Are Audis Good Cars? (Are They Reliable)

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When you talk of the top five luxury car brands in the world, you’d definitely mention Audi in that top list. Yes, Audi is one of the pacesetters in the luxury car segments; it is also one of the top best German automotive brands.

But, Audi cars’ reliability has been an everyday argument in most automobile forums. Are Audis good cars?

Generally, yes, Audis are good cars. Audi builds cars with top-of-the-class technologies and sophisticated in-car hi-tech features. But if we break it down into different aspects, typically, Audi cars are not so reliable as they seem – and that is quite normal with German luxury car brands, including BMW.

Audi Cars Overview

Audi earned its “legendary” status pretty long ago – in the early- and -mid-90s. The Audi brand was first founded in 1909 by August Horch, which means the company has lasted for more than a century – well old enough to perfect its technologies, improve in design builds, and come out with ecstatic aesthetics.

Over the years, Audi has had many cars that ranked among the best sellers in different countries. Some very popular Audi models include the A3, A8, Q7, RS4, and many others. Audi’s most popular lines are its A-series and Q-series; these series have some of the incredibly stunning and highly powered Audi models.

The German luxury carmaker manufactures a wide variety of car types; its products include coupes, convertibles, sedans, SUVs, EVs, and hybrids. Audi cars are spectacular with their unique design.

Currently, Audi is a subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group, and even as a subsidiary, it still owns a number of auto brands. Audi is headquartered in Ingolstadt, Germany.

Typical of luxury cars from German brands, Audi’s engine setup is quite complex; only trained and certified Audi engineers can disassemble and reassemble the engine if there is any need for such operations – maybe during parts replacement, maintenance, or servicing.

You’d most definitely fall in love with Audi cars if you get to drive in one.

Are Audis Good Cars?

Well, from a wide perspective – and also looking at verified online reviews – Audis are a good car to own if you’re a lover of luxury vehicles and wouldn’t mind breaking the bank to get one.

Asides from the aesthetically appealing exteriors, Audis has lavishly furnished interiors completed with premium technologies and features.

We agreeing to Audis being great cars isn’t based on the sentimental notion that “German cars are the best,” instead, our stance is based on feedback from people who own and drive Audis, complaints received for many Audi vehicle models, and the brand’s market position.

Whether you’re looking for a luxury sedan, SUV, coupe, or hatchback, Audi has them all.

The German carmaker uses patented technologies in its vehicles and also equipped the base models with quite a plethora of advanced driver-assist technologies and safety features.

But then, Audis are quite expensive to maintain; you’d spend around $900 per year on regular maintenance (repairs and parts replacement costs not inclusive).

High maintenance costs and complex systems are some of the reasons quite a number of people run away from Audi cars, but what other brand would you buy instead? Mercedes or BMW? Well, these brands make “sweet” cars but Audis comes with much better designs that appear sleeker and yet classy.

Common Audi Problems

Yes, Audi cars are not perfect, they typically have issues you may not be comfortable dealing with – always. So, it is important that you know the common problems you could face with an Audi model.

These issues listed below were indicated by Audi owners in forums and platforms like CarComplaints and ConsumerReports.

Well, not all Audi owners experience these problems – with proper maintenance and consistent routine checks, most of these issues can be avoided. Audi is expensive to maintain, you would have spent over $10,000 on maintenance and repairs for the first 10 years of owning an Audi model.

Audi Reliability

When it comes to reliability, luxury cars (except Lexus and Acura) typically rank low – and German luxury cars seem to have the worst scores/ratings even.

What does that hint at? Audi’s reliability score and rating across reputable car rating websites are poor, but quite above average on RepairPal and JD Power.

According to RepairPal, Audi’s overall reliability rating is 3.0 out of 5.0, which put it in the 28th position out of 32 for all car brands in its category. RepairPal announced that it check about 345 unique Audi models to come up with this rating, and also the average annual repair cost for an Audi is $987.

According to JD Power’s analysis, most Audi models have a “Fair” rating, which means they score below 70 out of 100. It is only a few models scored above 70, which means “Average.”

So to say, JD Power gives Audi an overall “Fair” score in terms of reliability. That’s not surprising, German luxury cars typically have poor reliability ratings.

Are Audis Overpriced?

Luxury cars are called “Luxury cars” for some reasons, and those reasons are why they are more expensive than other cars not categorized in the luxury segment.

Audi models are not really overpriced, they’re priced competitively and quite cheaper than Mercedes. You’d find brand new Audi models priced around $35k for the base/standard trims, while higher/premium trims cost up to $60k.

How Long Do Audis Last?

With proper care and routine maintenance, expect your new Audi model to last up to 15 years or 250,000 miles. Notwithstanding, you’d most likely have one or more major repairs done on the car within this speculated time frame.

Can You Take An Audi To A Regular Mechanic?

Now, this is one of the cons of buying a German luxury car; not all mechanics understand the engine structure. So to say, you cannot have a regular mechanic fix your Audi car.

Audi cars are worked on by Audi mechanics; these are mechanics who are trained in the engine structure of Audi models. Due to this, the cost of fixing an issue in an Audi is quite high – only a few mechanics can handle the fixing.

What is Special About Audis?

You have to give it all to Audi when it comes to technology and style; the brand simply knows how to build cars that will appeal to anyone.

Consumer Reports admits that Audi is best in “technology and style,” “performance,” and “well-crafted interiors.” Barely will you see an Audi model without a solid engine and a high-grade interior.

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