Audi remains the Volkswagen Group’s luxurious battering ram intent on disrupting the likes of BMW and Mercedes-Benz across global markets. However, Audi began life in 1909, and by 1932 the automaker became a part of Auto Union, a collaboration between four separate auto brands, Audi, Horch, DKW, and Wanderer – hence the four rings in its badge. While Auto Union is no more, Audi remains a crucial component within the Volkswagen Group umbrella. In fact, Audi was the first brand absorbed by the ever-dependable Volkswagen Group in 1969.

Being a part of the Volkswagen Group has seen Audi’s reputation skyrocket thanks to the incredibly reliable practices incorporated by the German manufacturer, and now it's one of the most reliable car brands. Your average Audi product costs $13,222 to repair and maintain during the car's first 10 years of operation, which is quite low for luxury cars. This figure puts them far ahead of BMW, who commanded an average of $19,312 over the same period! However, for those who can't sink $50,000 on the latest Audi A5, what are the most reliable Audi cars lurking on the used market?

UPDATE: 2024/03/19 23:12 EST BY MARTIN PETER

How we made our model selections: HotCars analyzed all used Audi models and assessed them based on their J.D. Power Quality & Reliability ratings and CarEdge and RepairPal maintenance cost estimates. For further insights, used prices from Edmunds were also included. All included models were then sorted according to their total J.D. Power scores, from lowest to highest.

12 2010 Audi Q5 (8R): 81/100

Audi’s burly Q5 arrived in 2008 upon the “MLB Platform,” which housed both the Audi A4 and Audi A5. By 2010, customers of the luxury compact SUV could purchase the 3.2-liter V6 variant, giving the bulbous brute 270 hp and 243 lb-ft of torque, all manipulated via Audis sturdy Quattro AWD system.

The V6-powered Q5 goes from 0-60 in 6.7 seconds, not bad for a 4,100-lb SUV filled to the brim with luxury tech. However, power aside, the 2010 Audi Q5 marks a sweet spot regarding reliability. Audi's 2010 SUV scores 81/100 for quality and reliability, making it the most reliable Audi Q5 model year regarding the Typ 8R generation (2008-2017). Audis' reliable SUV is also among the best cheap used luxury SUVs, with prices under $10,000 today according to Edmunds – a far cry from the $40,000 price tag back in 2010.

2010 Audi Q5 Reliability

• JD Power Quality And Reliability Score: 81/100
• Avg. Yearly Maintenance Cost: $778 (RepairPal)
• Est. Maintenance Costs During First 10 Years: $12,068 (CarEdge)

11 2017 Audi Q5 (80A): 82/100

2017 saw Audi launch the second generation Q5, the Audi Q5 Typ 80A. By 2017 Audi had uprated the Q5 with SQ5 trim levels sporting both a 3.0-liter TFSI and TDI engine options, making the TDI the first “S '' trim Audi to sport a diesel engine. While both SQ5 formats developed around 340-350 hp, the SQ5 TDI produced a whopping 516 lb-ft of torque, dwarfing the 369 lb-ft generated by its petrol-powered cousin.

However, what’s more important is reliability. 2017 marks the most reliable year for the Audi Q5 80A, scoring a respectable 82/100 for quality and reliability as Audi refreshed the burly lineup. In fact, the Audi Q5 Typ 80A remains in production today, costing owners an average of $12,068 regarding maintenance and repairs over the vehicle's first 10 years. The industry average for a luxury SUV is $15,714.

2017 Audi Q5 Reliability

• JD Power Quality And Reliability Score: 82/100
• Avg. Yearly Maintenance Cost: $802 (RepairPal)
• Est. Maintenance Costs During First 10 Years: $12,068 (CarEdge)

10 2016 Audi A3 (8V): 83/100

The 2016 Audi A3 arrives with a stunning 83/100 quality and reliability score from J.D. Power. Audi's 2016 hatchback entered its third generation, seeing the Audi A3 e-tron PHEV added to the lineup, alongside a debut for the Audi A3 sedan.

The German automaker's third-generation A3 finished in the top three “small premium cars” of 2016, slightly losing out to the BMW 2-Series and Mercedes-Benz CLA. However, the reliable little 2016 Audi A3 costs up to $19,990 on today's used market as per Edmunds' estimations, making it a bargain.

