This new plug-in hybrid Audi A8 doesn’t come cheap, Auto Express said, but it’s arguably the pick of the updated luxury saloon range, balancing refinement, strong performance and impressive efficiency for such a big vehicle. The car has had some subtle updates with new bumpers, a wider front grille, OLED taillights and the S line trim. With its sportier spec, the A8 is sharper, and more modern and focused.
The 60 TFSI e pairs a three-litre V6 petrol engine with a 126bhp electric motor, giving up to 36 miles on electric alone, What Car? said. Despite weighing 2.3 tonnes, it can do 0-62mph in under five seconds. The eight-speed automatic gearbox gives seamless shifts and it switches smoothly between petrol and electric power. It has impressive traction but is not very agile: its big body leans heavily on bends.
The updates don’t extend to the interior, but they didn’t need to, thanks to the existing stunning Virtual Cockpit and twin touchscreens, The Sunday Times said. Space is plentiful bar the boot, which is reduced by the electrics underneath. It is beautifully built, but the BMW 7 series, while uglier, is a better car to drive, and the Mercedes S-Class is better to be driven in, leaving the Audi a bit stranded in no-man’s land. Price: from £86,690.