Used Audi A7 2018-2024 reliability review

What should I look for in a used Audi A7?

Audi has dropped traditional physical controls for its air conditioning and infotainment systems and replaced them with a dual-touchscreen set-up. Make sure both screens work as they should and that they respond quickly to inputs and don’t freeze up all the time. If these are presenting issues, you may need to have a software update performed at an Audi workshop.

Every version comes with front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera, but you should still look for damage to the extremities of the car. Also, many come with enormous 20in alloy wheels (there are even 21in ones on Vorsprung models) that are susceptible to kerb damage and can be expensive to repair.

Click here if you are looking for information on the older 2010-2017 Audi A7.

Is a used Audi A7 reliable?

The Audi A7 didn't feature as a standalone model in our most recent What Car? Reliability Survey.

However, the Audi A6 is closely related under the skin, and that didn't do too well. In saloon form, the model finished last out of 24 cars in the executive car class. Its reliability score of 76.3% is very poor and places it below every other rival featured – the 2017-2023 BMW 5 Series and 2016-2024 Mercedes E-Class, to name but two.

The A6 was blighted by a range of electrical issues: 44% of cars we were told about had a fault, two-thirds concerning engine and non-engine electrical systems or the sat-nav/infotainment. Although 83% could still be driven, 46% took more than a week to put right. However, 97% were repaired for free, and none cost more than £200.

Audi as a brand doesn’t have the best reputation for reliability. It came in 24th place out of 31 manufacturers in our 2024 What Car? Reliability Survey with an overall score of just 89%. This put it above Alfa Romeo, Land Rover and Nissan, but below nearly all of its major rivals.

BMW came 16th and Mercedes finished in joint 23r

Used Audi A7 reliability: the owners' view

As part of our annual Reliability Survey, What Car? readers said that the 2018-onwards Audi A7 has had a few reliability concerns, affecting both petrol and diesel models.

Owners mentioned intermittent electrical issues, including problems with the car’s central screen and driver assistance systems. In some cases, warning lights appeared without clear explanation, leading to frustration and uncertainty about the underlying fault.

While some owners reported prompt dealer assistance, others expressed disappointment with the standard of aftercare. A few said that faults were not resolved on the first visit, or that they were left waiting for extended periods while parts were ordered. One reader noted delays caused by diagnostic confusion at their local dealership.

Overall, the A7 offers a premium ownership experience when running smoothly, but feedback suggests that a small number of reliability niggles can be let down further by inconsistent dealer support when things do go wrong.