Audi Depreciation: 11 Popular Models Depreciation Charts
Audi is a luxurious car brand. Unfortunately, luxurious cars tend to depreciate fast.
Is Audi the same?
Let’s check it out!
How Well do Audis Hold Their Value?
Audi loses its value relatively quickly. Because it’s a luxury car brand, most popular Audi models hold in the first 3 years on average 64.1% of their value and 48% after 5 years.
Take a look at the chart. It includes the average depreciation of the 11 most popular Audi models that will be listed in this article.
Audi loses about 20% of its value in the first year, then the chart flattens, and the depreciation is about 6-7% per year.
11 Popular Audi Models and Their Depreciation
Now, let’s take a look at the 11 most popular Audi models and how fast they depreciate.
1. Audi A3
Audi A3 is one of the cheapest Audi models. It comes with a sedan and hatchback version. As a sedan, it’s pretty small, but it’s well-equipped, considering this segment. Some versions have a sunroof, leather seats, all-wheel drive, and Apple CarPlay.
Audi A3 depreciates on average 37% in the first 3 years and 48% in the first 5 years (on average 5,73% per year).
Selling price: $42.000
| Vehicle Age | Residual Value | Depreciation | Vehicle Worth |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 75% | $10.500 | $31.500 |
| 2 | 72% | $11.760 | $30.240 |
| 3 | 63% | $15.540 | $26.460 |
| 4 | 61% | $16.380 | $25.620 |
| 5 | 52% | $20.160 | $21.840 |
| 6 | 45% | $23.100 | $18.900 |
| 7 | 39% | $25.620 | $16.380 |
| 8 | 33% | $28.140 | $13.860 |
| 9 | 30% | $29.400 | $12.600 |
| 10 | 21% | $33.180 | $8.820 |
| 11 | 19% | $34.020 | $7.980 |
| 12 | 16% | $35.280 | $6.720 |
Do you know which brand loses value faster? BMW or Audi? Here’s the comparison of particular models.
2. Audi A4
Audi A4 is one of the best sedans on the market. If you’re looking to buy one, it will be better to choose A4 over A3. It is only slightly more expensive, but both cars have similar depreciation, and Audi A4 is simply a better car when it comes to equipment, performance, and style. In addition, it’s one of the most affordable Audis right now.
Audi A4 depreciates on average 36% in the first 3 years, and 50% in the first 5 years (on average 5,72% per year)
Selling price: $43.000
| Vehicle Age | Residual Value | Depreciation | Vehicle Worth |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 82% | $7.740 | $35.260 |
| 2 | 76% | $10.320 | $32.680 |
| 3 | 64% | $15.480 | $27.520 |
| 4 | 63% | $15.910 | $27.090 |
| 5 | 50% | $21.500 | $21.500 |
| 6 | 43% | $24.510 | $18.490 |
| 7 | 40% | $25.800 | $17.200 |
| 8 | 35% | $27.950 | $15.050 |
| 9 | 27% | $31.390 | $11.610 |
| 10 | 24% | $32.680 | $10.320 |
| 11 | 22% | $33.540 | $9.460 |
| 12 | 19% | $34.830 | $8.170 |
3. Audi A5
It’s probably one of the best-looking Audi models right now. It has one of the lowest depreciation rates among Audi cars. The features of this car include a keyless start, heated seats, navigation system, power liftgate, and many, many more. A5’s depreciation is below Audi’s average, so this car is definitely worth considering.
Trending Video: How to Easily Bring Back to Life any Old Car Battery and Save Tons of Money (click to watch)
Audi A5 depreciates on average 29% in the first 3 years, and 47% in the first 5 years (on average 5,1% per year)
Selling price: $48.000
| Vehicle Age | Residual Value | Depreciation | Vehicle Worth |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 83% | $8.160 | $39.840 |
| 2 | 75% | $12.000 | $36.000 |
| 3 | 71% | $19.920 | $34.080 |
| 4 | 64% | $17.280 | $30.720 |
| 5 | 53% | $22.560 | $25.440 |
| 6 | 44% | $26.880 | $21.120 |
| 7 | 40% | $28.800 | $19.200 |
| 8 | 35% | $31.200 | $16.800 |
| 9 | 30% | $33.600 | $14.400 |
| 10 | 27% | $35.040 | $12.960 |
| 11 | 25% | $36.000 | $12.000 |
| 12 | 22% | $37.440 | $10.560 |
Do you know if it’s worth buying an Audi with 100k+ miles? Reveal it here!
4. Audi A6
Audi A6 is not the most popular car- in 2020, it was sold only 11.000 times in the US and Canada. That might be because of high depreciation, high maintenance, and insurance costs. However, lots of people love the way A6 looks. It’s a nice car, but isn’t it better to buy A5…?
