In partnership with Auto Trader
Best used Audis
If you like the idea of owning an Audi, but are planning to buy used rather than new, these are the models we'd recommend considering...
Ever wondered what the Audi badge means? Not in a philosophical sense, but a literal one. Well, each of the four rings represents a brand: one is Audi, while the others are the brands that merged with it, those being Horch, DKW and Wanderer. This was before the Volkswagen group acquired the majority of the company's shares in 1964.
Today, Audi is a powerhouse, having produced everything from small cars to sports cars. All of its models have a keen focus on luxury, positioning them above your everyday VWs and putting them on a par with cars from BMW and Mercedes.
So, they're desirable machines, but you already knew that – hence you're here to find out what Audis are best. You're also interested in saving some money, so used models are on the menu, rather than new ones. Our top 10 favourites are as follows, kicking off with the very best used Audi you can buy: the 2013-2020 Audi A3.
Strengths
- Strong engines
- Beautifully finished interior
- Great to drive
Weaknesses
- Not as spacious as the VW Golf in the back
- Firm low-speed ride
- Lower trims sparsely equipped
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
Read our used Audi A3 review
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Strengths
- Fabulous interior design and quality for a car in this class
- Brilliant handling makes for a fun driving excperience
- Comfortable ride in most models, even on rougher roads
Weaknesses
- Limited rear-seat space for adults
- Not very well equipped
- Higher powered models can be costly to run
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
Read our used Audi TT review
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Strengths
- Class-leading interior
- Extensive engine choice
- Very comfortable
Weaknesses
- One or two rivals are more fun to drive
- S line ride quality a bit firm
- Ultra version uses S Line sports suspension
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
Read our used Audi A4 review
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Strengths
- Smooth and powerful engines
- Great ride on air suspension
- Wonderful build quality
Weaknesses
- Not as sharp to drive as some rivals
- Plug-in hybrid loses seven-seat option
- Expensive to run
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
Read our used Audi Q7 review
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Our pick: 2.0 TFSI Quattro S Line 5dr S Tronic
Strengths
- Smooth and punchy engines
- High-quality interior
- Relatively modest running costs
Weaknesses
- Steering could be more involving
- No seven-seat option
- You need air suspension or non-sport suspension for the best ride
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
Read our used Audi Q5 review
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Our pick: S8 Quattro Vorsprung 4dr Tiptronic
Strengths
- Super-smooth ride quality over rougher road surfaces
- Beautiful interior with high-quality materials
- Impressive space with plenty of rear leg room
- Impressively quiet on all manner of roads
Weaknesses
- Fuel economy of the diesel-engined cars slightly behind rivals
- The Mercedes S-Class has a more interesting interior
- Higher running costs than some of its rivals
- Touch-sensitive controls can be frustrating to use
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
Read our used Audi A8 review
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Our pick: 35 TFSI Sport 5dr
Strengths
- Classy and user-friendly interior
- Tidy handling
- Excellent infotainment
- Top-notch reliability
Weaknesses
- Not as spacious as rivals
- Firm ride
- Four-wheel drive reserved for top models
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
Read our used Audi Q2 review
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Strengths
- Beautifully finished interior
- Ride and handling balance
- Well equipped
Weaknesses
- Sport and S Line are more refined than SE cars
- Poor rear room
- Optional automatic is jerky
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 Cabriolet 1.5 TFSI Sport, 42,000 miles, £15,990
Read our used Audi A3 Cabriolet review
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Strengths
- Addictive V10 engine
- Fluid handling
- Refined cruising manners
Weaknesses
- Not as playful on the limit as some rivals
- Very thirsty when driven hard
- Still not exactly cheap to buy
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
Read our used Audi R8 review
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Strengths
- Class-leading interior quality
- Powerful and efficient engines
- Practical for a four-door coupe
Weaknesses
- Not as involving to drive as some rivals
- Rivals have more kit as standard
- Reliability average
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
Read our used Audi A5 Sportback review
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