I drove a $119,000 Audi A8 L to see if the ultraluxurious sedan is worth the price. Here's the verdict.

• The Audi A8 is in its fourth generation as the carmaker's flagship luxury sedan.
• Our test car was an extended-wheelbase "L" version, and it came with many thousands of dollars in premium and high-tech extras.
• There's no doubt that this $100,000-plus private jet for the road is a niche vehicle. But we adored it.

It's been four years since I last sampled the A8, Audi's flagship sedan. Back then, I took an A8 L TDI diesel on a long road trip, with all three of my kids comfortably ensconced in the back seat.

My revisitation of this stylish Audi limo once again found me in an A8 L — the "L" signifies and extended-length frame — but this time, the fuel was premium-grade petrol.

This is the fourth generation of the A8. It landed on US shores in 2018. Our test car was a 2019 model year example, well-equipped, and priced at almost $119,000. Before many thousands of dollars in extras, the car was $83,800.

No road trip this time, just some driving in New York and New Jersey. As far as the business case for this ride goes, sales for the big sedan have been declining for years, as the four-door market in the US has cooled. But the A8 remains a critical vehicle for Audi, in the sense that it's a classic luxury platform. If you want a limo, this is your car.

As it turns out, large sedans can also be excellent conveyors of advanced auto technology. On this front, the A8 is jam-packed with goodies. They cost a lot. Most of them are worth it.

Read on to find out if everything else about this pricey saloon is worth the cost.

Photos by Hollis Johnson.

 

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Welcome to the mean streets of New York City, 2019 Audi A8 L Quattro!

I'm not sure the Audi design language finds its best expression on the A8 L's stretched wheelbase. However, there's no denying the A8 L is a handsome set of wheels, with substantial road presence.

To my eye, the A8L is back heavy, with the extended rear seat and trunk area out of proportion with the hood. But the flow from front to back for a car this big is still elegant.

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