There is a lot to love about the Audi S8, especially for anyone who loves supreme comfort, impressive performance, and understated sleeper sedans. But sadly, the high barrier to entry keeps most of us from experiencing one because of the six-figure investment.
Well, that’s the case for anyone wanting a new one, at least. Those of us brave enough to dip our toes into the world of high-performance Audis on the secondhand market might just be rewarded with a very tempting deal. Note, we don’t say bargain, as when supercar-fast European sedans start trading for Toyota SUV money, there’s always a catch.
Audi’s Flagship Sedan Leaves No Stone Unturned
Audi debuted the A8 in Europe in 1994, and it was a technical marvel, ready to take a serious fight against industry stalwarts like the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and the remarkable Lexus LS 400. The vehicle boasted an all-aluminum monocoque chassis, the first mass-production car ever to do so, and replaced Audi’s previous flagship luxury sedan, simply called the V8.
The sharp new sedan didn’t arrive in the United States until the 1997 model year, and by that point, there was already a hotter version in Europe. The S8 packed a 360-horsepower, 4.2-liter V8 engine, giving this luxobarge serious performance. A few years later, the meaner model arrived in the US for the 2001 model year.
From there, Audi kept tweaking the formula across several generations, culminating in the fourth and current generation, which arrived for the 2020 model year.
A five-year-old example, a 2021 car, carried an asking price of $130,900 when new, before the destination fee or options. That was a considerable sum, but buyers got a very comprehensive package for their hard-earned cash.
The spacious sedan came furnished with fine, quilted Nappa leather seats, with Alcantara-lined door trim. A 12.3-inch digital display sat before the driver, while a pair of centrally mounted screens handled infotainment and climate control duties. A 17-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system, soft-close doors, a head-up display, heated and ventilated seats with massage capability, and standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto came standard. That was just a snippet of what the S8 came with, and that’s before we even peek beneath the hood.
This Svelte Sedan Hides Supercar Levels Of Performance
2020 Audi S8Audi
Not content with just filling its flagship sedan with a whole host of luxurious and technically impressive features, Audi also ensured the lump beneath the sedan’s sculpted hood was more than deserving of the coveted S badge. Buyers got a twin-turbocharged V8 engine, which kicked out just a smidgen less grunt than what buyers of the ever-impressive RS6 received.
2021 Audi S8 Technical & Performance Specs
Engine
4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 with 48-volt mild-hybrid system
Transmission
8-speed Tiptronic automatic
Power
563 horsepower
Torque
590 lb-ft
0 to 60 mph
3.8 seconds
Top speed
155 mph (electronically limited)
To put the S8’s grunt into perspective, the V8 here delivers 60 more horsepower to all four wheels, via the legendary Quattro all-wheel-drive system, than a contemporary Aston Martin Vantage boasts, and 120 hp more thana Porsche 911 Carrera S packs. These performance-focused sports cars lose out in a specs-focused comparison with the S8, and neither matches the Audi in luxury either.
Compared with models retailing for similar figures in 2021, the Audi S8 looks like remarkable value. It offers just about everything to everyone. There’s impressive pace, an immaculately trimmed cabin, and enough space for the whole family. But no matter how desirable the S8 looks on paper, real-world residual values paint a different picture.
Depreciation Levels The Playing Field
2020 Audi S8Audi
No matter which resource you look to, the stats relating to the S8’s depreciation rate are rather bleak, especially for those who purchased one new in 2021. The CarBuzz Marketplace shows average prices have sunk to around $48,500, while CarEdge estimates values have dropped a whopping 64% in the last five years, and iSeeCars reports a similarly steep rate of 56.8%.
What this means in real terms is that Audi’s super-luxurious and supercar-rivaling sedan from 2021 – which is largely identical to the model Audi continued to offer into 2026, by the way – is now available for the same price as a brand-new Toyota Highlander. And that’s not to knock the Highlander; it’s a great car at a solid price point that delivers comfort, practicality, and value to families who need a sensible vehicle they can depend on day in and day out. However, in terms of style, performance, comfort, and features, the Audi S8 walks all over it.
A Highlander Platinum currently has an MSRP of $53,925, and for that price, we can find a clean-title 2021 Audi S8 with 39,000 miles and all the trimmings. Yes, the S8 would cost more to fuel, insure, maintain, and repair, but at least most of its depreciation should be complete. The Highlander would shed 40% of its value within the first five years, whereas the S8 has already done that.
Although, a Highlander is never going to run its owner up a $10,000 bill just for refreshing the brakes, and neither does it have a complex air suspension system which might need a $4,000 service. But on the days that S8 does work well, it might feel worth it not to have opted for the cookie-cutter SUV.
The Audi S8 Is Just One Example Of How Hard Depreciation Hits This Segment
2021 BMW 7 SeriesBMW
The Audi S8 isn’t an anomaly in its luxury performance segment; in fact, most flagship sedans tend to crash in value almost as soon as they leave the dealership. Here’s how a few of the S8 and A8’s key rivals perform across the same five-year window:
- A new BMW 7 Series drops around 60% of its value within the first five years
- The i7 fares even worse, shedding 71% of its value across the same timeframe
- The luxury sedan’s segment leader, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, sees values drop by 55%
- Even the LS loses between 41 and 53% of its value, despite Lexus historically performing admirably as a brand when it comes to residual values
It might seem as if all high-power, flagship sedans lose value at a similar rate, and largely speaking, that is true. However, every once in a while, a model comes along and proves that, with a little tweak to the formula, the depreciation trend can be halted.
Certain Sedans Are Special Enough To Buck The Trend
2024 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing speeding on a highway.Cadillac
The best recent example of a performance sedan avoiding ruinous depreciation is the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing. These cars are very serious performers, sporting hand-built supercharged V8 engines which boast a full 100 more horsepower than the aforementioned S8, but that alone isn’t why these big Cadillacs still command big bucks.
Instead, Cadillac let buyers spec them with a six-speed stick shift. A 10-speed automatic was optional, but it’s the three-pedal cars that enthusiasts crave. They are a dying breed, and current prices reflect the enthusiastic support given to these final manual-equipped super-sedans.
Base Trim Engine
4.0L Twin-Turbo V8 Gas
Base Trim Transmission
8-Speed Automatic
Base Trim Drivetrain
All-Wheel Drive
Base Trim Horsepower
563 hp
Base Trim Torque
590 lb-ft @ 2500 rpm
Fuel Economy
13/22 MPG
Infotainment & Features
10 /10
Debuting for the 2022 model year, the CT5-V Blackwing sold for $84,990; a significant sum, but a full S3 sedan cheaper than the S8. If the Blackwing followed the same steep depreciation curve as the eight-pot Audi, then today, smart examples would likely be trading for around $38,000. Instead, they still command nearly what they sold for when new.
A quick look at live listings on AutoTempest shows manual-equipped 2022 examples with tens of thousands of miles still commanding more than $85,000, demonstrating how important that three-pedal factor is for gas-fueled buyers in 2026 and beyond. Those who can’t quite stretch to that figure may take comfort in knowing Audi’s S8 now trades for less than a Toyota Highlander, despite costing a full Highlander more than the Cadillac just five years ago. However, they’ll have to accept losing that all-important manual engagement.
Sources: AutoTempest, CarEdge, iSeeCars, Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Mercedes-Benz.
