Audi A8 vs Holden Calais
What's the difference?

Audi A8

—

2023 price

View pricing & specs

Holden Calais

$9,995 - $27,800

2018 price

View pricing & specs

Maserati Quattroporte

Mazda 6

Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Mercedes-Benz A35

Mercedes-Benz AMG GT

Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Mercedes-Benz C43

Mercedes-Benz C63

Mercedes-Benz CLA

Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class

Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class

Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Mercedes-Benz E53

Mercedes-Benz EQS

Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Summary

2023 Audi A8

2018 Holden Calais

By James Cleary

By Andrew Chesterton

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Diesel Turbo V6, 3.0L

V6, 3.6L

Fuel Type

Diesel/Electric

Premium Unleaded Petrol

Fuel Efficiency

5.9L/100km (combined)

9.1L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Refinement
Quality
Value

Plenty of cabin space
Safety gear on-point
Punchy V6

Dislikes

Big turning circle
No folding rear seat
No front door bottle slots

Fuel use on the high side
Four-cylinder turbo petrol unavailable
Diesel not an option

2023 Audi A8 Summary

Audi’s flagship is the A8, a long, luxurious sedan where being driven is often as important as doing the driving.

To put this ultra-premium machine in context, it competes with other German heavyweights like BMW’s 7 Series and, of course, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class as well as Porsche’s Panamera. Not to mention the Lexus LS or Maserati’s Quattroporte.

What’s life like at the top of the Audi pyramid? Stay with us to find out.

View full pricing & specs

2018 Holden Calais Summary

If Holden had a dollar for every time someone had criticised the new and international flavour of Australia’s formerly home-grown hero, it would surely have more than enough spare cash to blow the dust of that vast South Australian factory and restart local Commodore production immediately.

Hell, there’d probably be enough left over to relaunch the Camira while they were at it. And maybe even knock out a new Gemini or two.

So we’re not going to do that again here. The all-new Commodore, in this case the Calais Tourer, is now here - granted having travelled further than the one it replaces - and so we’ll be playing this review with the straightest of bats.

Because the truth is, if you peel the badging - and thus the swirling emotion - off its elongated rump, then you’ll find this German-built Tourer is, really and truly, a very good thing.

View full pricing & specs

Deep dive comparison

2023 Audi A8 2018 Holden Calais

Verdict

The Audi A8 swims in a luxury car shark tank where those paying the big dollars expect top-shelf everything. It delivers a serene driving experience whether you’re in the front or the back, in a superbly engineered and executed luxury sedan package. Not perfect, but very, very impressive.

Verdict

A best-of-both-worlds option that should have us questioning our SUV obsession, the Calais Tourer delivers plenty of practicality perks and a higher ride height in a dynamic and car-like package. The equipment levels are spot on, including the comprehensive safety package, and it you act smartly, you'll get a hugely long warranty to boot.

It sure is thirsty, though, and we can't help but think plenty of owners would be happier with a smaller, more-efficient engine.

Audi A8 vs Holden Calais What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Audi A8 vs Holden Calais
What's the difference?