Audi A6 depreciates on average 38% in the first 3 years, and 55% in the first 5 years (on average 6% per year)
Selling price: $52.000
| Vehicle Age | Residual Value | Depreciation | Vehicle Worth |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 78% | $11.440 | $40.560 |
| 2 | 73% | $14.040 | $37.960 |
| 3 | 62% | $19.760 | $32.240 |
| 4 | 53% | $24.440 | $27.560 |
| 5 | 45% | $28.600 | $23.400 |
| 6 | 36% | $33.280 | $18.720 |
| 7 | 33% | $34.840 | $17.160 |
| 8 | 31% | $35.880 | $16.120 |
| 9 | 28% | $37.440 | $14.560 |
| 10 | 18% | $42.640 | $9.360 |
| 11 | 16% | $43.680 | $8.320 |
| 12 | 13% | $45.240 | $6.720 |
5. Audi A7
A7 is not a car for everyone. In the US, only about 3.000 people buy a new Audi A7 per year. That’s obvious- no one would like to pay so much for a car. But I know for a lot of people it’s a dream car, and I have to admit- it looks great. And A7 has a great range of powerful engines to choose from.
Audi A7 depreciates on average 42% in the first 3 years, and 60% in the first 5 years (on average 5,74% per year)
Selling price: $80.000
| Vehicle Age | Residual Value | Depreciation | Vehicle Worth |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 82% | $14.400 | $65.600 |
| 2 | 75% | $20.000 | $60.000 |
| 3 | 58% | $33.600 | $46.400 |
| 4 | 51% | $39.200 | $40.800 |
| 5 | 47% | $42.400 | $37.600 |
| 6 | 40% | $48.000 | $32.000 |
| 7 | 35% | $52.000 | $28.000 |
| 8 | 34% | $52.800 | $27.200 |
| 9 | 32% | $54.400 | $25.600 |
| 10 | 24% | $60.800 | $19.200 |
| 11 | 22% | $62.400 | $17.600 |
| 12 | 19% | $64.800 | $15.200 |
Check out here how expensive Audi parts are.
6. Audi A8
Audi A8 is a flag model by Audi. It’s a huge limousine from the F segment. It’s produced since 1994. Although it’s one of the most expensive cars in this segment, its design is rather minimalistic, and the A8 doesn’t stand out on the streets. But the interior is amazing with the number of features that will be available in the rest of the cars in at least 4 years.
Audi A8 depreciates on average 46% in the first 3 years, and 61% in the first 5 years (on average 6,36% per year)
Selling price: $85.000
| Vehicle Age | Residual Value | Depreciation | Vehicle Worth |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 84% | $13.600 | $71.400 |
| 2 | 79% | $17.850 | $67.150 |
| 3 | 54% | $39.100 | $45.900 |
| 4 | 48% | $44.200 | $40.800 |
| 5 | 39% | $51.850 | $33.150 |
| 6 | 34% | $56.100 | $28.900 |
| 7 | 27% | $62.050 | $22.950 |
| 8 | 25% | $63.750 | $21.250 |
| 9 | 22% | $66.300 | $18.700 |
| 10 | 19% | $68.850 | $16.150 |
| 11 | 17% | $70.550 | $14.450 |
| 12 | 14% | $73.100 | $11.900 |
7. Audi Q3
The first SUV on the list is Audi Q3. It’s a small SUV, but its drivers love it for being maneuverable and comfortable. It’s similar to Audi Q5, and some people think it’s a car only for women. That is, of course not true because it’s a car designed for everyone, no matter the age or gender.
Audi Q3 depreciates on average 29% in the first 3 years, and 45% in the first 5 years (on average 5,64% per year)
Selling price: $35.000
| Vehicle Age | Residual Value | Depreciation | Vehicle Worth |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 80% | $7.000 | $28.000 |
| 2 | 77% | $8.050 | $26.950 |
| 3 | 71% | $10.150 | $24.850 |
| 4 | 65% | $12.250 | $22.750 |
| 5 | 55% | $15.750 | $19.250 |
| 6 | 48% | $18.200 | $16.800 |
| 7 | 36% | $22.400 | $12.600 |
| 8 | 30% | $25.500 | $10.500 |
| 9 | 27% | $25.550 | $9.450 |
| 10 | 24% | $26.600 | $8.400 |
| 11 | 22% | $27.300 | $7.700 |
| 12 | 18% | $28.700 | $6.300 |
8. Audi Q5
Audi Q5 might look big, but in reality, it’s a mid-size SUV. By far, Audi Q5 was sold more than 1.1 million times worldwide. The car looks good, and it offers popular engines like 2.0L I4.