2016 Audi A3 Reliability

• JD Power Quality And Reliability Score: 83/100
• Avg. Yearly Maintenance Costs: $746 (RepairPal)
• Est. Maintenance Costs During First 10 Years: $9,035 (CarEdge)

9 2016 Audi A6 (4G): 83/100

Though the A6 was still among Audi's most popular models in 2015, it really needed a facelift as the fourth-generation version was getting old. Audi realized this and got to work, giving the A6 a facelift in 2105 that included changes to some exterior design cues, engine options, transmission system, and the infotainment system. Audi also added some advanced features to help the A6 keep up with domestic rivals like the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and BMW 5 Series, including handwriting recognition, advanced Matrix LED headlights, and the Audi Connect Telematics system with 4G mobile internet.

As for reliability, the 2016 A3 had some improvements compared to pre-facelift models that helped it earn a J.D. Power reliability score of 83/100. According to Edmunds, the 2016 A3 is a German luxury sedan bargain with a starting used price of $16,279.

2016 Audi A6 Reliability

• JD Power Quality And Reliability Score: 83/100
• Avg. Yearly Maintenance Costs: $1,002 (RepairPal)
• Est. Maintenance Costs During First 10 Years: $9,252 (CarEdge)

8 2023 Audi A3 (8Y): 84/100

Audi launched the fourth generation Typ 8y A3 in 2020. The 2020 Audi A3 took design inspiration from a somewhat unexpected cousin, Lamborghini. The VAG group incorporated sharp lines alongside a familiar Y-shaped headlight aesthetic found on their Italian-bred supercars for the Audi A3, giving their new hatchback a signature angry puppy look.

The ever-dependable Audi A3 8y remains in production today, costing owners an average of $9,035 in repairs and maintenance over the vehicle's first 10 years, beating the luxury sedan average by nearly $3,000 over the same period! The 2023 model is the most reliable of the 8Y A3 model years, as it earned a J.D. Power reliability score of 84/100.

2023 Audi A3 Reliability

• JD Power Quality And Reliability Score: 84/100
• Avg. Yearly Maintenance Costs: $741 (RepairPal)
• Est. Maintenance Costs During First 10 Years: $9,035 (CarEdge)​​​

7 2018 Audi A4 (B9): 85/100

According to CarEdge, the Audi A4 B9 costs owners an average of $9,054 in maintenance and repairs over the car's first 10 years, beating the industry average for a luxury sedan by around $2,000 over the same period. However, the proper sweet spot for the fifth-generation Audi A4 arrived in 2018, scoring a whopping 85/100 for quality and reliability with J.D. Power, ultimately finishing in the top three compact premium cars of 2018.

Being a VAG product, the 2018 Audi A4 B9 arrives with a multitude of turbocharged engines, from a 148 hp inline-four to the tarmac shredding 3.0-liter V6 found on the Audi S4 developing 345 hp and 516 lb-ft.

2018 Audi A4 Reliability

• JD Power Quality And Reliability Score: 85/100
• Avg. Yearly Maintenance Costs: $739 (RepairPal)
• Est. Maintenance Costs During First 10 Years: $9,054 (CarEdge)

6 2014 Audi A7: 85/100

Audi's polarizing A7 arrived in 2010 as an indirect successor to the 1976 Audi 100 Coupe S, featuring a controversial “liftback” design mated to the existing MLB platform. Technically, the Audi A7 is the wacky version of the Audi A6 executive sedan, which went on sale for an equally wacky $70,000 between 2010-2018.

Luckily, well-heeled gearheads of today can purchase the 2014 Audi A7 for $24,990 to $28,990 according to Edmunds. For that money, you're getting the most reliable iteration of the burly sedan, which scored an incredible 85/100 for quality and reliability with J.D. Power. However, What's more interesting is how the 2014 Audi A7 competes today: the German sedan arrives with cutting-edge tech such as “active lane assist,” which happily assumes control of braking and accelerating, even guiding the vehicle back in lane automatically. Not bad for just under $30,000.

2014 Audi A7 Reliability

• JD Power Quality And Reliability Score: 85/100
• Avg. Yearly Maintenance Costs: $1,283 (RepairPal)
• Est. Maintenance Costs During First 10 Years: $9,824 (CarEdge)

5 2015 Audi Q3: 85/100

Audi unleashed the first generation Q3 in 2011, exploiting the global obsession with compact SUVs. The company's entry-level SUV scored a phenomenal 5-star safety rating with the NHTSA for the 2015 model year, just before Audi introduced a mid-life refresh in 2016.

