Most reliable Audis - and the unreliable ones to avoid
In our annual Reliability Survey, we ask readers to rate the dependability of cars aged up to five years old. Here are most and least reliable Audi models...
Audi has been renowned for its Vorsprung durch Technik (progress through technology) slogan for more than 50 years. The tagline first appeared in 1971, and a core part of its ethos was the rally-bred Quattro all-wheel-drive system, pioneered in the 1980s, that provided superior traction and handling.
These days the brand is also regarded as the more upmarket sibling to Volkswagen, competing directly with fellow German car maker BMW. Its biggest selling model is the Audi A3 family hatchback, which is in its fourth generation and celebrates its 30th birthday in November 2026. Close behind is the Q4 e-tron, which is a comfortable, practical and classy pure electric family SUV.
The brand has had some issues with reliability, and was 22nd out of 30 brands in our latest rundown of the most reliable car brands with a score of 90.6%. Its smallest SUV, the Q2, is the most dependable, and its largest, the Q7, the most beleaguered by faults.
Here we're looking at reliability data for Audi models aged up to five years old. Reliability information for older models is in our most reliable used cars feature.
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Most reliable Audi models
1. Audi Q2 (2016-present)
Reliability rating 98.5%
Most common faults: Engine 5%
Average repair cost: 100% £0
Typical time off road: 50% less than a day, 25% more than a week
There's plenty to like about the Q2 because it offers all the desirability of larger SUVs from Audi, but has a far more affordable price tag. It has a classy interior, sharp handling and bold styling, but rear space is a tad tight.
Best of all is its reliability rating. Not only is it the highest scoring model for reliability in the brand's line-up, it's also the fourth-best small SUV in our rankings.
Only 10% of the Q2s we were told about in the latest survey went wrong, and the only area to give any trouble was the engine. Even though older examples will be outside their three-year new car warranty, Audi paid for all fixes to be done. The only downside is that a quarter of cars with issues were in the garage for more than a week.
2. Audi A1 (2018-present)
Reliability rating 97.5%
Most common faults: non-engine electrics 10%, exhaust system 5%, gearbox/clutch 5%
Average repair cost: 100% £0
Typical time off road: 75% one day or less, 25% more than a week
Although the A1 is the smallest car in Audi's line-up, it's great to drive, comfortable to sit in and available with lots of big car options. It's available with a broad choice of engines, all of them petrols, with power outputs ranging from sensible to rather spicy. There is a wide range of trims available, too, from the relatively spartan Technik to range-topping Black Edition, which places the emphasis on sportiness.
Its reliability rating is pretty good, although the A1 is more prone to problems than its main small car rival, the Mini hatchback. Twenty percent of the A1s in our survey had a fault, compared with just 7% of Mini hatchbacks. However, Audi and its technicians sorted out three-quarters of issues in a day or less, and no customers were charged for putting anything right. It's also reassuring to know that all the cars with faults could still be driven.
3. Audi TT (2014-2024)
Reliability rating 96.1%
Most common faults: Air-con 4%, engine 4%, exhaust 4%
Average repair cost: 80% £0, 20% £1-£50
Typical time off road: 40% one day to a week, 40% more than a week, 20% one day or less
The Audi TT is an exceptionally good all-round coupé and convertible that offers huge helpings of driving pleasure combined with lots of everyday usability. It has agile handling, solid build quality and a healthy range of turbocharged engines.
It was discontinued in 2024, and it's starting to show its age here with a fairly high fault rate of 20%. However, all the cars that went wrong could still be driven and most issues were sorted out for free. Getting things put right isn't that swift, though, with four out of five faulty cars out of action for more than a day and 40% in the workshop for more than a week.
4. Audi A3 (2020-present)
Reliability rating 93.0%
Most common faults: Non-engine electrics 11%, air-con 6%, brakes 6%, charging system 6%, gearbox 6%, interior trim 6%, sat-nav/infotainment system 6%
Average repair cost: 100% £0
Typical time off road: 59% more than a week, 29% one day or less
The A3 is comfortable, enjoyable to drive, spacious enough inside for most families and available with a decent range of engines. The Sport 35 TFSI version is the best of the bunch for private buyers, while the 40 TFSIe is one of the best plug-in hybrids around for company car drivers.
Overall, owners told us that 23% of their Audi A3s went wrong — petrol and diesel cars were less prone to issues, with a 21% fault rate, and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variants more susceptible to problems, with a 29% rate. Petrol and diesel models suffered mostly with electrical issues, while the PHEVs had concerns over the air-con, charging system and gearbox. All petrol and diesel models with problems could still be driven, but a third of PHEVs with faults were undriveable. The good news is that Audi covered the cost of repairs for all owners.
