Audi’s reliability as a manufacturer ranks 34th out of 40 on the Reliability Index, which shows that it is significantly below average. Mercedes-Benz and BMW, the other two significant German luxury automakers, do not much better, coming in at 30th and 31st, respectively.
On the other end of the scale are the dependable Japanese automakers Honda, Toyota, and Nissan, as well as the Korean automakers Hyundai and Kia. These automakers demonstrate their trust in the strength of their vehicles by providing warranties that are substantially longer, lasting 5 or 7 years.
The J.D. Power 2019 UK Vehicle Dependability Study, which evaluates manufacturers by “issues per 100 vehicles,” supports this subpar performance. They compiled feedback from 11,530 owners of newly registered vehicles between November 2015 and January 2018 and counted the problems they encountered between 12 and 36 months after buying the car. With 167 faults per 100 vehicles compared to an industry average of 119, Audi ranks 22nd out of 24 manufacturers. Peugeot takes first place with just a 77.
Consumer Reports presents a significantly more favorable picture. Audi has dropped three spots to seventh place in the 2019 Consumer Reports manufacturer dependability rankings, with an average reliability score of 60% and its most and least reliable models being the Audi Q5 and Audi A3 Saloon, respectively. Even if this study only takes into account 29 manufacturers, some of which are American (thought to be the polar opposite of “German engineering!”) this is still a much better outcome than in other studies.
These contradictory statistics make it impossible to determine whether or not Audi is one of the least dependable automakers. It’s probably more helpful to consider the typical issues that Audi vehicles experience as well as the cost of repairs.
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Is purchasing an Audi worthwhile?
The Drive states that the average Audi’s total maintenance expenses over a 10-year period are $12,400. For comparison, the 10-year averages for popular brands like Toyota, Ford, and Honda are $5,500, $9,100, and $7,200, respectively.
In the end, Audis cost more to maintain than the ordinary automobile for a number of reasons. You can anticipate greater charges for routine maintenance and some parts if you own an Audi. In addition to being more expensive to repair in general, Audi parts in particular are more expensive.
The upside to this is that they are more dependable than the ordinary car. Audis are reputed to be more dependable when it comes to new cars, but they do have a tendency to develop problems over time, which can be more expensive to replace.
Another thing to think about is insurance. Many Audis cost more to insure than the ordinary car due to their higher level of luxury. A typical year of insurance for an Audi costs $1,606 (USD), which is 36% more than the national average. Additionally, the cost of insurance varies across different models.
Due to the fact that Audi is a European brand, there are fewer parts available, which contributes significantly to the higher insurance costs.
Do Audis frequently experience issues?
Everyone is aware that effective marketing can enable someone to sell sand in the Sahara. In order to obtain useful insight into the attitudes and trends in the automotive sector, Warrantywise, the top-rated provider of vehicle warranties in the UK, conducts a thorough amount of research and polls.
Warrantywise polled 750 British drivers to find out which automakers they considered to be the most dependable, and Audi made it into the top 10. Audi actually placed 28th out of 36 brands on their “Dependability Rating” scale for reliability in 2019. Based on the quantity of reported problems and breakdowns, they determined the rating.
Website for auto repair estimates RepairPal determines each brand’s overall score by calculating the frequency and cost of all repairs, including parts and labor. Audi received an average rating of 3.0 out of 5.0 at the time of writing. However, out of 32 car brands, that places the firm in 28th place.
Are Audi vehicles durable?
Out of 32 automotive manufactures, Audi is presently ranked 28th in terms of dependability. A well driven and maintained Audi should last between 10 and 13 years, or 150,000 to 200,000 kilometres. Audis are renowned for their technology, style, performance, and beautifully designed interiors. They also have an all-wheel drive system called Quattro.
Although the Audi brand dates back to 1899, it wasn’t until Volkswagen acquired the company in the late 1960s that the automobiles started to become well-known internationally. This fast car has always been at the forefront of technology.
Long before other automakers, the business started conducting crash tests, and in 2010, their first completely autonomous car successfully completed the 20-kilometer Pikes Peak circuit without a driver.
Despite the fact that Audi has many positive qualities, its dependability is not one of them. Audi is not an exception to the rule that high performance requires hefty upkeep.