The 2015 Audi SUV proves a sweet spot for those looking for a reliable Audi, scoring an 85/100 quality and reliability rating with J.D. Power, placing the cheap German SUV far above the 2016 BMW X1 and Mercedes-Benz GLA during the same model year. A used 2015 Audi Q3 costs as low as $14,442, according to Edmunds, far below the $17,000 minimum valuation for a used 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA.

2015 Audi Q3 Reliability

• JD Power Quality And Reliability Score: 85/100
• Avg. Yearly Maintenance Costs: $885 (RepairPal)
• Est. Maintenance Cost During First 10 Years: $11,843 (CarEdge)

4 2016 Audi A7: 85/100

In 2015, the first-generation A7 was already 5 years old and starting to show signs of aging, which is why Audi decided to give it a facelift. Some of the key changes included a few styling tweaks, an upgraded infotainment system, Audi Connect telematics with 4G internet, Adaptive glare-free Matric LED headlights, and an upgraded Night Vision Assistant that could recognize animals.

Things stayed the same under the hood, but the A7's engines now met the Euro 6 emission standards. In 2016, the face-lifted A7 received a strong J.D. Power Quality and Reliability score of 85/100, which was repeated with the 2017 model. If you're looking for one of the best luxury cars under $30,000, the 2016 A7 is it.

2016 Audi A7 Reliability

• JD Power Quality And Reliability Score: 85/100
• Avg. Yearly Maintenance Costs: $1,185 (RepairPal)
• Est. Maintenance Costs During First 10 Years: $9,824 (CarEdge)

3 2015 Audi A5: 87/100

Audi’s 2015 A5 arrived at the end of the nameplate's first generation costing owners a minimum of $40,000 when new. On launch in 2007, the Audi A5 marked the German automakers' return to the compact executive coupe market, a territory untraveled by Audi since the demise of the Audi 80 back in 1996.

The 2015 Audi A5 marks one of the most reliable German cars you can buy on the used market, scoring a whopping 87/100 for quality and reliability. The 2015 A5 has also plummeted in price, costing as low as $20,990, according to Edmunds. This will likely land consumers with a base 1.8-liter TFSI model, which develops a punchy 167 hp from the VAG four-pot.

2015 Audi A5 Reliability

• JD Power Quality And Reliability Score: 87/100
• Avg. Yearly Maintenance Costs: $827 (RepairPal)
• Est. Maintenance Costs During First 10 Years: $8,687 (CarEdge)

2 2013 Audi A4 (B8): 87/100

Running between 2008-2016, the fifth-gen Audi A4 (B8) scores a maximum of 87/100 for quality and reliability, a rating achieved by the 2013 model year. The 2013 car is the highest-scoring model year throughout the Audi A4s' lengthy, nearly 30-year lifespan.

Prices for the 2013 Audi A4 can fall as low as $15,990, according to Edmunds, with customers having a typically vast choice of engine options ranging from a 1.8-liter four-pot up to Audi’s fire-breathing 444 hp 4.2-liter V8 found lurking within the flagship Audi RS4.

2013 Audi A4 Reliability

• JD Power Quality And Reliability Score: 87/100
• Avg. Yearly Maintenance Costs: $828 (RepairPal)
• Est. Maintenance Costs During First 10 Years: $9,054 (CarEdge)

1 2010 Audi A6 (4F): 89/100

The 2010 Audi A6 is the most reliable used Audi in today's market, scoring an incredible 89/100 for quality and reliability with J. D Power. The 2010 car marks the end of the third-gen (C6) Audi A6, costing consumers an initial MSRP of $46,000!

Today, Audi's most reliable used car costs less than $5,000 on the used car market, making it one of the cheapest luxury cars to own and maintain. Base models featuring the 3.0-liter V6 are capable of 265 hp, while those with a larger budget may go for the V10-powered Audi S6. The 435 hp Audi S6 arrives with a 5.2-liter V10, fettled by Lamborghini. The nose-heavy 2010 Audi S6 achieves 0-60 mph in an incredible 5.1 seconds, a mere half second slower than the 2010 Audi R8 V8!

2010 Audi A6 Reliability

• JD Power Quality And Reliability Score: 89/100
• Avg. Yearly Maintenance Costs: $828 (RepairPal)
• Est. Maintenance Costs During First 10 Years: $9,252 (CarEdge)

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