Driveability: An off-putting paradise

The driveability of a car like the A8L is not a deal-breaker, as the owner of this car may never get behind its wheel. Despite the enormous size of the A8L, especially its 5.3-metre length and 3.1-metre wheelbase, the three-litre mild hybrid engine is not bogged down. The throttle response exceeds all expectations, and even when the car was driven at triple-digit speeds on the expressway, the car was as stable and serene as it would be while snarling on traffic. Even the 8-speed automatic gearbox, instead of the dual-clutch transmission of the Germanic tribe of carmakers, does not come in the way of a refined, smooth experience. Even while putting the foot down on the throttle in the midst of manoeuvring an overtake; the gear-shifting is not jarring, at all.

There is also an active suspension system, which uses the front camera of the A8L to alter the riding height in real-time. What this entails is that most potholes are not felt even when the car went through them. However, this feature is an add-on and not standard, and one needs to shell out an additional ₹15 lakhs. While the company claims that the A8L can give 14-15 kilometres for every litre of fuel, which is far from real-world efficiency. The A8L is a gas-guzzler, and it did not deliver more than 8 kilometres per litre in city conditions. With Audi doubling down on its electrification strategy in India, the A8L could very well be one of the last of its kind.

But that is where the fun ends. The dashboard of the A8L is identical to what is available in the cheaper Audis, even the seemingly immaculate infotainment system. The climate control unit is a touch screen placed below the infotainment system—an extremely inconvenient position, for one, cannot adjust the temperature of the cabin without taking their eyes off the road. What is even more consternating is the fact that the car lacks functionalities as basic as wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay—a feature which has trickled down to cars which cost a fraction of what the A8L does.

Audi A8L

Audi A8L first drive review: a subtle yet suave C-suite chariot