Used 2014 Audi A8 Base for sale 

At this end of the car spectrum, it doesn’t make much sense to segregate the car features into various trims and hence Audi has decided to pack in all of the goodies in a single package and just give the buyers an option to choose between a V6 and a V8 engine. Audi also offers cylinder deactivation for the V8 engine to save some fuel, but other than that, the feature list stays the same as that of the base trim. 

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Audi has not differentiated the two trims in terms of features list and the performance from the base V6 engine is quick enough for most buyers and hence should be the preferred choice, as the V8 would guzzle more gas as well. Although, one needs to be aware of the rising prices with the options packages.

The 2014 Audi A8 is offered with 2 engine options, starting from the base 3.0-liter supercharged V6 engine producing 333 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque and a 4.0-liter Twin-Turbo V8, generating 420 hp and 444 lb-ft.

The power is sent to all four wheels as Quattro AWD is standard and the engine is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. The performance from the base engine is brisk too, bringing up 60 mph on the speedo in just 5.5 seconds. 

The Jaguar XJ has the highest power output in this comparison and hence is the quickest off the line, while the BMW 7 Series has the least power output and yet is only marginally behind the XJ. The Audi A8 is the slowest of the lot, but the difference between the three is minuscule. The A8 also costs the most, but it is also the only one to feature an AWD system as standard.

The supercharged V6 engine is quite frugal returning 21 mpg of combined city and highway driving while the larger twin-turbocharged V8 engine also manages to return almost identical fuel economy figures. The fuel tank capacity at 23.8 gallons is one of the best and it translates to a healthy driving range of over 600 miles of highway cruising. Both the fuel economy figures and the driving ranges pretty well, considering it is an AWD car.

The BMW 740i is marginally more frugal than the other two cars but the small gas tank translates to a shorter driving range than the A8. The XJ on the other hand has identical fuel economy like that of the A8 but the smaller gas tank results in the shortest driving range in this comparison.

Being the flagship sedan from the Audi stable, the A8 portrays the best Audi can in a sedan for factor. The exquisite materials combined with impeccable craftsmanship are one of the best you would ever see, while all the latest standard and optional gizmos are also second to none.

Comfort is of utmost importance here and the countless ways one can adjust both the front and rear row of seats makes for a very plush and relaxing experience, no matter how long the journey.

There is very little to differentiate between the cabin space of the three cars in this comparison as all offer abundant space both at the front and the back seat. The BMW has a marginally better headroom which makes it comfortable for taller passengers. It also has the largest trunk capacity which is a bit bigger than the Jaguar, while the A8 has a substantially smaller boot. 

• 18-Way Power Heated Front Seats w/Memory
• Valetta Leather Seat Upholstery
• Alcantara Simulated Suede Door Trim Insert
• Power Tilt/Telescoping Leather Steering Wheel w/Auto Tilt-Away
• Dual Zone Front Automatic Air Conditioning
• Memory Settings for Driver And Passenger Seats, Door Mirrors, Steering Wheel, Head Restraints, HVAC, and Seatbelts
• Refrigerated/Cooled Box Located In The Glovebox, Driver / Passenger And Rear Door Bins

How is the 2014 Audi A8’s infotainment system?

Audi’s MMI system is a treat for all the technophiles as there are plenty of functions and the display is bright and crisp, unlike any other in the segment.

The unique remote touchpad can also be used to write numbers and letters when needed and although it might look just like a novelty item at first, turns out really useful in the long run. Although there is a bit of a learning curve to the system, once you get used to it, it is very intuitive to use.

• 8.0-inch Audi MMI Navigation Plus System
• Audi connect w/six-month trial subscription
• 14-speaker 630W Bose premium surround sound system w/AudioPilot
• SiriusXM satellite radio w/90-day trial subscription and SiriusXM Real-Time Traffic w/4-year subscription
• Bluetooth connectivity mobile phone and streaming audio
• Voice commands

The exterior styling is in fact the only aspect that does not wow the buyers as the design is nothing out of the box or even something new. The quintessentially Audi design, with a long hood, large front grille flanked by sleek headlamps that flaunt the LED daytime running lights, all of which are similar to other Audi sedans. Although it does look good and stylish and there is no doubt about that, a little novelty in the design would have been a welcome change. 

The BMW 7 Series is the shortest car here and yet offers the longest wheelbase while the marginally higher height translates to that additional headroom for the passengers. The Jaguar XJ is considerably lighter than the other two cars, thanks to its aluminum construction, but it compromises the ground clearance front. 

• Programmable Projector Beam High-Intensity Daytime Running, Auto-Leveling Directionally Adaptive Headlamps w/Washer and Delay-Off
• LED Brakelights
• Power Open And Close Trunk
• Speed Sensitive Rain Detecting Variable Intermittent Wipers w/Heated Jets
• Power Heated Auto Dimming Side Mirrors w/Power Folding and Turn Signal Indicator
• Express Open/Close Sliding And Tilting Glass 1st Row Sunroof w/Sunshade
• Chrome Grille, Door Handles, and Bodyside Insert
• 19-inch 15-Spoke-Design Wheels w/Silver Accents

The chances of crash testing a premium luxury sedan costing almost a hundred grand is next to zero and make sense too. But considering the fact that so many of the world’s most important and influential people bestow their lives in the hands of the cars like the new Audi A8, safety should not be an aspect to be worried about. That being said, there are plenty of safety features and driver aids on offer, and a highlight of it is listed below. 

• Electronic Stability Control (ESC) And Driveline Traction Control
• Front And Rear Parking Sensors w/Back-Up Camera
• Audi pre sense basic
• Low Tire Pressure Warning
• Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Front and Seat-Mounted Side Airbags
• Driver And Passenger Knee Airbag and Rear Side-Impact Airbag
• SIDE GUARD Curtain 1st And 2nd Row Airbags
• Airbag Occupancy Sensor

The Audi A8 offers one of the best experiences one can have in a sedan in almost every aspect, luxury, comfort, and even driving to a certain extent. It drives better than most other large luxury sedans and also offers a frugal range of engine options that are pretty brisk and powerful as well. Add to that the long list of technology, and we can only wonder why the A8 lags behind in the sales numbers.