Test: Audi A8 3.0 TDI Quattro
Content
In the current A8, sitting in one of the front seats was a real pleasure. The theory we read earlier is far from capable of conjuring up feelings. Adding a massage function seems like just one of the many wasteful things on the list, but when you sit down, tired of sitting in front of the computer, and choose one of five possible massage methods, you find that there is also an opportunity to relax your body while driving.
You know, the massage functions of the seats, like everything else in cars, are different. The seat or its back can only swing slightly, even so softly that a person in winter clothes can barely feel it, but the elements in the back with longer movements can perform planned types of hard (but, of course, painless, make no mistake) massage. ... With this Audi A8, we most easily eliminated the neck massage, which for some reason did not come to the fore due to the shape of the back and the way of sitting, and among the other four we could not advise which is better than the other. The only prerequisite for this is that the person is receptive to the massage. Not all.
Other than that, the Ingolstadt headquarters business had been going pretty well for at least a decade and a half—even without the massage equipment. And I'm not talking about some tweaks, although they add some too; the hardness and shape of the surfaces that the seat and body come into contact with are also important. And there are such in Audis, even in this A8, such that the body does not suffer even during long trips. Between themselves - the seats are excellent.
The A8 is a sedan that wants to have the adjective "sporty" up front, so it (could) have a three-spoke steering wheel that fits the aforementioned styling perfectly: discreet sporty size, slightly less restrained looks, and tasteful overall sporty spoils the luxury of the big limousine. The gear lever has a somewhat unusual shape and a single position - it takes a little getting used to the movements and work. Then this is a good support for the right hand, if it is not on the steering wheel. The MMI system before it has taken a good step forward since its inception (especially the Touch add-on, a touch surface to make it easier to work with some subsystems), and although it has many additional buttons around the main rotary knob, everything is intuitive and at the moment is one of the best solutions. Next to it is also the engine start button, which is a little too far behind the right hand, so it might be easier to press it with the left hand.
Many generous settings also allow for a sporty low seating position (okay, the steering wheel could be lowered even lower), and the seats - given the capabilities of the chassis and drivetrain - can provide too little lateral grip. The support for the left foot is also very good, and the accelerator pedal hangs from above; not bad, but we know the Bavarians can do a bit more south.
The navigation system, at least in Slovenia, has lagged behind the times, since some roads are missing, including highways (there, in the northeast), and with a car that costs about 100 thousand euros, you need to be a little more expensive. picky.
So a head-up screen would come in very handy in the A8, mainly for one reason: because it has a frontal collision warning system. Namely, it draws attention to this in two ways: audio (pink) and an image, which, if there is no projection screen, appears only between two sensors. But in that case, it's not particularly smart to look at the indicators of what this pink wants to say, but to look at the road and react. The projection screen (and the information on it) will make this safety accessory much safer. Among the equipment, you may also want to be able to display on-board computer data (simultaneously) on the center screen. It is, however, if you upgrade to the A8 from Beemvee, which is noticeably narrower.
Its gauges are interesting. In a nutshell, they are simple (round), large and sporty, with a flexible screen in between for a variety of information. When you get to know them, you will find that they are quite modern in terms of the car and the brand, but they are not exaggerating: they are still a classic analog display of speed and speed, and the data displayed in digital form subtly confirms the advanced design. ... Among modern technologies, radar cruise control is also worth mentioning, the ergonomics of which are at the highest level and which generally works perfectly, but still reacts too slowly to the distance of the vehicle in front. However, the new A8 does not work with internal drawers: we will not list them, since the fact that the driver has almost nowhere to put little things says enough. And such a big car ...
Which is otherwise spacious and comfortable enough; It is also easy to get in and out of, it elegantly complements the door-closing servo (no need to slam it), and its appearance looks elegant and sporty. Despite its size, the A8 has become less bulky and more stable from generation to generation. This hip is definitely the best of the three from southern Germany.
And, despite the size and weight, it is pleasant to drive it lightly, since the guidance is flawless, and the mass is not felt. Anyone who wants something more from driving can tamper with the mechanics settings first. There are four of them: comfort, automatic, dynamic and additional personalization. The difference between the first three is noticeable, but quite small: Dynamic is a truly sporty and uncompromising option, so it is not recommended for driving on bad roads, while Comfort is sporty comfort, which makes it clear that the A8 always wants to be on top. at least a little sporty. soft sedan.
