10 Reliable Audis To Buy Used

Audi’s reputation has undergone a remarkable transformation. Once grouped alongside Volkswagen and Volvo as a solid but unremarkable mid-tier European brand, Audi has spent the past few decades climbing steadily into genuine luxury territory — driven by engineering ambition, a string of motorsport triumphs, and the enduring legend of the Quattro all-wheel-drive system. Today, the four-ring badge carries real prestige.

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A synonym for both performance and luxury, Audi now covers every corner of the premium market. While sedans and wagons remain the brand’s bread and butter, Audi has also produced some outstanding SUVs and coupes SUVs and even one excellent mid-engined supercar. One area where Audi hasn’t always excelled, however, is reliability. A number of models over the years have earned a reputation for serious dependability issues — and Audis as a whole tend to cost more than average to repair and maintain.

Not every Audi carries those reliability worries, though. In fact, some examples are quite the opposite. If you know where to look on the used market, you can find an Audi that will serve you faithfully for years to come.

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2010 Audi A6

J.D. Power Quality & Reliability Rating: 89/100

Specs

Reliability

• J.D. Power Quality & Reliability Rating: 89/100
• RepairPal Rating: 3.5/5
• Average Annual Maintenance Costs: $913 (RepairPal)
• Average Cost Of Maintenance Within The First 5 Years: $3,233 (CarEdge)
• Chance Of Major Repair Within The First 5 Years: 28% (CarEdge)

The Audi A6 has been one of Audi’s flagship models for decades. It’s a large executive car that traditionally slots between the A4 and the A8, offered as either a sedan or a wagon with a broad range of engine options. Back in 2010, buyers could choose anything from a 2.0-liter turbodiesel to a 4.2-liter V8 — and that’s before factoring in the S6 and RS6 variants, both of which used a Lamborghini-derived V10.

When it comes to reliability, the 2010 Audi A6 stands out as the strongest performer on this list. It nearly cracks the “best” category on J.D. Power’s Quality & Reliability Rating with a score of 89/100, and it carries a relatively low chance of requiring a major repair within the first five years. Maintenance costs are on the higher side, however — budget for close to $1,000 per year if you pick one up.

2013 Audi A4

J.D. Power Quality & Reliability Rating: 87/100

order_242 from Chile, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Specs

Reliability

• J.D. Power Quality & Reliability Rating: 87/100
• RepairPal Rating: 3.5/5
• Average Annual Maintenance Costs: $739 (RepairPal)
• Average Cost Of Maintenance Within The First 5 Years: $3,051 (CarEdge)
• Chance Of Major Repair Within The First 5 Years: 28% (CarEdge)

The Audi A4 is another of the brand’s core models. A compact sedan and wagon offering, the A4 is one of the few cars left that genuinely appeals to buyers who want a traditional family car rather than an SUV. Like the A6, it offers a wide variety of engines — some of which are shared across both models.

The 2013 model year is the most reliable A4 you can find on the used market. It scores very well on J.D. Power’s Quality & Reliability Rating, and its running costs are modest compared to other Audis on this list. With only a 28% chance of needing a major repair within the first five years, it’s a genuinely dependable choice. If you’re hunting for a reliable used Audi, the 2013 A4 deserves serious consideration.

2016 Audi TT

J.D. Power Rating: 87/100

Audi

Specs

Reliability

• J.D. Power Rating: 87/100
• RepairPal Rating: 3/5
• Average Annual Maintenance Costs: $924 (RepairPal)

The Audi TT often gets overlooked in conversations about small sports cars, and that’s a shame. It’s a genuinely compelling alternative to a Mazda MX-5 Miata or a Toyota GT86/Subaru BRZ from the same era. While it may not match the Miata for outright reliability or running costs, it delivers a noticeably more premium experience. Performance is strong too, with the most powerful standard TT producing 227 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque.

The 2016 Audi TT scores 87/100 on J.D. Power’s reliability surveys, placing it near the top of this list. It is one of the pricier Audis to maintain, averaging close to $950 per year. Even so, for a reliable, premium-feeling sports car, the TT is hard to beat at its used-market price point.

2017 Audi A5

J.D. Power Quality & Reliability Rating: 86/100

AUDI

Specs

Reliability

• J.D. Power Quality & Reliability Rating: 86/100
• RepairPal Rating: 3/5
• Average Annual Maintenance Costs: $887 (RepairPal)
• Average Cost Of Maintenance Within The First 5 Years: $3,246 (CarEdge)
• Chance Of Major Repair Within The First 5 Years: 29% (CarEdge)

The Audi A5 is the brand’s luxury grand tourer. Sharing its platform and many components with the A4, it strikes a pleasing balance between comfort and sportiness. Engine choices are wide-ranging — from a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged petrol to a 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel that produces a very respectable 282 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque.

The 2017 Audi A5 is impressively reliable for a grand tourer. It’s also not the most expensive Audi of its era to keep on the road, with average annual maintenance costs coming in under $900.

2016 Audi A4

J.D. Power Quality & Reliability Rating: 85/100

Specs

Reliability

• J.D. Power Quality & Reliability Rating: 85/100
• RepairPal Rating: 3.5/5
• Average Annual Maintenance Costs: $739 (RepairPal)
• Average Cost Of Maintenance Within The First 5 Years: $3,051 (CarEdge)
• Chance Of Major Repair Within The First 5 Years: 28% (CarEdge)

The second of three A4 model years on this list, the 2016 edition is another standout for used-car reliability. This is the B9 generation, which brought meaningful changes including a move to Audi’s newer MLB platform and a refreshed — though still generously varied — engine lineup.

