Are Audis Good Cars?

Audi manufactures luxury vehicles and is based out of Germany; Audi is considered a subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group. Audi offers 14 different models, but the Audi A4 is the most popular model; in fact, the A4 is the eighth best selling luxury automobile on the market—31,965 models were sold in 2021.

While the A4 is incredibly popular with luxury buyers, are Audis good cars? Many buyers equate good cars with being safe. Audi models rank high for safety; the following 2022 models received a Top Safety Pick+ rating (the highest rating) from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

• Audi A6

• Audi A6 All Road

• Audi A7

• Audi Q5

• Audi Q5 Sportback

• Audi etron

• Audi etron Sportback

These Audi models scored a Top Safety Pick rating from IIHS; this is the second-highest safety honor:

• Audi Q8 (when equipped with specific headlights)

• Audi A4 (with specific headlights)

• Audi A5 Sportback (with specific headlights)

Audi and Dependability

When rating dependability or reliability, J.D. Power looks at the reviews and comments of car owners after three years. For this reason, when J.D. Power releases its top picks for dependability, the models are always three years old. For the 2021 dependability award, Audi models came up empty-handed.

However, while Audi didn’t receive the top spot in any category, its models received respectable scores across the board. Scores are out of 100; while 90s are rare scores, they do pop up for some top spots.

2018 Audi Q7

In the category for midsize premium SUV, the Audi Q7 took the top score for resale value. However, it was only given a 76 for quality and reliability and received a 79 as its overall rating. This bumped it down to the ninth spot—only three other vehicles scored lower than the Q7.

2018 Audi Q3

The Audi Q3 ranked second among small premium SUVs, but the competition only consisted of four vehicles. The Q3 received a 79 for resale value—tying with the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA (the category winner). For quality and reliability, the Q3 scored a 79 and received an overall score of 77. However, the Q3 scored the worst for driving experience (it only earned a 73).

2018 Audi A3

The A3 took the second spot for small premium car dependability. While there were only four contenders, the A3 scored well across all categories. It received an 88 for driving experience—the highest score for all contenders for this category. The A3 earned an 81 for resale value and quality/ reliability, too. The 2018 Audi A3’s overall score also was an 81.

2018 Audi Q5

The Audi Q5 took the eighth spot (out of 11) for dependability among compact premium SUVs. The Q5 received a total score of 79. It scored an 83 for resale value, an 82 for driving experience but only received a 76 for quality and reliability.

2018 Audi A4

The Audi A4 came in at fourth place for dependability among 14 other compact premium cars. The A4 received an overall score of 81. Its highest score was an 85 for quality and reliability. The A4 scored an 81 for resale value and an 80 for driving experience.

2018 Audi A5

The Audi A5 ranked ninth for dependability out of the 14 other compact premium cars. The A5 received a total score of 81. For resale value, it scored an 85 and for driving experience it received an 84. For quality and reliability, the A5 received a 79.

2018 Audi A6

The Audi A6 came in third place for dependability out of nine other midsize premium cars. The A6 received a total score of 80. For resale value, it scored an 81. For driving experience, the A6 received a 77. However, for quality and reliability, the A6 received a solid score of 82.

Audi: The Price of Premium

Audi models are considered luxury or premium vehicles. Their price points reflect this categorization. Audi models range in price from the mid $30K range to more than $100,000. Audi also offers electric and hybrid models for buyers who want eco-friendly options.

The Audi e-tron is the manufacturer’s electric model. It has a base price of $65,900 and an estimated range of 222 miles. The e-tron also is still eligible for a $7,500 tax credit.

Buyers who want an Audi for a lower price might find a deal shopping for pre-owned or used models. When shopping for used or pre-owned models, buyers might need to consider the age and mileage of the vehicle.

When safety is a top priority, buyers can research the safety rating of older Audi models by using the search tool available on the IIHS’ website. Buyers can review a model’s safety report to better understand any potential issues.

Are Audis Fuel Efficient?

When gas prices start to rise, fuel efficiency might be on the minds of car buyers. Every vehicle model typically offers different fuel efficiency figures.

The only vehicle brands that offer maximum energy-efficiency are those that only produce electric vehicles. However, even electric models vary in range, and, thus, energy efficiency.

In general, SUVs tend to be less efficient than smaller sedans. The electric e-tron might be the most energy efficient in the Audi lineup. The hybrid Audi Q5 plug-in was noted by Car and Driver as possibly being “the best Q5.” The plug-in can get up to 50 MPGe (when the battery is solidly charged).

Car buyers who have the budget for a premium automobile might not be too concerned about paying more for better fuel efficiency. While the standard Q5 costs $43,300, the PHEV is priced a bit higher at $52,995.

 However, when price isn’t an issue for the buyer, the savings from a high efficiency hybrid could save money over time. Fewer trips to the pump also can be an extra convenience for those who drive longer commutes.

Use Carzing to Find the Best Audi

Car buyers can use Carzing to search for a specific Audi model or to find the most affordable pre-owned Audi for their budget. Carzing lets buyers search by make/model, price or body type.

Buyers looking for a specific Audi model can choose to begin their search using the make/model option. Carzing will show all the available options, and buyers can choose to narrow their search using the toolbar to the left of the results.

Opt to disregard new models and only see pre-owned Audi models. Buyers also can sort their results by price, mileage, location, age, etc.

What if buyers want to see all the pre-owned Audi models in the area? Simply type “Audi” into the search tool. While the results might be numerous, buyers can use the toolbar to the left of their results to narrow down their options to include specific features, price, etc.

Carzing also lets buyers get pre-qualified for financing once they find the car they want. Getting pre-qualified helps buyers better understand their potential financing options. Choose the loan with the monthly payment that works best for the budget.

Buyers can print out a voucher with the details of their preferred financing to present to a participating dealership. When visiting the dealership, car buyers can complete the credit application, ask any questions they might have about the loan or the vehicle, and then, hopefully, finalize the deal.