How reliable is an Audi?
In the Auto Bild, Audi is the clear winner “Reader survey on the Best Brands in All Classes. In the quality examination, the four rings triumphed seven times individually and easily won. Additionally, Audi won first place in the price/performance and design “Image field for dependable cars. No brand outperformed it in the image survey’s primary criteria, in which over 70,000 readers took part.
Is BMW superior to Audi?
Whether you purchase a luxury or non-luxury vehicle, safety is always a top priority. Likewise, handling and dependability.
Safety features decrease the likelihood of a collision, which could result in cheaper insurance costs; they may also make a vehicle easier to drive. A car’s reliability makes it less likely to break down, lowering the risk of accidents and potential repair costs. Which is therefore superior, Audi or BMW, in these two areas?
It should not be a surprise that both of these luxury automakers put safety first in order to satisfy their customers. Both brands offer a wide range of features for their many automobile types, with the majority of Audi vehicles using the Pre Sense Suite and BMW models using the BMW Active Guard.
Blind-spot monitoring and lane-departure warnings are frequently provided by both brands. Cruise control, parking assistance, and hill-start assistance are further features. These automakers have received multiple honors for their emphasis on safety, and in 2021, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded Audi its Top Safety Pick designation for its A6 vehicle. For its 2020 BMW X3 Series, BMW has been named the Top Safety Pick.
BMW’s vehicles are built to provide the best driving experience possible, frequently outperforming Audi in handling. Because of their overall stronger suspension systems that promote a smooth, pleasant ride, Audi vehicles are significantly less agile than BMW vehicles. BMW is routinely ranked higher for reliability.
Why are used Audi so affordable?
Despite having superb engineering, used Audis are quite affordable. They qualify as luxury vehicles, which is why this is the case. Luxury automobiles frequently depreciate over time. Due to the high cost of parts, repairs, and replacement of high-end features, fewer people buy used luxury cars.
Nevertheless, if you keep a few things in mind, purchasing a used Audi could be a smart alternative for you. The Audi is unique for its engineering, design, and longevity.
Which is superior, Mercedes or Audi?
Audi is a clear choice when it comes to performance and dependability since Mercedes only offers all-wheel drive on a few of its models while Audi is all about it. Speaking of which, in a road test conducted by Consumer Reports, Audi defeated Mercedes as the most dependable brand.
FAQ: Audi Maintenance Cost
Audis are expensive to maintain as vehicles. The average annual cost of an Audi repair, according to RepairPal, is $987. This is significantly more than the $652 average across all brands. Because Audis are luxury automobiles and employ pricey speciality parts, their routine maintenance expenses are also probably a little more than those of most other types.
If maintained properly, almost any car, even an Audi, may last for many years. Audi owners claim to have kept their cars for up to 150,000 miles.
Audi automobiles do not include maintenance for nothing. Customers can, however, purchase Audi prepaid maintenance contracts. Some Audi dealers might provide free vehicle maintenance protection.
Why are Audi vehicles such a hazard?
From the small Audi A1 Sportback to the spacious Audi Q7 SUV, Audi provides a wide variety of automobiles. They’ve also experimented with hybrid and electric vehicles, with the Audi E-Tron Sportback being praised as a strong entry into the field of green vehicles.
Audi’s share a lot of its architecture and underpinnings with Volkswagen, though high-tech features and cabin materials are entirely unique to Audi.
But does that imply that Audi automobiles are prone to the same problems as VWs? In our post comparing the Audi S3 and Volkswagen Golf R, you can see how the two stack up.
Will you discover the same problems if you only look at Audi, from the most popular Audi A4 Saloon to high-performance sports cars like the Audi R8 Coupe?
The data below, which comes from Reliability Index, shows the different problem types that Audi owners report, how much of the total number of defects they make up, and how Audi stacks up against other manufacturers in each category.
- 16th place, 2.43 percent, was air conditioning.