5. Audi Q3 (2018-2025)
Reliability rating 92.8%
Most common faults: 12-volt battery 8%, non-engine electrics 8%, air-con 2%, bodywork 2%, engine electrics 2%, gearbox 2%, sat-nav/infotainment system 2%
Average repair cost: 100% £0
Typical time off road: 49% more than a week, 31% one day to a week
The Q3 is a classy, refined and versatile family SUV that makes good sense as a used buy. The interior feels plush and has plenty of space for all the family. It's a popular used buy, so holds on to its value well. Prices for a 2019 example start at around £12,000 for a 35 TFSI Sport version, and £18,000-£22,000 for 2023 models.
Owners old us that 25% of their cars went wrong, with the 12-volt battery and electrics giving the most cause for concern. Getting things put right was slow, with nearly half of faulty cars off the road for more than a week, but at least Audi paid for all the necessary work.
6. Audi Q4 e-tron (2021-present)
Reliability rating 90.4%
Most common faults: brakes 10%, non-motor electrics 10%, EV battery pack 6%, air-con 4%, 12-volt battery 4%, charging system 4%, sat-nav/infotainment system 4%, steering 2%, suspension 2%
Average repair cost: 80% cost £0, 20% £201-£750
Typical time off road: 52% more than a week, 28% one day or less
The Q4 e-tron is the most affordable pure electric SUV in Audi's line-up, but that doesn't mean it skimps on many things, It's closely related to the Skoda Enyaq and Volkswagen ID 4, and it promises more upmarket technology and a plusher interior than these rivals for a small price premium. Our top choice is the 45 Sport version because it offers the best mix of performance, range and equipment.
The Q4 e-tron's reliability rating of 90.4% puts it above the Volkswagen ID 4, which only mustered 79.6% in our survey. It does lag a bit behind the Skoda Enyaq, though, which scored 91.3%.
We were told that 29% of the cars reported on went wrong, but that 88% of them could still be driven. Remedial work could be slow — 52% of cars were in the workshop for more than a week — and it's a shame that Audi only covered the cost of 80% of repairs.
7. Audi A6 (2018-2025)
Reliability rating 90.2%
Most common faults: Air-con 33%, interior trim 33%, sat-nav/infotainment 33%
Average repair cost: 100% £0
Typical time off road: 40% a day or less, 47% more than a week
Comfortable, quiet and capacious, the A6 executive saloon and estate is an appealing used car buy, with prices starting as low as £12,000 for an early example with high miles. Refinement is top-notch, both bodystyles have a decent amount of space for passengers and their luggage, and economy is good, especially if you opt for one of the smaller diesel engines.
Although A6s went wrong more often than the smaller A4, they cost less to put right: 33% of the A6 examples reported on in our survey went wrong, but all were fixed for free by the car maker. Most cars could still be driven, but nearly half were in the workshop for more than a week.
8. Audi A4 (2015-2024)
Reliability rating 90.1%
Most common faults: Sat-nav/infotainment 10%, engine electrics 8%, gearbox 5% non-engine electrics 5%, 12-volt battery 3%, bodywork 3%, suspension 3%
Average repair cost: 87% £0, 13% £751-£1000
Typical time off road: 47% more than a week, 27% a day or less
Don't be fooled by the A4's diminutive dimensions, it is a refined executive saloon with an upmarket interior. Although it’s not as exciting to drive as the more agile BMW 3 Series, the A4 is a quiet long-distance cruiser, especially if you stick with an SE or Sport trim version with smaller wheels.
Owners told us that 23% of the Audi A4s in our survey went wrong, and the infotainment system and other electrical systems were the main culprits. Audi took care of the bills for most (87%) of owners, but that did leave some with bills of up to £1000. Although faults didn't stop most cars from being driven, nearly half of them kept the affected cars off the road for more than a week.
Reliability rating 78.6%
Most common faults: non-engine electrics 20%, engine 7%, exhaust 7%, sat-nav/infotainment system 7%
Average repair cost: 57% £0, 29% more than £1500
Typical time off road: 56% one day to a week, 44% one week or more
The Q7 has long been one of our favourite premium SUVs because it comes with a range of smooth, powerful engines, top-notch interior quality and a glassy ride. However, faults suffered by the Q7 can be far more costly to remedy than those of its main luxury SUV rival, the BMW X5.
