2009 Audi A8 vs 2008 Mercedes-Benz S Class

2009 Audi A8

2008 Mercedes-Benz S Class

Select style

4-Door Sedan

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
A8 4-Door Sedan	16	23	$68,867	$74,050
A8 L 4-Door Sedan 4.2L	16	23	$72,448	$77,900
A8 L 4-Door Sedan 6.0L	13	19	$111,693	$120,100
S8 4-Door Sedan	13	19	$89,465	$96,200

Select style

4-Door Sedan 5.5L V12 RWD

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
S-Class 4-Door Sedan 5.5L V12 RWD	11	17	$134,106	$144,200
S-Class 4-Door Sedan 5.5L V8 4MATIC	14	20	$83,421	$89,700
S-Class 4-Door Sedan 5.5L V8 RWD	14	21	$80,631	$86,700
S-Class 4-Door Sedan 6.0L V12 AMG RWD	11	17	$180,420	$194,000
S-Class 4-Door Sedan 6.3L V8 AMG RWD	11	17	$118,110	$127,000

Show Only Differences

Pricing

Invoice Price

$68,867

$134,106

Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price

$74,050

$144,200

Monthly Payment Estimate

$1234 / month

$2403 / month

The Car Connection's Take

TCC Rating

8.4

Read Our Full Review

8.8

Read Our Full Review

TCC’s Bottom Line

The 2009 Audi A8 and A8 L are nimble, refined luxury sedans that still stand out from the crowd.

Hark! The 2008 Mercedes-Benz S-Class is loaded with top safety and comfort-oriented technologies and is one of the best luxury sedans in the world.

TCC Likes

Surprisingly nimble
Quite possibly the best front seats in the class
Tremendous backseat space (L models)

Maneuvers like a smaller car
Wonderful dynamic multicontour seats
Vast interior, with plenty of back-seat space

TCC Dislikes

Design is no longer fresh
W12 engine guzzles fuel

S600 doesn’t handle as well
COMAND isn’t always intuitive
Pricey!

Fuel Economy

City

16 mpg

11 mpg

Highway

23 mpg

17 mpg

Vehicle

EPA Classification

Large

Interior Dimensions

Front Hip Room (in)

- TBD -

Passenger Volume (ft³)

114.9

109.0

Second Leg Room (in)

37.6

42.3

Front Head Room (in)

37.3

37.8

Second Hip Room (in)

- TBD -

Front Shoulder Room (in)

59.1

Passenger Capacity

Second Head Room (in)

38.0

38.5

Second Shoulder Room (in)

57.5

58.7

Front Leg Room (in)

41.4

41.9

Exterior Dimensions

Track Width, Rear (in)

63.3

63.2

Wheelbase (in)

115.9

124.6

Liftover Height (in)

- TBD -

Width, Max w/o mirrors (in)

74.6

73.7

Track Width, Front (in)

63.9

63.2

Min Ground Clearance (in)

4.72

- TBD -

Length, Overall (in)

199.3

205.0

Height, Overall (in)

56.9

58.0

Cargo Area Dimensions

Trunk Volume (ft³)

14.6

16.3

Brakes

Rear Drum Diam x Width (in)

Disc - Front (Yes or )

Yes

Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

14.2 x 1.34

13.8 x - TBD -

Drum - Rear (Yes or )

Brake ABS System

4-Wheel

Disc - Rear (Yes or )

Yes

Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

12.2 x 0.87

12.6 x - TBD -

Brake Type

Pwr

Power

Fuel Tank

Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal)

23.8

Steering

Lock to Lock Turns (Steering)

2.8

- TBD -

Turning Diameter - Wall to Wall (ft)

- TBD -

Steering Ratio (:1), Overall

- TBD -

Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft)

41.0

40.0

Steering Type

Pwr Rack & Pinion

Vehicle-Speed-Sensitive

Tires

Spare Tire Order Code

Rear Tire Size

P245/40HR18

P275/45R18

Rear Tire Order Code

Front Tire Size

P245/40HR18

P255/45R18

Spare Tire Size

P245/40HR18

- TBD -

Front Tire Order Code

Trailering

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)

- TBD -

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)

- TBD -

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)

- TBD -

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)

- TBD -

Weight Information

Base Curb Weight (lbs)

4321

4960

Wheels

Rear Wheel Size (in)

18 x 8.5

18 x 9.5

Front Wheel Material

Alloy

Aluminum

Spare Wheel Material

Alloy

- TBD -

Front Wheel Size (in)

18 x 8.5

Spare Wheel Size (in)

18 x 8.5

- TBD -

Rear Wheel Material

Alloy

Aluminum

Cooling System

Total Cooling System Capacity (qts)

12.2

- TBD -

Electrical

Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)

- TBD -

Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)

190

- TBD -

Engine

SAE Net Torque @ RPM

325 @ 3500

612 @ 1800 - 3500

Engine Order Code

Displacement

4.2L/254

5.5L/336

SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM

350 @ 6800

510 @ 5000

Engine Type

Gas V8

Gas V12

Fuel System

FSI

SFI

Mileage

EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG)

EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG)

Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG)

Transmission

Clutch Size (in)

Third Gear Ratio (:1)

1.52

- TBD -

Trans Type

Drivetrain

All-Wheel Drive

Rear Wheel Drive

Fifth Gear Ratio (:1)

0.87

- TBD -

Trans Description Cont. Again

Reverse Ratio (:1)

3.40

- TBD -

Second Gear Ratio (:1)

2.34

- TBD -

Trans Order Code

Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1)

3.32

2.65

Fourth Gear Ratio (:1)

1.14

- TBD -

Trans Description Cont.

Automatic

Sixth Gear Ratio (:1)

0.69

First Gear Ratio (:1)

4.17

- TBD -

Seventh Gear Ratio (:1)

Summary

Vehicle Name

Audi A8

Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Body Style

4 Door Sedan

Suspension

Shock Absorber Diameter - Rear (mm)

- TBD -

Suspension Type - Front

Adaptive Air

Independent

Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Rear (in)

- TBD -

Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)

w/4-Link

Shock Absorber Diameter - Front (mm)

- TBD -

Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Front (in)

- TBD -

Suspension Type - Rear

Adaptive Air

Independent

Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)

w/5-Arm

Emissions

EPA Greenhouse Gas Score

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