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Overall, Audi currently ranks 28th in dependability out of 32 car brands. You can expect a properly driven and maintained Audi to last 150,000-200,000 miles or 10 to 13 years. In general, Audis are known for their Quattro all-wheel-drive system, technology, style, performance, and well-crafted interiors.
The Audi brand’s roots go back to 1899, but it wasn’t until the late 1960s, when Volkswagen bought the company, that the cars began to make a name for themselves around the world. This high-performance vehicle has always been on the cutting edge.
The company began crash-testing more than 75 years ago—long before most manufacturers—and their first fully autonomous car completed the 20 kilometer Pikes Peak course, driverless, in 2010.
For all of its good points (and there are many), Audi’s dependability is not its strongest selling point. High performance often means high maintenance, and Audi is no exception.
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Find insurance savings (100% Free)Are Audis reliable?
Because it is considered a high-performance luxury vehicle, Audi is assumed to be a very dependable brand but in actuality, it ranks 28th out of 32 major brands in the world when it comes to dependability. And this may be okay.
What the car lacks in longevity it makes up for in engineering and performance. Audi owners may spend more on repairs, but the overall driving experience is still top-notch. In addition, Audi has come a long way in recent years in improving the dependability of their cars.
How many miles can an Audi last?
When driven responsibly and well-maintained, an Audi will give you 1500,000-200,000 miles of high-performance luxury.
How many years can an Audi last?
You can plan on having 10-13 years with your Audi, as long as you perform routine maintenance. But of course, there are a lot of factors that impact the lifespan of your car.
Road conditions, climate, and driving habits all make a difference—along with the Audi model that you select.
Key Takeaway Audi doesn’t score the highest when it comes to dependability, but it makes up for it with performance and style.
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Gifts for Audi owners
The most reliable Audi models
According to the 2021 J.D. Power Quality & Reliability Score, these are the Audis that top the list for reliability.
Audi Q3
This vehicle boasts a 5/5 NHTSA crash test rating. 2020 Best Buy Award winner for subcompact luxury SUVs.
2021 starting price: Starting at $35,095
True cost to own: $58,297
2021 J.D. Power Quality & Reliability Score: 77/100 (average)
Audi A4
The Audi A4 has been
recognized with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’sIIHS “TOP SAFETY PICK” designations
when equipped with available LED or Matrix-design LED headlights.2021 starting price: Starting at $40,145
True cost to own: N/A ($63,277 for 2020 model)
2021 J.D. Power Quality & Reliability Score: 74/100 (average)
Audi A6
This vehicle received
IIHS “TOP SAFETY PICK+”
, which is the highest rating awarded by the organization.2021 starting price: Starting at $55,945
True cost to own: N/A ($77,600 for 2020 model)
2021 J.D. Power Quality & Reliability Score: 69/100 (fair)
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The 5 characteristics of a reliable car insurance company
The least reliable Audi models
If your top priority is dependability, you may want to take these Audi models off your list of cars to buy.
Audi Q5
According to Repair Pal’s 2022 ratings, an Audi Q5 has a Reliability Rating of 3.0 out of 5.0, which ranks it 11th out of 14 for luxury midsize SUVs. The average annual repair cost is $928 which means that upkeep will likely be higher than average.
2021 starting price: Starting at $44,395
True cost to own: N/A ($65,873 for 2020 model)
2021 J.D. Power Quality & Reliability Score: 63/100 (fair)
Audi e-tron
Consumer Reports
gives the 2021 Audi e-Tron just a 1/5 for its predicted reliability. Although it has the lowest possible reliability score, the Audi e-Tron is still popular with consumers because of the great driving experience it offers.2021 starting price: Starting at $66,995
True cost to own: N/A
2021 J.D. Power Quality & Reliability Score: 62/100 (fair)
Key Takeaway An Audi is going to give you power, luxury, style, and comfort—but be prepared for high maintenance and repair costs.
How to make your Audi last longer
Stick to your maintenance schedule. When your car is running properly, it is easy to forget about regularly scheduled maintenance—but this is the single most important thing you can do to keep your car in the best condition for the longest time.
Don’t ignore issues. The check engine light is there for a reason. Getting the little things taken care of now means they don’t contribute to longer-term issues with your Audi.
Spring for quality oil. Oil really is the lifeblood of your car—when it is old or dirty, it will cause unnecessary wear on your engine parts.
Wash your car regularly. It may not seem that important, but keeping your whole car (including the undercarriage) clean prevents rust and other build-up on parts.
Don’t forget to warm up: Warming up your engine allows the cold oil that has settled in the oil pan to warm up and begin circulating through the engine. The best warm-up for your car is to allow the engine to idle for 30-60 seconds and then drive, keeping your RPMs low until the heater begins to blow warm air—then you can drive normally.
Cool down: Abruptly turning off a revved-up engine is hard on your bearings and other moving parts. This is especially true for turbocharged engines like the Audi A3.
Give it a workout: Take your Audi out on the open road and get your RPMs elevated. While you certainly shouldn’t do this all the time, doing it occasionally will help remove carbon deposits in your engine and improve the life of your car.
Lighten the load: Time to clean out the trunk! Minimize the amount of weight your car is carrying to protect your suspension, get better gas mileage, and extend the life of your vehicle.
MORE:
How to make your car last longer
How to find affordable Audi insurance
Finding some form of
car insurance
isn’t hard—but finding the right coverage at the cheapest price is not. If you own a high-performance vehicle, you are going to want high-performance car insurance!If you want to save money on car insurance, the
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This level of service is why Jerry earned a 4.6/5 rating on the App Store and made it the top insurance app in the country.
“Because I have a luxury car, I was more interested in finding better coverage than the exact price.
Jerry
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By Lynell Spencer
Updated on Jun 1, 2022
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff, Staff Editor.
- Are Audis reliable?
- The most reliable Audi models
- The least reliable Audi models
- How to make your Audi last longer
- How to find affordable Audi insurance
- FAQs
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Lynell Spencer is an insurance writer from Portland, OR. Prior to this role, her published work has focused on academic resources including reports, white papers, and textbook chapters. In her free time, Lynell has a shameless love of solving. Crosswords, sudoku, corn mazes...all puzzles are welcome! Her dream car is a 1980 International Scout Harvester.