Forty-seven percent of Q7s had a problem, most (20%) being caused by non-engine electrical issues. The engine, exhaust and infotainment system were also cited as problematic. No faults were rectified in a day or less; instead, 56% of cars spent up to a week in the garage and the rest were there for more than seven days. Only 57% of expenses were paid for by Audi; some owners were left with bills of up to £200 and 29% ended up more than £1500 out of pocket.
2. Audi E-tron (2019-2022)
Reliability rating 84.4%
Most common faults: electric motor 19%, air-con 7%, battery pack 7%, non-motor electrics 7%, sat-nav/infotainment system 7%, bodywork 4%, charging system 4%, steering 4%
Average repair cost: 100% £0
Typical time off road: 77% more than a week, 12% one day to a week
Not to be confused with other Audi models with e-tron in their names, the 2019-2021 E-tron is a roomy SUV that's a good value secondhand buy. As Audi's first production electric car, it was a premium product that sat at the top of the brand's line-up. At the time, it was one of the most comfortable large electric cars you could buy. It's extremely practical, but the range between charges is slightly disappointing at around 222 miles officially.
Reliability has been an issue with the E-tron — owners told us that 44% of their cars had a problem, although around two-thirds of those cars could still be driven. It's reassuring to see that Audi paid for all fixes, but not so good that more than three-quarters of faulty cars were in the workshop for more than a week.
3. Audi Q5 (2017-2025)
Reliability rating 86.1%
Most common faults: Non-engine electrics 13%, gearbox 12%, engine 9%, 12-volt battery 6%, air-con 6%, exhaust 6%, sat-nav/infotainment system 7%
Average repair cost: 90% £0, 10% £501-£750
Typical time off road: 28% up to a day, 54% more than a week
Audi Q5 buyers can choose from petrol or diesel power, and both are good options. Both fuel types are quick off the mark, and flexible and effortless in everyday driving. The mild-hybrid petrol version has a respectable 1.7kWh battery for this type of engine, and it provides enough oomph to drive the car with the engine off. The latest version of the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) improves on this by offering an official pure electric range of up to 61 miles.
However, when it comes to reliability, the diesel Q5 looks a little better than the petrol versions. Although slightly more petrol and PHEV versions of the Q5 went wrong — 39% compared with 32% — all the diesel models were repaired for free, whereas some petrol and PHEV owners had to find up to £750 to get their cars fixed. Both petrol and diesel Q5 models were often slow to be fixed — 53% of petrol models were in the workshop for more than a week and so were 54% of diesel variants.
Reliability of Audi models aged up to five years old
| Rank | Make and model | Score |
| 1 | Audi Q2 (2016-present) | 98.5% |
| 2 | Audi A1 (2018-present) | 97.5% |
| 3 | 2014-2024 Audi TT | 96.1% |
| 4 | Audi A3 Sportback (2020-present) | 93.0% |
| 5 | 2018-2025 Audi Q3 | 92.8% |
| 6 | Audi Q4 e-tron (2021-present) | 90.4% |
| 7 | 2018-2025 Audi A6 | 90.2% |
| 8 | 2015-2024 Audi A4 | 90.1% |
| 9 | 2017-2025 Audi Q5 | 86.1% |
| 10 | 2019-2022 Audi E-tron | 84.4% |
| 11 | 2015-2026 Audi Q7 | 78.6% |
To read the reliability data for other car classes follow these links:
Most and least reliable cars overall
Most reliable car brands
Most reliable family cars
Most reliable executive cars
Most reliable luxury cars
Most reliable small SUVs
Most reliable family SUVs
Most reliable large SUVs
Most reliable seven-seaters
Most reliable electric cars
Most reliable electric SUVs
Most reliable sports cars
Most reliable diesel cars
Most reliable petrol cars
Most reliable hybrid cars
How the research was carried out
To compile the What Car? Reliability Survey, conducted in association with MotorEasy, we asked thousands of car owners to give us the lowdown on how reliable their car had been over the previous 24 months.
First we asked them to tell us if the car had suffered a fault, and, if so, how much each problem had cost to put right and how long it had kept the car off the road. The responses for these two factors were weighted and added up for each make and model, enabling us to create a unique reliability rating for each.
The latest What Car? Reliability Survey contains responses from 29,967 people, giving us enough data to report on 199 models aged up to five years old from 31 different car brands.
About the report author
Claire Evans has been a motoring journalist for more than 30 years, working on consumer issues for a great deal of that time. After a stint as the advice columnist for Carweek magazine in the 1990s, she also spent six years working on motoring content for Which?. It is here she oversaw the running of the charity's annual used car reliability survey.
Claire launched the What Car? Reliability Survey in 2017, and since then has helped thousands of buyers choose the most reliable new cars and SUVs, as well as the most dependable used cars.
