Audi82.jpgThe A8 is Audi’s largest, most sophisticated sedan: Comfortable, fast and very smooth. Yet those qualities are the baseline for full-size cars in this price range. The A8 is the newest of Germany’s Big Three luxury sedansMercedesBMW’s
A8’s redesign a year ago was thorough. Its wheelbase was stretched to provide even more room and comfort for rear-seat passengers, which can be crucial in this type of executive-class transportbonds
The 2005 A8 4.2 models are powered by a 330-horsepower 4.2-liter four-cam V8 with Audi’s five-valve-per-cylinder technology. A six-speed automatic transmission
The A8 L 6.0 offers three options: a 20-inch wheel/performance tire package, upgraded from standard 19-inch wheels and not offered by BMW or Mercedes; radar-managed Adaptive Cruise Control, which maintains a prescribed distance to traffic ahead; and a rear-seat entertainment package with DVD player and two LCD screens in the back of the front headrests. The rear center console can be deleted in favor of a three-place bench seat.

2005 Audi A8 Road Test

Consumer Guide’s® seasoned auto editors road test more than 200 new cars and trucks each year. We evaluate each vehicle’s on-road performance in ten critical areas: acceleration, fuel economy, ride quality, handling, quietness, interior controls, front-seat room, rear-seat room, cargo volume, and overall value. The Consumer Guide® 2005 Audi A8 road test gives you a quick snapshot of the vehicle’s performance with pros, cons, and numeric ratings. Also included on select reviews are Editor’s Comments and Long-Term Tests.