The 2016 Audi A4 earned a solid 85/100 on J.D. Power’s Quality & Reliability Rating. It’s also relatively affordable to maintain for an Audi, at $739 per year according to RepairPal. Like the 2013 A4 before it, the 2016 model is well worth considering if you want a dependable used Audi.

2018 Audi A4

J.D. Power Quality & Reliability Rating: 85/100

Specs

Reliability

• J.D. Power Quality & Reliability Rating: 85/100
• RepairPal Rating: 3.5/5
• Average Annual Maintenance Costs: $739 (RepairPal)
• Average Cost Of Maintenance Within The First 5 Years: $3,051 (CarEdge)
• Chance Of Major Repair Within The First 5 Years: 28% (CarEdge)

The 2018 model year Audi A4 is the third and final A4 on this list. It belongs to the same B9 generation as the 2016 model, predating the 2020 facelift, so the specifications are essentially identical — including the full spread of engine options that ensures there’s an A4 to suit almost any buyer.

The Audi A4 was named the most reliable car of 2019 by Fleet News. It’s no surprise, then, that the 2018 model year ranks among the most dependable used Audis available. It scores well in J.D. Power’s reliability surveys, and repair costs are consistent with the other A4 years on this list. The A4 is clearly a prime choice for anyone who wants a reliable Audi.

2017 Audi A6

J.D. Power Quality & Reliability Rating: 85/100

Specs

Reliability

• J.D. Power Quality & Reliability Rating: 85/100
• RepairPal Rating: 3.5/5
• Average Annual Maintenance Costs: $913 (RepairPal)
• Average Cost Of Maintenance Within The First 5 Years: $3,233 (CarEdge)
• Chance Of Major Repair Within The First 5 Years: 28% (CarEdge)

The 2010 model year Audi A6 isn’t the only reliably solid A6 on the used market. The 2017 model year is a strong performer as well. It was the final year of the C7 generation — the successor to the C6 sold in 2010 — making it a more modern car with a broader, more fuel-efficient engine range.

The 2017 Audi A6 scores 85/100 on J.D. Power’s Quality & Reliability Rating, a notch below the 2010 model, and maintenance costs are similarly elevated. That said, it remains a capable and dependable executive car, and the many satisfied owners out there suggest you’re unlikely to be disappointed.

2016 Audi A3

J.D. Power Quality & Reliability Rating: 83/100

Audi

Specs

Reliability

• J.D. Power Quality & Reliability Rating: 83/100
• RepairPal Rating: 3.5/5
• Average Annual Maintenance Costs: $741 (RepairPal)
• Average Cost Of Maintenance Within The First 5 Years: $2,998 (CarEdge)
• Chance Of Major Repair Within The First 5 Years: 28% (CarEdge)

The Audi A3 is one of the most commonly spotted Audis on the road. Built on the same platform as the Volkswagen Golf, it’s designed as a more upmarket alternative to that car. Over its lifetime it has been offered in several body styles, including a hatchback, a sedan, and a Sportback station wagon.

The 2016 model year is the most reliable A3 available on the used market. It scores 83/100 on J.D. Power’s Quality & Reliability rating, carries only a 28% chance of needing a major repair within the first five years, and costs just under $750 per year to maintain on average — making it one of the more affordable Audis on this list to run.

2018 Audi A3

J.D. Power Quality & Reliability Rating: 81/100

Specs

Reliability

• J.D. Power Quality & Reliability Rating: 81/100
• RepairPal Rating: 3.5/5
• Average Annual Maintenance Costs: $741 (RepairPal)
• Average Cost Of Maintenance Within The First 5 Years: $2,998 (CarEdge)
• Chance Of Major Repair Within The First 5 Years: 28% (CarEdge)

The second Audi A3 on this list, the 2018 model year comes from the same generation as the 2016. That means it shares the same body style options and most of the same engines — the main difference being that a few engine variants were dropped for 2018.

The 2018 A3 is marginally less reliable than the 2016, scoring 81/100 on J.D. Power’s Quality & Reliability rating, though annual maintenance costs are virtually identical. Either model year makes for a solid, reliable used Audi — whichever year you land on, you’re getting a very similar ownership experience.

2019 Audi Q5

J.D. Power Quality & Reliability Rating: 76/100

guideautoweb.com

Specs

Reliability

• J.D. Power Quality & Reliability Rating: 76/100
• RepairPal Rating: 3/5
• Average Annual Maintenance Costs: $928 (RepairPal)
• Average Cost Of Maintenance Within The First 5 Years: $4,080 (CarEdge)
• Chance Of Major Repair Within The First 5 Years: 37% (CarEdge)

The final entry on this list is also the only SUV to appear here. The Audi Q5 has become a cornerstone of the brand’s lineup since its introduction, and it’s widely regarded as one of the best SUVs in its class — new or used.

The 2019 Audi Q5 is the least reliable car on this list, with a J.D. Power Quality & Reliability Rating of 76/100 and maintenance costs that lean toward the higher end. Even so, it holds its own in reliability terms for an Audi, and the model’s broad popularity and strong owner satisfaction make it well worth a look for anyone in the market for a used premium SUV.

Sources: Audi, CarEdge, J.D. Power, RepairPal