Best used Audis

We've not exactly kept our view of the Audi A3 a secret. Shortly after its 2013 release, we dubbed it our overall What Car? Car of the Year and, in its last year on sale (2020), it was our overall Used Car of the Year. 

A lot of factors resulted in this family car's multiple award wins, but the A3's greatness comes down to how much polish it exudes in every area. Its engines are smooth, powerful and efficient, while its interior features premium materials and tip-top build quality. You won't find a similarly priced rival that can match the A3's remarkable refinement. 

We found: 2015 Audi A3 1.4 TFSI Sport, 39,000 miles, £9995

Find used Audi A3 cars for sale 

The Audi TT isn't our reigning What Car? Used Sports Car of the Year for no reason. It's mechanically based on the A3, yet it goes to even greater lengths to indulge its driver. The TT is super sharp and composed in the corners, with great grip on offer – that's especially true of models equipped with Audi's famous quattro four-wheel-drive system. 

Add on decent practicality (for a sports car), a varied engine range – that stretches all the way to a charismatic five-cylinder petrol in the TT RS – and great used prices, and you've got a winner on your hands. 

We found: 2016 Audi TT 2.0 TFSI Sport, 39,000 miles, £15,490

Find used Audi TT cars for sale 

A priority for executive cars to get right is the motorway journey. Plenty of people buy these cars to commute or to travel across the country for business, so they need to be powerful, comfortable and refined. Fortunately, the Audi A4 is all of those things.

It's also a terrific used buy, with plenty of good examples to choose from, whether you're using it for motorways or commuting or to transport the family around. The interior is plush and well-equipped and the quality is top-notch. Prices start at just £10,000.

We found: 2017 Audi A4 1.4 TFSI Sport, 38,540 miles, £13,474

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The Audi Q7 is ripe for a big price tag, because it's a giant luxury SUV and a seven-seater to boot. And, when new, it does demand a small fortune from you – as of writing, the Q7 starts at £61,740 (if you factor in our Target Price discount). However, when used, you can pick up a good example for less than £30,000. 

The Q7 isn't just good for the money, either – it's just good, full stop. Its rich interior (both in terms of quality and space) is met with a great driving experience that features a well-judged ride and handling balance. 

We found: 2016 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI V6 S line, 45,000 miles, £29,995

Find used Audi Q7 cars for sale 

It may not be as lavish as its larger sibling, the Q7, but the Audi Q5 doesn't disappoint. For a relatively small engine, the 2.0-litre petrol variant (renamed 45 TFSI in 2019) is pretty pokey thanks to a healthy 249bhp. The 187bhp 2.0 TDI (later 40 TDI) diesel, meanwhile, still delivers some strong pace. 

On the road, all of the Q5's engine options offer impressive refinement, even under full acceleration. On its standard suspension option, the Q5 rides well. With the optional-from new air suspension, it’s superb – a strong contender for being the very best in the large SUV class.

We found: 2018 Audi Q5 2.0 TFSI S line, 39,900 miles, £25,830

Find used Audi Q5 cars for sale 

The large, limo-like saloon isn't the sole property of the chauffeur. No, everyone should enjoy the opulence these luxury cars offer, mainly because there are a fair few fantastic deals on the used market. The Audi A8 is one of them – you can put a respectable example on your driveway for around £30,000. 

From its high-quality interior to its extremely comfortable driving experience, the A8 exudes luxury. Yes, we may have said similar things about Audi's smaller saloon car, the A4, but the A8 is a noticeable step up. For the money, it's a bit of a bargain. 

We found: 2018 Audi A8 3.0 TDI V6 50, 49,900 miles, £28,000

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The Audi Q2 is currently the smallest SUV in the brand's roster, but, when new, it’s also the best-selling – in fact, it’s Audi’s third best selling model overall, just behind the Audi A1 and A3 hatchbacks. Its popularity is far from undeserved, too. This small SUV has a smart interior and tidy handling. You also have the benefit of driving around in a compact vehicle that’s easy to park around town – it's relatively fuel efficient next to bulkier premium SUVs as well. 

We found: 2017 Audi Q2 1.4 TFSI Sport, 40,150 miles, £15,000

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There isn't much that needs saying here. You've heard about how great the A3 family car is and the Audi A3 Cabriolet is no different – well, apart from the fact you can drop the top and enjoy some sky. Is it better than the regular A3? Well, not quite, because it's sacrificed some practicality in becoming a convertible. However, if that's not a priority for you, the Cabrio could well be the one to go for. 

We found: 2017 Audi A3 1.5 TFSI Sport, 42,000 miles, £15,990

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By some margin, the Audi R8 is the priciest car on our list. Then again, what would you expect? This is a super-sleek, super-fast sports car with a 5.2-litre V10 – an engine also found in the Lamborghini Huracán – at its disposal. 

We tested a Plus model in the dry and it bolted from 0-62mph in only 2.3sec, while a standard R8 (in the wet) hit the same target in 3.2sec. You’ll be glad to know that the R8 corners brilliantly, too, with graceful fluidity and taught body control. You might fear that this will make it very uncomfortable, but it doesn’t. The R8 is compliant on rough roads, with a very forgiving ride for any car, let alone a supercar. 

We found: 2016 Audi R8 5.2 FSI V10, 25,000 miles, £72,500

Find used Audi R8 cars for sale 

If you're willing to pay a premium over the A4, you can pick up an example of its sleeker sibling, the Audi A5 Sportback. You'll enjoy many of the same positives, including the A4's sublime engines and interior quality, but gain a coupé-esque look, as well as a hatchback tailgate to make loading large items into the boot easier. Used prices are very tempting. 

We found: 2018 Audi A5 2.0 TFSI S line, 34,172 miles, £19,820

Find used Audi A5 Sportback cars for sale