However, drive an Audi A8 – or even just be a passenger in one – and you’ll soon see why it’s worth making sacrifices to buy one. Audi has used only the best materials, there’s ample power, and the adaptive air suspension means the ride comfort is sublime. You’ll soon appreciate the lightweight aluminium construction, which makes the A8 more agile than most of its rivals, while it also features all of the latest cutting-edge safety tech.
The fourth-generation A8 was introduced in spring 2018. Audi offered a choice of 3.0-litre V6 petrol (55 TFSI) or diesel (50 TDI) engines, with 282bhp and 335bhp respectively. The TDI came in standard or long-wheelbase forms and both featured mild-hybrid tech for better economy. Not long after, the 60 TFSi e plug-in hybrid joined the range and this also came in both wheelbases. All had four-wheel drive as standard.
A facelifted A8 appeared in March 2022 with an updated design inside and out, extra driver-assistance systems and an upgraded infotainment set-up. But the pre-facelift car is all you need, and for £20k you can buy an early diesel with 100,000 miles on the clock, or a lower-mileage petrol.
In typical Audi fashion, the A8’s options list was extensive, so it’s worth pinning down what extras were fitted to any potential buy; some cars have lots of them while others have very few. We found a superb 2020-registered standard-wheelbase 3.0 TDI for sale on Auto Express Buy a Car for £27,995. With less than 33,000 miles on the clock, it’s barely run in and should provide years of faithful service.
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