Audi’s A8 sedan has always been the automaker’s luxury-packed flagship, and a redesign for 2019 brings new levels of technology, too. The 2019 A8 gets a new multimedia system, additional driver-assistance features and a 3.0-liter V-6 that incorporates a light-hybrid system. For this Car Seat Check, we tested the long-wheelbase L version. It earned high grades in terms of room but lost points for its tough-to-access lower Latch anchors.
How many car seats fit in the second row? Two
Related: More Car Seat Checks
Solid
- Booster, grade A: After raising the head restraint, the booster fit well on the bolstered backseat. The A8’s stable buckles should make them easier for kids to grasp and use.
So-So
- Latch, grade B: The two sets of lower anchors sit about a half-inch into the seat bight, where the back and bottom cushions meet. They’re tough to access because of the sedan’s stiff leather upholstery. The trick is to lift up on the seatback section of the cushion to expose the anchor better. Three top tether anchors sit on the rear shelf under hinged plastic covers.
- Infant seat, grade B: Connecting this seat took extra muscle, but once installed, it had ample room.
- Rear-facing convertible, grade B: Again, connection required muscle, but there was plenty of room.
- Forward-facing convertible, grade B: We raised the head restraint to get the convertible to sit flush with the seatback, as it should. Again, latch connection took muscle but we had no trouble finding and using the top tether anchors.
Skip It
- None
Grading Scale
Solid indicates an A grade for optimum ease of use and fit. So-So indicates B or C grades for one to two ease-of-use or fit issues. Skip It indicates D or F grades.
A: Plenty of room for the car seat and the child; doesn’t impact driver or front-passenger legroom. Easy to find and connect to Latch and tether anchors. No fit issues involving head restraint or seat contouring. Easy access to the third row.
B: One room, fit or connection issue. Some problems accessing third row when available.
C: Marginal room plus one fit or connection issue. Difficult to access third row when available.
D: Insufficient room, plus multiple fit or connection issues.
F: Does not fit or is unsafe.
About Cars.com’s Car Seat Checks
Editors Jennifer Geiger, Jennifer Newman and Matt Schmitz are certified child safety seat installation technicians.
For the Car Seat Check, we use a Graco SnugRide Classic Connect 30 infant-safety seat, a Britax Marathon convertible seat and Graco TurboBooster seat. The front seats are adjusted for a 6-foot driver and a shorter passenger. The three child seats are installed in the second row. The booster seat sits behind the driver’s seat, and the infant and convertible seats are installed behind the front passenger seat.
We also install the forward-facing convertible in the second row’s middle seat with the booster and infant seat in the outboard seats to see if three car seats will fit; a child sitting in the booster seat must be able to reach the seat belt buckle. If there’s a third row, we install the booster seat and a forward-facing convertible. Learn more about how we conduct our Car Seat Checks.
Parents should also remember that they can use the Latch system or a seat belt to install a car seat, and that Latch anchors have a weight limit of 65 pounds, including the weight of the child and the weight of the seat itself.
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