Audi A5 Best and Worst Years (Quick Facts!)

The 2023 Audi A5 has all the features you could ask for in a high-performance luxury compact car.

The A5 is a well-rounded product that exemplifies the brand’s love of sophisticated sportiness with its potent engine options, sporty handling, exquisite interior, and smooth ride.

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Are you an Audi Fan? Maybe you like this article: reliable Audi cars

VIDEO: Used Audi A5 Reliability

Audi A5 Best and Worst Years

According to J.D. Power, the 2019 Audi A5 has an outstanding projected dependability rating of 3.5 out of 5. In addition, the Audi S5 doesn’t have any undesirable model years. Uncertainty exists over the best and worst model years for the Audi A5/S5, while TrueDelta reports average dependability for the 2012–2017 vehicles. While Carbuyer offers a used buying guide for the first-generation Audi A5 Coupe, Consumer Reports offers comprehensive, independent information about the Audi A5 (2007-2016).

Which Audi is the most dependable?

In a Quattro

About 40 years have passed since the introduction of the Audi Quattro series. It has stayed relatively well-liked all this time.

With that type of history, it’s difficult to doubt the dependability of the vehicle range. Luckily, it is, and this has contributed to its sustained success.

Despite this, it’s not a car with a reputation for being very speedy. Instead, it’s more in line with the “slow and steady” strategy, which hasn’t hurt it.

Several various Quattro models are available, with many falling into the more affordable price range. Of course, that will fluctuate depending on how many features and enhancements you intend to include. As a result, it ought to be a reasonably inexpensive, durable vehicle.

The RS6

The A6 sedan line, frequently considered extremely dependable in and of itself, provides the foundation for the Audi RS6. But has that persisted in the revised model?

The fact that the series has remained popular after its debut suggests this.

There have been few complaints about its performance during this time, or at least none that seem excessive for a vehicle of its caliber. The engine gives a safe performance that shouldn’t deteriorate over time despite the power it may deliver.

They are also unlikely to break the bank if you purchase them brand-new as they are among the most reasonably priced Audis. That also holds for any repairs and upkeep you might require in the following years.

Supercar R8

Even though it was the German manufacturer’s first supercar, the Audi R8 is far safer than you might have previously believed.

Since its 2003 debut, it has undergone numerous updates and reorganizations. As a result, it has become safer and more dependable over time.

It has successfully demonstrated this through its safe history over the previous 15 years or more. The one significant problem that many people could notice, though, is that it has slow shifting.

Fortunately, neither you nor the car’s performance should be adversely affected by this too frequently.

A4

The Audi A4 is one of the first things people think of an Audi because it has been around for three decades. Yet, most of these are justified, which explains why the series has endured for so long. The range never had any reliability issues, not even in its early years.

Its reputation has become more robust over time, making it one of the German automaker’s more dependable cars.

Yet, as consumers have learned for years, it’s not all hype. If you’re searching for something that will last you for a while, that should make it a good pick.

Check this other Audi car: Audi A8 Best and Worst Years (Quick Facts!)

The Finest and Most Trustworthy Audis

Audi has a long history of producing high-end automobiles. This reputation is mainly based on the vehicle’s excellent performance and luxurious interiors.

Will that performance endure in the long run? While you may have heard much about the German automaker, its reliability may have received less attention.

Is it a company that merits investment? With such a massive investment at stake, you’ll want to know what you’re buying well. The many models that the automaker offers are listed next to that. A handful might be worth considering, even though some may be less durable.

Are Audis Trustworthy?

There are many ways to determine whether an automobile brand is trustworthy. The amount of difficulties that have been documented is one of the more crucial factors. Fortunately, Audi outperforms several of its rivals on this front.

This is due to the fewer complaints and reported vehicle problems it receives. Each of its models has experienced about 20 owner-reported difficulties annually for the past 25 years.

As a result, Audi might be considered a trustworthy automaker. Several dependability reports have also been published, most of which have mentioned specific models from the brand.

Do Used Audis Hold Up?

Identifying a new Audi’s dependability is one thing. When it comes to used cars, it’s entirely another. Yet it should be clear that they’ll be a reliable investment given the brand’s standing. But if you’re purchasing a secondhand Audi, you must be more cautious.

First, you should generally only purchase from authorized merchants. By doing this, you should have access to a guarantee. If the vendor is of high caliber, they will also have had a mechanic perform a number of tests and address any problems they discover.

As a result, if you purchase a secondhand Audi, you shouldn’t experience any issues. In addition, you can trust Heritage Audi since they are an authorized Audi dealer.

What issues does an Audi typically encounter?

Even though Audi is dependable, it still occasionally has issues. There are a number of them that might occur. Although they might not be prevalent in most of the brand’s vehicles, you may experience specific problems more frequently than others. These are the most typical of them:

Engine, electricals, axle and suspension, cooling and heating, fuel, braking, gearbox, steering, transmission, and air conditioning.

