Quick Summary
A pre-owned Audi lets you skip the steepest part of the depreciation curve while keeping the quattro grip, quiet cabin and sharp interior. The 2018-and-newer A4 and Q5 are the safest all-around picks, the A3 is the budget way in, the A5 Sportback and A6 add style and space, and the second-generation Q7 handles family duty. A documented service history matters more than mileage, and a warranty plus a recall check takes much of the risk out of owning a German luxury car.
A new Audi can run well past what a lot of Tucson families want to spend on a car, but one that’s three to seven years old is a whole different story, and that’s honestly the sweet spot we talk about when people ask us for the best Audi to buy used. The first owner already took the worst of the depreciation, and you still get the modern screens and that heavy, planted feel Audis are known for.
We’ve been selling pre-owned cars at Car Time Supercenter since 1984, so here are the six Audis we’d point a friend toward, with the years and quirks worth knowing.
How We Picked These Used Audi Models
Mostly we stuck with models Audi sold here for a lot of years. That usually means parts are easy to get and the early bugs got worked out.
We also thought about how each one handles life in Southern Arizona like baking in a 110-degree lot on Oracle Road or climbing Mount Lemmon on a Saturday, where a strong A/C and comfy seats count for a lot more than 0-to-60 times.
The 6 Best Used Audi Models For Luxury On A Budget
1. Audi A4 (2017 to 2023)
The fifth-generation (B9) A4, sold in the U.S. starting with the 2017 model year, is where we’d point most people first, with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder and a smooth automatic, and a lot of them have quattro all-wheel drive, which helps when the monsoon storms come through.
The inside is the best part, with supportive seats and the available Virtual Cockpit digital gauges, and we like to see records showing oil changes at or before the factory interval, since turbo engines don’t handle skipped service as well.
2. Audi Q5 (2018 to 2024)
The second-generation Q5 came out for 2018 with quattro standard and a roomier, quieter cabin than the first one, and it’s the Audi most families go with, because it drives a lot like a sedan but gives you the higher seat and cargo room of a compact SUV.
Engine-wise the 2.0-liter turbo in these years is a real improvement, since some early-2010s versions of that engine got complaints about burning oil and we just don’t hear that much on the 2018-and-up cars. If you want more punch, the SQ5 trim gets a turbocharged V6 instead.
3. Audi A3 Sedan (2015 to 2020)
The A3 sedan is the cheapest way to get the four rings in your driveway, and it doesn’t feel cheap inside, with a screen that pops up out of the dash and the layout’s clean and simple. Early front-wheel-drive cars got a smaller turbo engine while the quattro versions came with a stronger 2.0-liter turbo.
It is a compact, though. The back seat’s tight for adults and the trunk’s small, so it suits commuters and couples more than a growing family.
4. Audi A5 Sportback (2018 to 2024)
From the side the A5 Sportback looks like a coupe, but there are four doors and a liftback hatch in back, so you get the low roofline and your back-seat passengers don’t have to climb in. Underneath it’s a lot of A4, which keeps service pretty simple.
People are surprised by that hatch, since the opening’s big enough for golf bags or a full weekend grocery run.
5. Audi A6 (2016 to 2018 and 2019 onward)
The A6 is the one we’d pick for legroom and a quiet ride on I-10 up to Phoenix. The late C7 cars through 2018 came with either a 2.0-liter turbo or a supercharged 3.0-liter V6, and the redesigned 2019-and-newer cars switched to a turbocharged V6 with a mild-hybrid system and two touchscreens stacked in the dash.
Newer means more tech, but the 2016 to 2018 cars a lot of times sell for noticeably less, and some drivers actually like that older dash with real buttons better.
6. Audi Q7 (2017 onward)
The second-generation Q7 that came out for 2017 is the one for anybody who needs three rows, and it’s lighter and more efficient than the first one, rides really well, and the third row folds flat when you need cargo space instead.
It’s a heavy SUV with a lot of electronics, so brakes, tires and suspension parts wear faster than on the smaller Audis and we’d want a clean inspection report before anything else. Whichever Audi you land on, plug the VIN into the NHTSA recall lookup and make sure any open recalls got done.
What To Check Before Buying Any Pre-Owned Audi
Paperwork comes first for us. We’d take an Audi with 70,000 miles and a thick folder of records over one with 40,000 and nothing, every time, mostly because of timing components, coolant service and transmission fluid.
On the drive itself we want ice-cold A/C, every screen working and no warning lights hanging around after startup, and we go on regular streets and the freeway, since rough shifts tend to show up at speed.
Plan on the upkeep too. These cars take synthetic oil and premium gas and some parts just cost more than they would on a Honda, which is where our free 3-month/3,000-mile warranty and extended coverage can soften a surprise.
Find Your Next Used Audi At Car Time Supercenter
Every vehicle on our lot gets inspected and meets Arizona emissions standards before we put it up for sale. You can browse our used cars for sale in Tucson, AZ, or if it’s a Q5 or Q7 you’re after, head straight to our used SUVs in Tucson.
Found one you like? You can get pre-qualified for financing online in a few minutes and come drive it at 3170 N Oracle Rd.
Frequently Asked Questions
Usually more than a Toyota or a Chevy, yes, with synthetic oil, premium fuel and parts that cost more, but if the car’s been serviced on schedule the costs stay pretty predictable. Buying one with full records and a warranty is honestly the easiest way to avoid a big surprise bill down the road.
We don’t really have a cutoff number. A well-kept Audi at 90,000 miles can be a better car than a neglected one at 45,000, so we look at the service history, what the inspection turns up and how it drives before we worry much about the odometer.
Out of these six it’s the 2018-and-newer A4 and Q5 for us, since they share a proven turbocharged engine and a platform that had time to mature, and they’ve built up a good track record. On a tighter budget the A3’s a simpler car that holds up well too.
There are good reasons people will buy their next used car in Tucson from Car Time Supercenter. But I think we are one of the most trusted used car dealerships mainly because we treat everyone like family. My family has provided quality, dependable local used cars to Tucson customers since 1984, and I’m proud to be a part of our continued success.
Like many family-owned businesses, I grew up going to work with my dad. Falling in love with cars was natural because of my father’s passion, and eventually, I came to love the car business just like him. I officially joined the Car Time Supercenter team in 2012, starting in the finance department. Over the past decade, I’ve learned the used car business and how to treat customers from my family and industry resources.
Today, I oversee marketing, social media, inventory, and reconditioning, so I play an essential role in delivering local Tucson used car buyers the best experience possible. I also help our family business keep up with the times while providing old-fashioned customer service. From attending NADA classes to becoming Allstate certified for back-end products, I continue to learn and add skills to serve our customers better.
