Compare the2023 Rolls-Royce GhostVS 2023 Audi S8

The Ghost has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. At the same time the pretensioning seatbelts fire, removing slack from the belts. The S8 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Ghost has standard Active Park Distance Control that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The S8 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Ghost has a standard blind spot warning system that 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 S8’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Ghost has standard Cross Traffic Warning, helping the driver avoid collisions. Audi charges extra for rear cross-path warning on the S8.

The Ghost’s 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 S8 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Ghost and the S8 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems and around view monitors.

The Ghost comes with a full 4-year/unlimited-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The S8’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires sooner.

Rolls-Royce pays for scheduled maintenance on the Ghost for 4 years and unlimited miles. Rolls-Royce will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Audi only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the S8.

The Ghost’s standard 6.6 turbo V12 produces 37 lbs.-ft. more torque (627 vs. 590) than the S8’s 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid. The Ghost Black Badge’s standard 6.6 turbo V12 produces 28 more horsepower (591 vs. 563) and 74 lbs.-ft. more torque (664 vs. 590) than the S8’s 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid.

The Ghost has 2.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the S8 (23.8 vs. 21.7 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better traction and acceleration, the Ghost has larger rear tires than the S8 (285/35R21 vs. 265/35R21).

The Ghost’s 285/35R21 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the S8’s standard 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Ghost has standard 21-inch wheels. Smaller 20-inch wheels are standard on the S8.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the Ghost can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The S8 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The Ghost has 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 S8 doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The Ghost offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Audi doesn’t offer an active suspension on the S8.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Ghost’s wheelbase is 6.5 inches longer than on the S8 (129.7 inches vs. 123.2 inches). The Ghost Extended’s wheelbase is 12.8 inches longer than on the S8 (136 inches vs. 123.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Ghost is 1.7 inches wider in the rear than on the S8.

The Ghost has .5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the S8 (111.5 vs. 111).

The Ghost has 2.3 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more front legroom, .3 inches more front shoulder room and .5 inches more rear headroom than the S8.

The Ghost has a much larger trunk than the S8 (17.3 vs. 12.5 cubic feet).

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Ghost to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The S8 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

The S8’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The Ghost’s standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.