2021 Audi A8

MotorTrend (opens in a new tab) notes that a sporty S8 model and a plug-in hybrid both return for 2021, and calls the A8 among the most luxurious and relaxing cars available whichever seat you are buckled into. Car and Driver (opens in a new tab) lists the A8 TFSI e plug-in at 443 hp and the EPA estimate for the standard six-cylinder powertrain at 17 mpg city and 26 highway. In the EPA's combined figures the 2021 A8 range runs 18 to 23 mpg with fuel costs of $3,350 to $4,300 a year on fueleconomy.gov (opens in a new tab), and all of them are all-wheel drive.

NHTSA lists ten recall campaigns on the 2021 A8, and three describe risks bigger than a software fix. 21V111 covers 2019 to 2021 A8 and 2020 to 2021 S8 models where a missing sealing pin may let moisture into the engine control module connector; a resulting control module malfunction may make the engine stall. 21V295 says the lock nut on the trailing arm of the rear axle may break from stress corrosion, which may misalign the axle and cause a loss of control. 23V842 covers the plug-in hybrid: when using the 220V/240V plug at the 100 percent charge setting, some home outlets may not handle the current and the outlet or charging cable can overheat, raising the risk of fire.

The rest are lower-stakes but numerous: back-over prevention camera and display campaigns (21V825 and 22V742), an infotainment video fault (22V806), a rear seat belt retractor recall (21V606) and a tires recall (22V034). Because these campaigns are Volkswagen Group actions shared across Audi models, the VIN lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls is the reliable way to see which apply to a given car.

CarFactBase (opens in a new tab) counts five owner complaints, ten recalls and no published NHTSA overall rating for the 2021 A8, so the record is thin on owner complaints and heavy on manufacturer recalls. Kelley Blue Book (opens in a new tab) rates a car with 60,000 to 72,000 miles as a medium risk of major repair. The main ownership cost of an A8 is what happens after the warranty ends, so a pre-purchase inspection and the service history matter more than the badge.

Kelley Blue Book (opens in a new tab) says used 2021 A8 prices run from $32,700 for the L 55 TFSI to $36,200 for the L 60 TFSI at a dealership. KBB's depreciation page (opens in a new tab) says a 2021 A8 has depreciated $19,002, or 38 percent, in the last three years, leaving a resale value of $30,200 and a trade-in value of $25,600, and puts it in the 75th to 100th percentile for depreciation among 2021 sedans. That depreciation is the reason to buy one used: the previous owner paid for the drop.

Against the 2021 BMW 7 Series, which rates 19 to 25 mpg combined and $3,100 to $4,100 a year, and the Mercedes-Benz S-Class at 17 to 24 mpg and $3,250 to $4,550, the A8 at 18 to 23 mpg and $3,350 to $4,300 sits in the middle of the class on fuel cost. What separates the three is the recall and repair record more than the running cost, so for any of them the used-car checks are the same: a complete VIN recall history, the service records, and an independent inspection. MotorTrend's case for the A8 is that it is among the most luxurious and relaxing cars available; if that persuades you, confirm that both the engine-module and rear-axle recalls were performed.