers.

Security system and a tracker system protect your investment.

Warranty

The warranty is 4 years or 50,000 miles with rust-through warranty of 12 years and 4 years of free roadside assistance. You also get 4 years/50,000 miles of free scheduled maintenance.

Pricing

The A8 starts around $69K, which is cheaper than the base BMW 745i and even S430 and has standard features that are optional in the other two (take the CD changer for example). On the side note, the Benzes are way overpriced. Even the base S430 starts at $75K. And you don’t even get a CD changer for that price.

Bottom Line

If I had $70-80K to spend on a car in this class, the Audi A8L would be my first choice. It is a better value than the 745i or S-class. But even regardless of that, I like it better.

Amount Paid (US$): event
Condition: New
Model Year: 2004
Model and Options: A8L