Audi A8 hybrid range, MPG, CO2, battery & charging
The Audi A8 TFSI e competes strongly with its closest rivals when it comes to fuel-efficiency, range and charging speed
| Fuel economy | CO2 emissions | Electric range | Wallbox charge time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 134-149mpg | 40-48g/km | 36 miles | 2hrs 30mins (0-100%, 7.4kW) |
In the large plug-in hybrid luxury saloon world, the A8 TFSI e compares favourably with its main rivals the Mercedes S 560 e L and BMW 745e when it comes to efficiency. The triple-figures fuel-economy figure is par for the course for a plug-in hybrid (PHEV), but is largely unobtainable in real-world driving.
CO2 emissions are usefully low and the all-electric range is within the ‘around 30 miles’ ballpark that’s currently the norm for this sort of car. The A8’s drivetrain can recuperate energy for its batteries during 90% of braking in everyday driving, Audi says. The system also gathers energy when the car is coasting, with the regenerative braking level selectable through the A8’s infotainment system or the gear selector.
Audi A8 range, MPG & CO2 emissions
Official testing returned fuel economy of 134mpg for the long-wheelbase version of the A8 60 TFSI e, and 149mpg for the lighter short-wheelbase car. These figures are comparable to the 105-118mpg of the long-wheelbase BMW 745 Le, while the Mercedes S 560 e L is capable of returning over 200mpg.
CO2 emissions are usefully low and the all-electric range is within the ‘around 30 miles’ ballpark that’s currently the norm for this sort of car. As part of the A8’s facelift for 2022, Audi fitted a slightly larger 17.9kWh battery, compared to the previous model’s 14.1kWh unit.
The result was a relatively small range increase from 29 to 36 miles, bringing it on par with the plug-in BMW 7 Series, but far short of the latest plug-in hybrid Mercedes S-Class, which can cover more than 60 miles on a full charge thanks to an even larger 28kWh battery.
To get as close as possible to the A8’s quoted figures you’ll need to drive very carefully with a light right foot and with fully topped-up batteries: once the battery is empty, fuel economy will plummet accordingly and you’ll lose a good chunk of performance, too.
Charge time
Using a 7.4kW wallbox charger, we expect it’ll take around two-and-a-half hours to recharge the plug-in A8’s now 17.9kWh battery from flat to 100% – again, more or less the same as its rivals and perfect for business users with access to a charger at the office. The A8 comes as standard with a Type 2 cable and a three-pin domestic charging cable, but it pays to remember that it’ll charge much slower from a domestic supply. You’ll still be able to top up overnight with ease, however.