2010 Audi A8

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Safety - What the Auto Press Says

The 2010 Audi A8 has not been rated in federal government crash tests or by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. That, however, is typical of Super Luxury Cars -- few of its competitors have been subjected to crash tests. 

The A8 comes with eight airbags as standard equipment -- driver and passenger front-airbags, front-seat side-impact airbags, full-length head-curtain airbags, and knee airbags to prevent front occupants' knees from impacting the dashboard. Rear-seat side airbags are available as an option. All seatbelts feature power height adjustments. Front-seat active head restraints, which reduce the chances of a whiplash injury, are standard. 

Anti-lock Brakes with Electronic Brake Pressure Distribution are standard, as is an Electronic Stabilization Program.

Several advanced safety features attempt to minimize the chances of an accident. Audi Lane Assist, which detects when the car leaves its traffic lane, sends a warning through a vibrating steering wheel. The strength of the vibrations can bet set to different levels. Audi Side Assist warns the driver when a car is in their blind spot by flashing a light in the side mirror. Audi Braking Guard measures distance to the vehicle in front of the A8. It will sound an audible alert if the vehicle ahead begins to stop, and prepare extra braking force to assist with a panic stop if necessary.

For all the A8’s advanced safety equipment, it lacks a few features that are now expected in this class. There is no telematics system to alert emergency services in the event of an accident -- something that is now standard on the BMW 7-Series and Lexus LS. It also lacks a forward-looking radar that alerts the driver to objects in the roadway beyond headlight range -- something found in the 7-Series and the 2010 Mercedes-Benz S-Class.