As you can see, the issues all frequently impact the same regions. As the issues with Audi typically affect those above, diagnosing them should be relatively easy.

That should make correcting them very simple. In addition, the cost of having them fixed should be reasonable if you’re past the warranty period.

If you want to learn more about other Audi cars, check this out:

Audi S6 Best and Worst Years (Quick Facts

Audi A7 Best and Worst Years (Quick Facts!)

How Safe is an Audi 5? 

The NHTSA has awarded the Audi A5 Sportback a 5-star overall safety rating, whereas the coupe only receives a 4-star grade. With the highest trim, the IIHS names it a Top Safety Pick+, although the base model isn’t given that designation due to its “Marginal” headlamps.

The Institute determines the side ratings based on a test by Volkswagen/Audi for side crash test verification. Despite only receiving four stars for the front crash testing, the NHTSA gave it an overall rating of five stars.

How Can You Tell Whether Something Is a Lemon?

Purchase a vehicle history report.

There is no better initial step when purchasing a used car than to obtain a car history report. Two well-known services offer this information for little money: Anyone looking to purchase a used car will find the information provided by CarFax and AutoCheck extremely helpful.

The reports let you know the number of past owners, whether or not it had any accidents, how frequently it required maintenance, and the current title. The final section is among the most crucial since it contains the lemon label, which attests that the car followed the correct legal procedures to be designated as a lemon.

However, in some areas, dealers must inform a customer if the vehicle is a manufacturer buyback, which is a reliable way to determine whether a vehicle has a lemon title.

However, it is the responsibility of the buyer to conduct a thorough investigation into the vehicle’s history. Therefore, consumers may need help if they accidentally purchase a secondhand lemon because they must inspect it first.

Owner Background

You can view the owner’s history on the vehicle history report, which should indicate whether the manufacturer has purchased the vehicle back.

While owners can claim a car is a lemon in a legal dispute and ask the automaker to buy back the problematic vehicle, that is a guaranteed technique to determine if the car was labeled a lemon.

You can also determine if the vehicle was sold or traded before it was given a lemon tag if the prior owner may have missed an issue. It also implies that the car’s persistent issue must be apparent.

Repair Record

Look carefully at the vehicle’s repair record and try to identify any recurring issues. Recurring problems in cars with lemon histories are simple to spot.

You can determine whether the issues with the car are minor wear and tear concerns, such as those with the clutch or brakes, or a more severe problem.

Check to discover if the repairs were necessary or carried out even when the car was brand new. It can assist in determining whether the car is a lemon or if an incident like a collision or modification caused a misdiagnosed issue.

Are the repairs significant or minor? A severe repair would deal with the drivetrain or suspension, whereas a superficial one would address non-driving-related issues like window or seat controls.

Severe repairs would be more challenging, but handling a car might not be a hassle if a car was considered a lemon for a less severe cause.

The report also shows whether repairs are being made at a dealership or a general shop. Like you would with any used car, examine the vehicle’s general condition and health and determine whether routine maintenance has also been carried out.

This will assist you in deciding whether or not you should consider purchasing this car.

Inspection before purchase

Is the car still a good investment? You should get a pre-purchase inspection if the flaws are not too concerning or if you believe the automobile may have been incorrectly labeled as a lemon.

A mechanic can determine whether the problems are repairable and why the car was considered a lemon.

A technician can assist you in determining whether or not a recurring issue is indicative of more severe problems or worries about the quality of the vehicle.

Their satisfaction with the car might help determine if it is a worthwhile investment or a lost cause.

Audi A5 FAQ’s

Which year of the secondhand Audi A5 is the best?

Our top choice for the most affordable A5 model year is the 2017 Audi A5. The 2017 would cost you, on average, 58% less than it did when it was brand-new, and it would still have 58% of its usable life left. The A5 is also appealing in the 2022 and 2021 model years, which offer a fair price.

Which engine in the Audi A5 is best?

The most efficient engine in the A5 lineup, the 161 horsepower 2.0-liter TDI diesel, can nonetheless accelerate from zero to sixty miles per hour in 8.2 seconds. With standard four-wheel drive and the 201bhp diesel, that time is reduced to 6.9 seconds.

Does the Audi A5 have issues?

The A5 Sportback has very few reported issues, but issues with the infotainment system are cause for concern. Main complaints include phones that don’t connect properly and flickering screens. Several of these afflictions can be cured by the most recent software from Audi.

Are Audi A5 vehicles dependable?

The projected reliability rating for the 2023 Audi A5 is 72 out of 100. A predicted reliability score from J.D. Power of 91 to 100 is regarded as the best, 81 to 90 as great, 70 to 80 as medium, and 0-69 as fair and below average.

Which is Better: the Audi A5 or A6?

The 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder engines that power the 2022 A5 Sportback and A6 are both standard, but their outputs differ significantly. 201 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque are produced by the A5 Sportback, compared to 261 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque produced by the A6.