Compare the2024 Audi A8VS 2023 Rolls-Royce Phantom

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Audi A8 are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Rolls-Royce Phantom doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The Audi A8 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Phantom doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The A8 has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Phantom doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

The A8 has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Phantom doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

Both the A8 and Phantom offer rear cross-traffic warning, but the A8 with Rear Cross-Traffic Assist also has Automatic Brake Activation (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Phantom’s Cross Traffic Warning doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the A8 and the Phantom have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, 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, around view monitors, available night vision systems and blind spot warning systems.

The A8’s corrosion warranty is 8 years longer than the Phantom’s (12 vs. 4 years).

There are almost 8 times as many Audi dealers as there are Rolls-Royce dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the A8’s warranty.

On the EPA test cycle the A8 gets better fuel mileage than the Phantom (19 city/28 hwy vs. 12 city/18 hwy).

Regenerative brakes improve the A8’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Phantom doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the A8’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Phantom doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Audi A8 higher (5 out of 10) than the Rolls-Royce Phantom (3). This means the A8 produces up to 16.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Phantom every 15,000 miles.

For more complete vehicle control the A8 has a manually controlled automatic, with the available convenience of an automatic transmission and the complete gear control of a manual transmission without the inconvenience of a clutch. A manually controlled automatic allows the driver to eliminate unwanted shifts and maximize engine braking by down shifting while cornering. The Phantom doesn’t offer a transmission that allows complete gear control.

For better traction, the A8’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Phantom (265/40R20 vs. 255/45R22).

The A8’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Phantom’s standard 50 series tires. The A8’s optional tires have a lower 35 series profile than the Phantom’s optional 45 series front and 40 series rear tires.

The A8 has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Phantom; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed. Some tire options on the Phantom don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

For better maneuverability, the A8’s turning circle is .8 feet tighter than the Phantom’s (42.2 feet vs. 43 feet). The A8’s turning circle is 3.1 feet tighter than the Phantom EWB’s (42.2 feet vs. 45.3 feet).

The Audi A8 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1000 to 1100 pounds less than the Rolls-Royce Phantom.

The A8 is 1 foot, 6.5 inches shorter than the Phantom, making the A8 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The design of the Audi A8 amounts to more than styling. The A8 has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .26 Cd. That is significantly lower than the Phantom (.36) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the A8 get better fuel mileage.

For excellent aerodynamics, the A8 has standard flush composite headlights. The Phantom has recessed headlights that spoil its aerodynamic shape and create extra drag.

The A8 has .5 inches more front legroom, .8 inches more rear legroom and 1.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Phantom.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the A8’s trunk can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Phantom doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The A8 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 Phantom doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

Heated windshield washer fluid is optional on the A8 to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. The Phantom doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid. Its standard heated washer nozzles will defrost the washer fluid but not the windshield.

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

The A8 offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Phantom doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The A8’s optional Park Assist Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Park Assist Plus will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Phantom doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Audi A8, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Audi A8/S8 outsold the Rolls-Royce Phantom by almost 22 to one during 2022.