Verdict
The Audi A8 D5 costs RM221,100 more, but brings a meaningful 50 hp and 80 Nm uplift to 340 hp and 500 Nm, cutting the century sprint from 6.2 to 5.7 seconds. Its 0.5-kWh mild-hybrid system also helps it claim 8.2 L/100 km versus 9.3. For a Malaysian buyer, the newer car’s pedestrian- and cyclist-detecting autonomous braking, surround-view camera and five-year warranty make the price gap easier to justify. The D4 remains the lower-cost route to a 2,995 cc, all-wheel-drive A8 with air suspension at both ends and rear-seat massage.
Pick the Audi A8 D4 if RM658,800, rear-seat massage and its explicitly listed rear side airbags matter more than newer driver assistance and outright pace.
Pick the Audi A8 D5 if you can justify RM879,900 for 340 hp, 500 Nm, better claimed economy, stronger active safety and a five-year manufacturer warranty.
Key differences
- Price: Audi A8 D4 RM658,800; Audi A8 D5 RM879,900.
- Output: Audi A8 D4 290 hp and 420 Nm; Audi A8 D5 340 hp and 500 Nm.
- 0-100 km/h: Audi A8 D4 6.2 seconds; Audi A8 D5 5.7 seconds.
- Rated economy: Audi A8 D4 9.3 L/100 km; Audi A8 D5 8.2 L/100 km.
- Boot space: Audi A8 D4 490 litres; Audi A8 D5 505 litres.
- Manufacturer warranty: Audi A8 D4 two years; Audi A8 D5 five years.
D4
- RM221,100 cheaper
- Air suspension front and rear
- Rear seats get massage; rear side airbags are listed
- 290 hp and 420 Nm trail the D5's 340 hp and 500 Nm
- No blind-spot monitor, collision warning or autonomous braking
- Two-year manufacturer warranty versus five years
D5
- 340 hp, 500 Nm and a 5.7-second 0-100 km/h time
- Autonomous braking detects pedestrians and cyclists
- Heated and ventilated front and rear seats; 17-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio
- RM221,100 more expensive
- Heavier at 2,020 kg versus 1,855 kg
- Rear side airbags are not listed, unlike the D4
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM658,800✓ | RM879,900 |
| Body type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Segment | Luxury | Luxury |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM2,118 | RM2,118 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 24-valve DOHC, direct fuel injection, supercharged with variable valve timing | 24-valve DOHC with Twin-scroll Turbocharger, Direct Fuel Injection and Variable Valve Timing and Lift |
| Capacity | 2,995 cc | 2,995 cc |
| Horsepower | 290 hp | 340 hp✓ |
| Torque | 420 Nm | 500 Nm✓ |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol Hybrid/REV |
| Bore | 84.5 mm | 84.5 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 10.3 | 11.2 |
| Number of Motors | — | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | — | 16 hp✓ |
| Motor Torque | — | 60 Nm✓ |
| Battery Capacity | — | 0.5 kWh |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 8 Speed Automatic | 8-speed Tiptronic |
| Gears | 8 | 8 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | ZF | ZF |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 6.2 seconds | 5.7 seconds✓ |
| Rated Economy | 9.3 L/100 km | 8.2 L/100 km✓ |
| Top Speed | 250 km/h | 250 km/h |
| Co2 | 217 g/km | 186 g/km✓ |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 5,265 mm | 5,302 mm |
| Width | 1,949 mm | 1,945 mm |
| Height | 1,460 mm | 1,485 mm |
| Wheelbase | 3,122 mm | 3,128 mm |
| Weight | 1,855 kg | 2,020 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 80 litres | 82 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 490 litres | 505 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 255/45R19 | 255/45R19 |
| Rear Tyre | 255/45R19 | 255/45R19 |
| Spare Tyre | Space Saver | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | — | Pirelli Cinturato P7 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Germany (CBU) | Germany (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones with Air Suspension | Double Wishbone |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link with Air Suspension | Double Wishbone |
| Front Wheels | 19" 10 Spoke Y Design Alloys | 19" 15-spoke Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 19" 10 Spoke Y Design Alloys | 19" 15-spoke Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Hydraulic Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Audi Drive Select with damping control system - Auto/Comfort/Dynamic/Efficiency mode | Air Suspension with Adaptive Dampers, Dynamic All-wheel Steering |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Rear Side | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Curtain |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | — | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | — |
| Child Safety Lock | Electric for rear doors | Powered for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | — | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on front passenger seat and two outer rear passenger seats | Available on Two Outer Rear Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | — | Yes, with Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection |
| Lane-keeping Assist | — | Warning Only |
| Collision Warning | — | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | — | All Seats |
| Safety Notes | — | Audi pre safe rear |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Bi-Xenon Projector | Adaptive LED Projectors with High Beam Assist |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Memory Function | Power-adjustable Front Seats with Memory Function, Heated and Ventilated |
| Rear Seats | Power Adjustable Rear Seats with Massage Function | Power-adjustable Rear Seats with Memory Function, Heated and Ventilated |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Sunroof | Front, Tilt and Slide | Panoramic Sliding Sunroof |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Rear | 1 Front, 1 Rear, 2 Front USB, 2 Rear USB |
| Interior Lighting | Map + Ambient Lights | Map Lights and Ambient Lights (30 Colours) |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | Powered rear sun shade, Powered rear door window shades | Powered Rear Door Window and Windscreen Shades |
| Audio | 8" MMI Navigation, 6 DVD/MP3 player with Bose 14-speaker Sound System | MMI navigation plus with 10.1" Upper Touchscreen, 8.6" Lower Touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 17-speaker Bang & Olufsen Premium 3D Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control |
| Tiptronic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Paddle Shift | — | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered boot with soft close function | Powered with Contactless Operation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 4 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | Yes, with Surround View Camera |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | ✓ |
| Power Door | Soft close function, all doors | Soft-close Doors |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | — | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | — | Electronic |
| Convenience Notes | — | 5.7" Removable Rear Tablet |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | 120,000 km✓ | — |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 2 years | 5 years✓ |
| Warranty Extended | 2 years✓ | — |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
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D4 vs D5 FAQ
Is the Audi A8 D4 or Audi A8 D5 better?
The Audi A8 D5 is the better-equipped and quicker choice: 340 hp, 500 Nm, 5.7 seconds to 100 km/h, autonomous braking and a five-year warranty. The D4 is better only if its RM221,100 lower price and rear-seat massage outweigh those gains.
What is the price difference?
The Audi A8 D5 costs RM879,900 and the Audi A8 D4 costs RM658,800, a difference of RM221,100.
Which A8 has better fuel economy and practicality?
The A8 D5 claims 8.2 L/100 km against the D4's 9.3 L/100 km, and has a 505-litre boot rather than 490 litres. It also carries an 82-litre tank, two litres more than the D4.