Compare the2023 Lexus LSVS 2023 Audi A8

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The LS has a standard Auto-Stop that use rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The A8 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The LS has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the A8’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the LS has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the A8.

The LS’ driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The A8 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the LS and the A8 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the LS 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Audi covers the A8. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the A8 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in initial quality. With 82 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in long-term dependability. With 33 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Audi is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus third in overall reliability. Audi is ranked 14th.

The LS 500h’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid produces 19 more horsepower (354 vs. 335) than the A8’s 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid. The LS 500’s standard 3.4 turbo V6 produces 81 more horsepower (416 vs. 335) and 73 lbs.-ft. more torque (442 vs. 369) than the A8’s 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the LS 500 3.4 turbo V6 is faster than the Audi A8:

On the EPA test cycle the LS 500h AWD gets better fuel mileage than the A8 (22 city/29 hwy vs. 19 city/28 hwy).

The LS can travel with zero emissions on a full charge for .6 miles. The A8 can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Lexus LS, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the A8.

The LS 500h has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The A8 doesn’t offer a CVT.

For better stopping power the LS 500 F Sport’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the A8:

The LS stops shorter than the A8:

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the LS can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The A8 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The LS F-Sport offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The A8 doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

For better maneuverability, the LS’ turning circle is 5.4 feet tighter than the A8’s (36.8 feet vs. 42.2 feet). The LS AWD’s turning circle is 2.8 feet tighter than the A8’s (39.4 feet vs. 42.2 feet).

The LS uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The A8 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The LS has a much larger trunk than the A8 (17 vs. 12.5 cubic feet).

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Audi. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With a 32% lower rating, Audi is ranked 8th.

The LS has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The A8 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

Consumer Reports rated the LS’ headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the A8’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The LS offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The A8 doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The LS has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the car heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the A8.

The LS is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The A8 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

The Lexus LS outsold the Audi A8/S8 by 81% during the 2022 model year.