The 2013 Audi S8: What the critics say

Motor Trend

After years of lobbing volleys at the sport-luxury competition, Audi has scored “a direct hit.” The third-generation S8 ranks as “one of the most capable sedans we’ve driven,” and it delivers that performance “at a price that shames some of its closest competitors.” By tweaking the A8’s twin-turbo V-8, Audi has created an engine that yanks this 4,619-pounder from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds. And yet “what’s truly remarkable” isn’t the class-leading acceleration; it’s “how the S8 drives.”

Car and Driver

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This sport-tuned supersedan handles “as if it’s been hit with a shrink ray”—like a car two classes smaller than it is. Set the adjustable suspension, steering, and eight-speed transmission on Dynamic and the “behind-the-wheel enjoyment” becomes unbeatable. The S8’s looks won’t turn heads. But “half the appeal” of its innocuous appearance is “its ability to induce amnesia in witnesses.” No other luxury four-door is “more nefarious.”

Popular Mechanics

One quibble: Because the “sumptuously dressed” cabin is equipped with an active noise-cancellation system, the sound of that wonderful engine never reaches the driver’s ears. It should come as no surprise, however, that the navigation system is “among the best in the industry.” The S8 “does just about everything well.”