- Fifth, 14.10 percent: Axle and Suspension
- System of Brakes: 7th, 3.56 percent
- System for cooling and heating: 31st, 7.83 percent
- 29th place, 23.13 percent: electrical
- 39th, 30.21 percent for the engine
- 28th, 7.10 percent: Fuel System
- 23rd, 6.06 percent: gearbox
- System for steering – seventh, 2.85 percent
- 20th place for transmission, 2.74 percent
The engine, cooling and heating system, electrical components, and fuel system seem to be the most frequently affected systems. We may perhaps explain why Audi receives lower marks for things like electrical components, despite the fact that these are some of the most expensive items to fix.
When compared to Skoda and Vauxhall, Audi delivers a ton more functionality. They provide a fairly extensive infotainment system with sat-nav and various touch screens, similar to many other luxury brands. The number of potential problems increases if you include features like cruise control, driver safety systems, and all the cameras, sensors, electrically operated seats, and other bells and whistles that the best new cars from these luxury companies come equipped with. Audi outperforms all other top luxury automobile manufacturers (apart from Jaguar) in this category, including Porsche, Volvo, Aston Martin, and Mercedes.
Does Audi maintain its value?
In comparison to Audi’s SUVs, tiny cars, and performance vehicles, bigger sedans should lose less of their initial value after five years. The least valuable vehicle in the range, the 2021 A8 plug-in hybrid sedan, is predicted to retain just 34.1% of its worth, while the TT Coupe and Convertible are expected to retain 49.3 and 49%, respectively, of their value after five years. After five years, the average of the full range equals an estimated 45.7% retained value.
Land Rover46.9 Percent Retained Value (after five years)
You can rely on Land Rover to provide SUVs with true all-terrain capabilities, refinement, and flair. They reportedly also resist sharp depreciation. With a predicted resale value of 49.6%, the midsize three-row Discovery from the British manufacturerspecifically, the R-Dynamic P360 model with the turbocharged inline-six powertraindepreciates the least among its 2021 range mates. Range Rovers don’t hold their worth as well, but 469.9% of the value of the Land Rover lineup is anticipated to be retained.
Volvo47.2 Percent Retained Value (after five years)
The retained values of Volvo automobiles and SUVs varied significantly. It is anticipated that no 2021 Volvo sedan or wagon will retain more than 42.5 percent of its initial value after five years, and most will retain less than 40 percent. On the other hand, after five years, every Volvo SUV save the XC40 Recharge EV retains more than 45% of its original value. The XC90, Volvo’s largest and oldest SUV, retains a staggering 50.8 percent of its value when it is powered by the T6 twin-charged inline four-cylinder engine, according to IntelliChoice.
Mercedes-Benz47.2 Percent Retained Value (after five years)
Only a small number of Mercedes’ many models are expected to retain less than 40% of their initial worth after five years. Among the vehicles whose depreciation is anticipated to be the greatest in 2021 are S-Class automobiles, AMG GT 4-Door Coupes, and the Maybach GLS SUV. The German brand, on the other hand, has a large number of entries that retain at least 50% of their initial worth. The GLA, GLB, and GLC SUVs as well as the C63 AMG Coupe and E63 AMG Wagon maintain their value the best. The GLC300 Coupe, which is anticipated to retain 53.3% of its initial value, is the best-performing Benz in terms of resale value after five years.
Lexus53.2 Percent Retained Value (after five years)
Because Lexus shares Toyota’s reputation for dependability, this may contribute to the high value of its cars. In fact, IntelliChoice has recognized the ES300h hybrid midsize sedan, IS350 compact sedan, RC350 coupe, and RX350 midsize SUV as Lexus models with the highest retained values for 2021. Every 2021 Lexus is anticipated to keep at least 48% of its initial value after five years, with the LS500 being the sole exception (which is more than the national average).
Porsche58.0 Percent Retained Value (after five years)
Models like the 2021 911, Cayman/Boxster, Macan, and Cayenne are expected to retain more than 50%, and frequently 60%, of their initial value after five years. The employment of alternative propulsion systems is a feature shared by the Porsche vehicles predicted to lose the most value. The Taycan EV is the 2021 Porsche forecast to have the lowest maintained value: just 46.3 percent. All 2021 Cayenne and Cayenne Coupe E-Hybrids are expected to keep less than 49.6 percent of the initial value. But those automobiles are but a drop in the ocean. Porsche’s resale prices remain high because to the quantity of sturdy gas burners.