I have no prejudice about the engine. It is true that at certain points it is still unnoticeably loud and shaky (when starting, which is very often due to the start-stop function), much more than the A8 would like as a respected car, but this is also its only drawback. It's powerful enough even for a more dynamic driving style, the more powerful engines in the A8 are more or less just for prestige. In particular, impressive consumption. The on-board computer says it needs 160 liters of fuel at 8,3 kilometers per 100 kilometers per hour in eighth gear and only 130 liters at 6,5. In seventh gear, 160 8,5, 130 6,9 and 100 5,2 liters per 100 kilometers are required. Practice shows that achieving an average consumption in real life and with dynamic driving of about eight liters per 100 km is not a very difficult task.
The gearbox is even better: flawless in automatic and very quick in manual, where (if the setting is dynamic) it shifts perceptibly, but just enough that it doesn't irritate, but creates a sporty look. Thanks to eight gears, there are always two, and often three gears in which the engine turns its torque. At wide open throttle, it shifts - even in manual mode - from 4.600 to 5.000 (where the red field on the tachometer begins) engine speeds, depending on the gear engaged, loads and other circumstances. But a turbodiesel doesn't even need to be driven that high, as it delivers high torque at much lower rpm.
And there is also a great combination with the Quattro transmission. Those who manage to reach the physical limit under control will recognize the classic properties of all-wheel drive and this distribution of mass: when he begins to show a tendency to slip the front wheels in a turn, you need to press the gas pedal (not the brakes) to correct the direction of the rear wheels in the turn , the only condition is that at this time the gearbox is in the correct gear, which means that for this type of backlash it is advisable to shift gears manually.
The A8 turned out to be a perfectly balanced car: on a slippery track it’s nice to “feel” where the slip limit is, where the stabilizing ESP starts to work - and in the Dynamic program, where everything takes a little longer, because the ESP turns on a little later. That's why there are enough strong slips to keep the driver in control and to keep everything fun. However, in order to disable the ESP system because it will limit it, the driver must learn how to handle the steering wheel of a four-wheel drive car with so much torque. The Quattro is so efficient that the ESP kicks in very late, even on slippery roads.
And that's why it is pleasant to sit in the A8. From the pleasure of sitting alone because the seats are great, to the luxury offered by the A8, all the way to the superior powertrain that has become a serious competitor to the still dominant Beemvee rear-wheel drive in this generation in terms of pleasure. and sportiness. Well, here we are.
text: Vinko Kernc, photo: Sasha Kapetanovich
Audi A8 3.0 TDI Quattro
Basic data
| Sales: | Porsche Slovenia |
|---|---|
| Base model price: | 80.350 € |
| Test model cost: | 123.152 € |
| Power: | 184kW (250 KM) |
| Acceleration (0-100 km / h): | 6,4 with |
| Maximum speed: | 250 km / h |
| Mixed flow ECE: | 10,7l / 100km |
| Guarantee: | 2 years general warranty, 3 years varnish warranty, 12 years rust warranty, unlimited mobile warranty with regular maintenance by authorized service technicians. |
| Systematic review | 30.000 km |
Cost (up to 100.000 km or five years)
| Regular services, works, materials: | 1.783 € |
|---|---|
| Fuel: | 13.247 € |
| Tires (1) | 3.940 € |
| Loss of value (within 5 years): | 44.634 € |
| Compulsory insurance: | 4.016 € |
| CASCO INSURANCE (+ B, K), AO, AO + | 8.465 ( |
| Calculate the cost of auto insurance | |
| Buy up | € 76.085 0,76 (km cost: XNUMX €) |
Technical information
| engine: | 6-cylinder - 4-stroke - V90° - turbodiesel - longitudinally mounted at the front - bore and stroke 83 × 91,4 mm - displacement 2.967 16,8 cm³ - compression 1:184 - maximum power 250 kW (4.000 hp) .) at 4.500–13,7 rpm – average piston speed at maximum power 62 m/s – power density 84,3 kW/l (550 hp/l) – maximum torque 1.500 Nm at 3.000–2 rpm - 4 camshafts in the head) - XNUMX valves per cylinder - common rail fuel injection - exhaust gas turbocharger - charge air cooler |
|---|---|
