2021 Audi A8 Hybrid

For those with a strong self-effacing disposition but with plenty of cash to drop on a luxury car, the Audi A8 Hybrid sedan is the ideal choice for premium everyday commuting. It's the brand's flagship cruiser, boasting a complex powertrain, impressive specs in all aspects, and a high-end interior, all disguised by a humble exterior that many might mistake for a modest Audi A4 at first glance. With a Herculean 443-horsepower rating and 516 lb-ft of torque mustered from its 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 engine and its sidekicks, a 14.1 kWh battery pack and electric motor, it's nearly as quick as the standard V8-powered A8, despite its eco-friendly ambitions and a 53 MPGe combined mileage rating. The Audi A8 Plug-in Hybrid is an attractive option in the exclusive full-size luxury hybrid class, despite renowned rivals like the BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class hybrids providing tough competition.

Performance from the Audi A8 Plug-in Hybrid is phenomenal. The combined 443 hp and standard all-wheel drive make light of any situation, and the 0 to 60 mph sprint of just 4.9 seconds is within a hair's breadth of the V8-powered A8's performance, despite carrying quite a bit more weight. The sedan can also reach a top speed of 84 mph on electricity alone for up to 18 miles. Unfortunately for Audi, reviews from the competition are equally as impressive: BMW's own rival is more frugal, while the Mercedes-Benz equivalent is more overtly opulent by comparison. But perhaps there's a solid takeaway from our Audi A8 Hybrid review: Others may be more luxurious, others may be more frugal, but the A8 plug-in combines power, luxury, and understated luxury into one sublime package. High levels of safety and impressive reliability ratings simply add to what is already a comprehensive package, making the A8 Hybrid a consummate all-rounder, and one of the best in the class.

As the middle-ground of the Audi A8 range in terms of price, the A8 Hybrid, or A8 L 60 TFSI e Plug-In Hybrid as it is officially denoted, is a pricey thing. It starts with a base MSRP of $95,900 in the US, exclusive of any tax, registration, licensing, or destination fees - the latter a $1,045 addition to the final cost. Rivals in the USA vary in price, but most are around the same mark, with the BMW 7 Series Hybrid priced identically.