05/01/2019 DPCcars Videos

The 3.0-litre V6 diesel has 282bhp. It’s a brilliant engine in the A8; with 443lb ft of torque available from low in the rev range, performance is remarkably brisk and overtakes largely effortless, while it also manages to return decent fuel economy.

Paired to a slick, eight-speed automatic gearbox it proves to be both smooth and whisper quiet, too.

The standard A8 comes loaded with kit. Climate control, 18in alloy wheels, heated and electric leather seats, sat-nav, Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring are only the beginning — the full list is much, much longer.

Bearing in mind how people use these cars, we’d opt for the long-wheelbase version, which as well as extra rear space adds heated rear seats, a 5.7in tablet-style remote control, four-zone climate control, rear USB ports and electric rear sunblinds.