Audi Q5 depreciates on average 30% in the first 3 years, and 51% in the first 5 years (on average 5,82% per year)
Selling price: $50.000
| Vehicle Age | Residual Value | Depreciation | Vehicle Worth |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 84% | $8.000 | $42.000 |
| 2 | 78% | $11.000 | $39.000 |
| 3 | 70% | $15.000 | $35.000 |
| 4 | 59% | $20.500 | $29.500 |
| 5 | 49% | $25.500 | $24.500 |
| 6 | 41% | $29.500 | $20.500 |
| 7 | 35% | $32.500 | $17.500 |
| 8 | 31% | $34.500 | $15.500 |
| 9 | 29% | $35.500 | $14.500 |
| 10 | 25% | $37.500 | $12.500 |
| 11 | 23% | $38.500 | $11.500 |
| 12 | 20% | $40.000 | $10.000 |
Are Audis reliable in general? Learn more about it in this post.
9. Audi Q7
If you’re looking for something bigger, consider Audi Q7. The first generation of this car debuted in 2005, and every year, about 30.000 Americans buy Q7. It’s one of the highest depreciating popular Audi models, but the advanced technology and great comfort are worth it for some people.
Audi Q7 depreciates on average 37% in the first 3 years, and 58% in the first 5 years (on average 6% per year)
Selling price: $70.000
| Vehicle Age | Residual Value | Depreciation | Vehicle Worth |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 80% | $14.000 | $56.000 |
| 2 | 72% | $19.600 | $50.400 |
| 3 | 63% | $25.900 | $44.100 |
| 4 | 54% | $32.200 | $37.800 |
| 5 | 42% | $40.600 | $29.400 |
| 6 | 35% | $45.500 | $24.500 |
| 7 | 30% | $49.000 | $21.000 |
| 8 | 26% | $51.800 | $18.200 |
| 9 | 23% | $53.900 | $16.100 |
| 10 | 20% | $56.000 | $14.000 |
| 11 | 18% | $57.400 | $12.600 |
| 12 | 15% | $59.500 | $10.500 |
10. Audi SQ5
SQ5 is a better version of Q5 that costs $20.000 more. Is it worth it? It would be best if you decided for yourself. SQ5 offers better engines (3.0L V6), better performance, and better design. I think it’s not worth paying extra for an SQ5, considering faster depreciation.
Audi A8 depreciates on average 38% in the first 3 years, and 54% in the first 5 years (on average 6,27% per year)
Selling price: $70.000
| Vehicle Age | Residual Value | Depreciation | Vehicle Worth |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 77% | $16.100 | $53.900 |
| 2 | 74% | $18.200 | $51.800 |
| 3 | 62% | $26.600 | $43.400 |
| 4 | 52% | $33.600 | $36.400 |
| 5 | 46% | $37.800 | $32.200 |
| 6 | 40% | $42.000 | $28.000 |
| 7 | 37% | $44.100 | $25.900 |
| 8 | 30% | $49.000 | $21.000 |
| 9 | 27% | $51.100 | $18.900 |
| 10 | 24% | $53.200 | $16.800 |
| 11 | 22% | $54.600 | $15.400 |
| 12 | 18% | $57.400 | $12.600 |
11. Audi e-tron
Is e-tron the future? Probably. Electric cars will dominate the market within a few years. Right now the demand for them is huge, so the depreciation of this car is relatively slow. The price is pretty high, though…
Audi e-tron depreciates on average 33% in the first 3 years, and 50% in the first 5 years (on average 5,45% per year)
Selling price: $83.000
| Vehicle Age | Residual Value | Depreciation | Vehicle Worth |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 80% | $16.600 | $66.400 |
| 2 | 75% | $20.750 | $62.250 |
| 3 | 67% | $37.390 | $55.610 |
| 4 | 57% | $35.960 | $47.310 |
| 5 | 50% | $41.500 | $41.500 |
| 6 | 42% | $48.140 | $34.860 |
| 7 | 36% | $53.120 | $29.880 |
| 8 | 30% | $58.100 | $24.900 |
| 9 | 27% | $60.590 | $22.410 |
| 10 | 24% | $63.080 | $19.920 |
| 11 | 22% | $64.740 | $18.260 |
| 12 | 20% | $66.400 | $16.600 |
Is it Worth Buying a Brand-New Audi?
It’s not worth buying a brand-new Audi because it will lose 20% of its value only in the first year. In the next 2 years, it will lose another 16%, and after 3 years, it will be worth only 64% of its initial value.
Like any other car, Audi depreciates pretty fast in the first years. For example, if you bought a brand-new Audi and kept it for 3 years, you would lose 36% of its initial value.
It’s 12% per year on average.
Let’s imagine you buy Audi A5 for $48.000. After 3 years it’s only worth only about $34.000. So your car is worth $14.000 less.
The reason why brand-new Audis lose value so fast is simple. Because if you start driving a new car, it changes into a used car. Even if you drive 1 mile, it’s already used. Changing from new to used lowers the price of a car by about 10%.
