By KBB Editors
Updated December 23, 2019
If your definition of luxury means an interior that looks as if it were custom-built by the finest artisans just for you, you’ll be more than pleased with what Audi has created inside the 2013 A8 luxury sedan. The choices of leather, wood and soft-touch trim pieces fall together in a way unmatched by cars costing twice as much.
While a 500-horsepower W12 engine is more than enough to scoot the A8 to freeway speeds in less than five seconds, the overall driving feel of the car is not as visceral as the BMW 7 Series. The new S8 helps close the gap, but we still give the edge to the 7 Series.
For 2013, the Audi expands the A8 lineup to four trims: a 3.0T V6, 4.0T V8, S8 and W12. The twin-turbocharged V8 is more powerful than the outgoing 4.2-liter V8 it replaces, and the 3.0T creates a new lower price point for the A8 without sacrificing power or standard-equipment levels. New features include a hands-free trunk release and top and corner-view cameras.
Audi’s approach to luxury and performance takes a decidedly subtle route, choosing to impress with substance and style rather than flash and shameless self-promotion. Nowhere is this philosophy more evident than in the 2013 Audi A8, a luxury sedan of impeccable tailoring and sophistication but with a low-key attitude. Compared to the Mercedes-Benz S-Class or BMW 7 Series, the A8 seems almost demure. That is, until you get behind the wheel and unleash the power from any one of the A8’s three available engine choices, including a 500-horsepower W12. In addition to the luxury side of the A8, there is a new performance sedan for 2013, the S8, which displays a bit more aggression and lot more fun-to-drive attitude.
Used 2013 Audi S8 pricing starts at $17,839 for the S8 Sedan 4D, which had a starting MSRP of $110,895 when new. The range-topping 2013 S8 Sedan 4D starts at $17,839 today, originally priced from $110,895.
Original MSRP | KBB Fair Purchase Price (nat'l average) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
$110,895 | $17,839 |
The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors. The prices here reflect what buyers are currently paying for used 2013 Audi S8 models in typical condition when purchasing from a dealership. These prices are updated weekly.
The 2013 Audi A8 offers a fine balance between a luxury cruiser and sports car when driven. The adaptive air suspension provides an overall comfortable ride but isn’t afraid to get the job done when pushed hard into a tight corner. And having enough is never a concern considering the potent V8 and W12 engine choices. However, we’ve also spent a deliciously good deal of time behind the wheel of the 2013 S8, which has a stiffer suspension setup than the A8 and a twin-turbo V8 under the hood. With 520 horsepower on tap, precise steering, Quattro all-wheel drive (AWD), and an 8-speed transmission with well-spaced gear ratios, the S8 felt just at home on a racetrack as it did on normal city roads.
For 2013, Audi’s A8 comes standard with Valetta leather and can be outfitted with Valcona or Nappa leather depending on which package box is ticked. The heat/vent/air-conditioning and radio controls on the dash are elegantly displayed and logically placed, and the MMI touch pad is intuitively located for the driver’s convenience. To top things off, every button and knob offers some operational resistance, which is a telltale sign of impeccable attention to detail. The 2013 S8 has largely the same interior with the exception of a few minor details such as carbon paddle shifters, real carbon-fiber dash inserts, and a few well-placed S8 badges.
There’s no mistaking the distinctive LED strip underneath the headlights of any new Audi model, and the A8 is no exception. These unique daytime-running lights rely solely on LED clusters for illumination and flank the large trapezoidal grille that takes up most of the real estate on the car’s front fascia. These visual enhancements alone are enough to delineate the A8 from the rest of the Audi line, not to mention its luxury competitors. There are sporty touches on the upcoming 2013 S8 that differentiate it from the A8, including an aluminum front lip spoiler and rear diffuser, as well as a twin-tip exhaust system.
MMI TOUCH
Audi’s MMI touch can easily be considered one of the best driver-to-car interfaces on the market. To select a destination or queue up an alphabetical category in your song collection, just draw the characters with your finger on the touch pad.
TWIN-TURBO 4.0-LITER V8 ENGINE
Luxury-sports-sedan enthusiasts will celebrate the 2013 Audi S8’s introduction. The S8 roars to life with an all-new twin-turbo V8 that is a work of art. With 520 horsepower on tap, it’s enough to get the 4,300-pound car to 60 mph in less than five seconds.
The Audi A8 is the company’s flagship model so as one might expect, it comes with a lot of the bells and whistles standard. Some of the most notable equipment includes Audi’s Quattro AWD system, 8-speed automatic transmission, adaptive air suspension, a Bose sound system, directionally adaptive headlights, and the MMI interface. The A8 comes with 19-inch wheels as standard, but 20-inch wheels can be had for an extra cost. All of these features are standard on the 2013 S8 as well, and it gets 21-inch wheels.
For 2013, the Audi A8 is available with a multitude of safety, audio and interior enhancements as optional equipment. For those looking for more stately rear seating, an Executive Rear Seating package can be applied to the long-wheelbase A8, which includes a rear-entertainment system, a fixed center console with a refrigerator, seat massagers and integrated footrests. For safety, options include lane assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and Audi Night Vision Assistant with pedestrian-detection and highlighting capability. And for the audiophiles, a Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound system with 19 speakers and over 1,000 watts of power is on the options list to suit their auditory needs.