| Energy transfer: | the engine drives all four wheels - 8-speed automatic transmission - gear ratio I. 4,714; II. 3,143 hours; III. 2,106 hours; IV. 1,667 hours; v. 1,285; VI. 1,000; VII. 0,839; VIII. 0,667 - differential 2,624 - rims 8 J × 17 - tires 235/60 R 17, rolling circumference 2,15 m |
| Capacity: | 250 km/h top speed - 0-100 km/h acceleration in 6,1 s - fuel consumption (ECE) 8,0/5,8/6,6 l/100 km, CO2 emissions 174 g/km. |
| Transportation and suspension: | sedan - 4 doors, 5 seats - self-supporting body - front single suspension, leaf springs, three-spoke cross rails, stabilizer - rear multi-link axle, coil springs, telescopic shock absorbers, stabilizer - front disc brakes (forced cooling), rear discs (forced cooling) , ABS, mechanical parking brake on the rear wheels (shift between seats) - rack and pinion steering, electric power steering, 2,75 turns between extreme points |
| Mass: | empty vehicle 1.840 kg - permissible total weight 2.530 kg - permissible trailer weight with brake: 2.200 kg, without brake: 750 kg - permissible roof load: 100 kg |
| External dimensions: | vehicle width 1.949 mm - front track 1.644 mm - rear track 1.635 mm - ground clearance 12,3 m |
| Inner dimensions: | width front 1.590 mm, rear 1.570 mm - front seat length 560 mm, rear seat 510 mm - steering wheel diameter 365 mm - fuel tank 90 l |
| Standard equipment: | driver and front passenger airbags - side airbags - curtain airbags - ISOFIX mounts - ABS - ESP - power steering - automatic air conditioning - power windows front and rear - electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors - radio with CD player, MP3 -player and DVD player - multifunction steering wheel - central locking with remote control - steering wheel with height and depth adjustment - xenon headlights - front and rear parking sensors - alarm system - rain sensor - height-adjustable driver and front passenger seat - split rear seat – on-board computer – cruise control. |
Our measurements
| T = 12 ° C / p = 1.120 mbar / rel. vl. = 25% / Tires: Dunlop SP Winter Sport 235/60 / R 17 H / Odometer status: 12.810 km | |
| Acceleration 0-100km: | 6,4s |
|---|---|
| 402m from the city: | 14,6 years ( 152 km / h) |
| Maximum speed: | 250km / h (VII. B VIII.) |
| Minimum consumption: | 8,2l / 100km |
| Maximum consumption: | 14,2l / 100km |
| test consumption: | 10,7 l / 100km |
| Braking distance at 130 km / h: | 71,6m |
| Braking distance at 100 km / h: | 42,1m |
| AM table: | 39m |
| Noise at 50 km / h in 3rd gear | 59dB |
| Noise at 50 km / h in 4rd gear | 58dB |
| Noise at 50 km / h in 5rd gear | 56dB |
| Noise at 90 km / h in 4rd gear | 60dB |
| Noise at 90 km / h in 5rd gear | 59dB |
| Noise at 90 km / h in 6rd gear | 58dB |
| Noise at 130 km / h in 5rd gear | 61dB |
| Noise at 130 km / h in 6rd gear | 60dB |
| Idling noise: | 36dB |
Overall rating (367/420)
Of course, there are more expensive sedans of a similar size, but in its class, the A8 is exceptional, as it easily keeps up with the other two main (German) competitors, and also retains its appearance on the stage - from looks to the engine and characteristic drive. .
Exterior (15/15)
Perhaps the most successful combination of prestige, elegance and hidden sportiness.
Interior (114/140)
Ergonomic, air-conditioned and comfortable perfection. Indignation only at the expense of the space reserved for small things and luggage.
Engine, transmission (63
/ 40)Excellent powertrain, perhaps with a little comment on overall engine performance in relation to vehicle weight.
Driving performance (65
/ 95)Anyone who knows how to take advantage of the great all-wheel drive will quickly find that this combination is the best out there right now.
Performance (31/35)
In rare, but very rare moments, the engine catches its breath a little.
Security (43/45)
In active safety, you'll find quite a few accessories available that this A8 didn't have.
Economy (36/50)
Record-low fuel consumption, even taking into account vehicle weight and difficult test kilometers.
We praise and reproach
seats: massage function
Quattro drive
engine: box, torque, consumption
ergonomics (in general)
discreet sports limousine
harmonious exterior
comfort, spaciousness
interior materials
position on the road
meters
almost no room for little things
jerky movement of the outer door handles
no projection screen
location of the engine start button
navigation in Slovenia
from time to time malfunction of the start-stop system
slow response of cruise control radar
imperceptible sound and vibration when starting the engine