The more you drive, the less it’s worth. Then, after about 10.000 miles, it loses another 10% of its value. And so on…
Is it worth buying a brand-new BMW? Get to know it here.
When is the Best Time to Buy Audi?
The best time to buy an Audi is after 3 years or more from the manufacture. That way, you buy an Audi that has already lost 36% of its value and will be losing only about 6% of its value per year.
If you’re smart with your money, you should definitely wait 3 years and buy a still relatively new 3-years old Audi.
After 3 years, the depreciation chart starts to flatten. If you buy a 3-years old Audi and keep it for 5 years, your car will depreciate like this:
1st year after buying: 7%
2nd year after buying: 9%
3rd year after buying: 7%
4th year after buying: 6%
5th year after buying: 4%
On average, you lose only 6,6% a year.
Do you remember how many % on average you would lose if you bought a brand-new Audi? 12%!
That’s a difference.
Why do Audi Lose its Value so Fast?
Audi loses its value fast because this is a luxurious car brand that is often leased. When the leasing is over, leaseholders usually put up their cars for sale at lower prices because of a high supply and a relatively low demand for luxury cars.
Car depreciation is all about the economy. When there are not many certain products on the market, they are usually at higher prices. When there is too much of a certain product on the market, sellers need to lower their prices to sell it.
The same applies to cars. Audis are commonly leased. The leasing usually takes a few years. When it’s over, there are more and more cars listed on websites like carmax.com, car.com, or autotrader.com. If sellers want to sell their cars, they need to offer low prices because there is huge competition.
There is also one thing to consider. People prefer to buy cheaper cars. Of course, many people buy expensive cars, but most people tend to buy Mazda or Toyota, especially in the recession.
With huge supply and small demand, the price of Audis drastically decrease.
Read it: 8 Popular Mercedes Models Depreciation (1-12 Years)
How to Slow Down Audi Depreciation?
However, if something is average, it means you can always improve it. So here are the tips on how to slow down your Audi’s depreciation.
- Choose the right Audi. If you want to buy an Audi, but you’re not sure which models you should choose, pick the one that doesn’t depreciate too fast. If you have a significant budget, and you’re eco-friendly, a good choice will be Audi e-tron with depreciation rate of only 5,45% per year. However, not everyone can afford such exepensive car. A good choice will be also Audi A3, A4, A5 or Q3. If you don’t want to ruin your budget, you better avoid Audi SQ5 and Audi A8.
- Don’t be crazy with colors. If you want to sell your Audi at a decent price, remember to buy it in a popular color. You should consider black, white or silver, because they are in high demand and you will have more potential customers for them. Avoid some fancy colors like yellow, green or pink…
- Take good care of your car. Treating your Audi like your child is wroth it. Yeah, it’s true, you have to spend some money to take care of it, but it’s a good investment. Make sure you clean your Audi regulary, you do regular servicing, fix it when it’s broken and keep all the documents. If a car is in a good condition and the history of its maintenance is clear, you will find more costumers to sell your child.
- The lower mileage the better. It’s obvious that cars with lower mileage can be sold more expensively. If you want to slow down your Audi’s depreciation, you should keep low mileage. But don’t be too crazy about it. You buy an Audi to enjoy it.
These are the most obvious things. You should also avoid accidents, scratches, modifications.
What are the Overall 5-Years Audi Costs?
Let’s imagine you buy an Audi and you want to know how much it will cost you in 5 years. Let’s calculate it!
Let’s assume we buy an average 3-years old Audi car for $45.000
Purchase cost: $45.000
Depreciation: $13.000
Selling cost: $32.000
Insurance: $1.250×5=$6250
Servicing and maintenance: $3.000
Fuel: $6.500
In total: $28.750 (per 5 year), $5.750 (per 1 year), $479 (per 1 month)
Also, if you want to know why cars depreciate so fast, click this link.
How Well do Audi’s Hold Their Value Compared to Other Luxury Car Brands?
Compared to other luxury cars, Audi holds its value neither good nor bad.
Audi holds its value slightly better than Maserati, Volvo, and BMW. But, there are other luxury brands that hold their value better. It includes Lincoln, Infiniti, Mercedes-Benz, or Lexus.
If we take a broader perspective, Audi is the 4th fastest depreciating car brand in the world. That’s not good…
Is it worth buying an Audi?
Fast Audi depreciation deters lots of people from buying it. A lot of them don’t know what to do. My opinion is simple.
An Audi is worth buying because it’s an advanced car brand with superior technology, comfort, great quality, and great performance. However, it’s an expensive to maintain car brand with a high depreciation, so there are better alternatives like Mazda, Honda, or Toyota from an economic standpoint.
But as they say, you only live once. So sometimes it’s worth choosing with your heart, not with your brain. So if Audi is your dream car, and you can afford it- go for it. If not, wait some time, think about how you can make money to buy it, and then do it.