The 2013 Audi A8 is offered with three different powerplants – a supercharged V6 with start/stop technology, a twin-turbocharged V8 with on-demand cylinder deactivation and a W12. All three are mated to an 8-speed Tiptronic transmission that sends power to all four wheels via Audi’s Quattro AWD system. The 2013 S8 forgoes the V10 it once had in favor of a lighter, more-powerful twin-turbo V8 that produces 520 horsepower and propels the large luxury cruiser to 60 mph in just over four seconds.
3.0-liter supercharged V6
333 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm
325 lb-ft of torque @ 2,900 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 18/28 mpg
4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8
420 horsepower @ 5,000 rpm
444 lb-ft of torque @ 1,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/28 mpg, 16/26 mpg (long wheelbase)
6.3-liter W12
500 horsepower @ 6,200 rpm
463 lb-ft of torque @ 4,750 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 13/21 mpg
4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8
520 horsepower @ 5,800 rpm
479 lb-ft of torque @ 1,700-5,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 15/26 mpg
Our Expert Ratings come from hours of both driving and number crunching to make sure that you choose the best car for you. We comprehensively experience and analyze every new SUV, car, truck, or minivan for sale in the U.S. and compare it to its competitors. When all that dust settles, we have our ratings.
We require new ratings every time an all-new vehicle or a new generation of an existing vehicle comes out. Additionally, we reassess those ratings when a new-generation vehicle receives a mid-cycle refresh — basically, sprucing up a car in the middle of its product cycle (typically, around the 2-3 years mark) with a minor facelift, often with updates to features and technology.
Rather than pulling random numbers out of the air or off some meaningless checklist, KBB’s editors rank a vehicle to where it belongs in its class. Before any car earns its KBB rating, it must prove itself to be better (or worse) than the other cars it’s competing against as it tries to get you to spend your money buying or leasing.
Our editors drive and live with a given vehicle. We ask all the right questions about the interior, the exterior, the engine and powertrain, the ride and handling, the features, the comfort, and of course, about the price. Does it serve the purpose for which it was built? (Whether that purpose is commuting efficiently to and from work in the city, keeping your family safe, making you feel like you’ve made it to the top — or that you’re on your way — or making you feel like you’ve finally found just the right partner for your lifestyle.)
We take each vehicle we test through the mundane — parking, lane-changing, backing up, cargo space and loading — as well as the essential — acceleration, braking, handling, interior quiet and comfort, build quality, materials quality, reliability.
Curb Weight | 4641 lbs. | ||
---|---|---|---|
Fuel Capacity | 23.8 gallons | ||
Front Head Room | 37.2 inches | ||
Front Leg Room | 41.4 inches | ||
Max Seating Capacity | 5 | ||
Overall Length | 202.2 inches | ||
Front Shoulder Room | 59.1 inches | ||
Trunk or Cargo Capacity | 13.2 cu.ft. | ||
Turning Diameter | 40.4 feet | ||
Wheel Base | 117.8 inches | ||
Width with mirrors | 83.1 inches |
Alloy Wheels | Available | ||
---|---|---|---|
Fog Lights | Available | ||
Moon Roof/Sun Roof | Available | ||
Number of Doors | 4 doors | ||
Power Folding Exterior Mirrors | Available | ||
LED Headlights | Available |
City | 15 mpg | ||
---|---|---|---|
Highway | 26 mpg | ||
Combined | 19 mpg |
Drivetrain | AWD | ||
---|---|---|---|
Transmission Type | Automatic | ||
8 speed | Available | ||
Recommended Fuel | Premium |
Horsepower | 520 @ 6000 RPM | ||
---|---|---|---|
Torque | 481 @ 5500 rpm | ||
Engine | V8, Twin Turbo, 4.0 Liter | ||
0 to 60 | 3.9 seconds | ||
Top Speed | 130 mph |
Basic | 4 years / 50000 miles | ||
---|---|---|---|
Powertrain | 4 years / 50000 miles | ||
Corrosion | 12 years / Unlimited miles |
Used 2013 Audi S8 | Used 2020 Volkswagen Jetta | Used 2020 Kia Forte | Used 2020 Toyota Corolla | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Price | $18,599 | $16,779 | $16,749 | $16,797 | |
KBB.com Rating | N/A | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.6 | |
Consumer Rating | 5.0 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.2 | |
Fuel Economy | City 15/Hwy 26/Comb 19 MPG | City 30/Hwy 40/Comb 34 MPG | City 29/Hwy 40/Comb 33 MPG | City 30/Hwy 38/Comb 33 MPG | |
Fuel Type | Gas | Gas | Gas | Gas | |
Safety Rating | N/A | 5.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | |
Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | |
Basic Warranty | 4 years or 50000 miles | 4 years or 50000 miles | 5 years or 60000 miles | 3 years or 36000 miles | |
Horsepower | 520 @ 6000 RPM | 147 @ 5000 RPM | 147 @ 6200 RPM | 139 @ 6100 RPM | |
Engine | V8, Twin Turbo, 4.0 Liter | 4-Cyl, Turbo, 1.4 Liter | 4-Cyl, 2.0 Liter | 4-Cyl, 1.8 Liter | |
Drivetrain | AWD | FWD | FWD | FWD |
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