Is the Audi A6 C7 reliable?

Our reliability score for the Audi A6 C7 is 4.5/10 (45/100), which puts it as unreliable by our scoring. Major issues are common before 150,000 miles. RepairPal rates it 2.5/5.

How much does it cost to own a Audi A6 C7 per year?

Total estimated annual ownership cost for a Audi A6 C7 is approximately $4,084 for a 25-year-old male driver. This includes fuel at current US average prices, insurance, scheduled maintenance, tires, and oil changes. The 40-year-old female estimate is $3,804.

What is the Audi A6 C7 gas mileage?

EPA combined fuel economy for the Audi A6 C7 is 23 MPG, with 20 MPG city and 29 MPG highway.

What years does the Audi A6 C7 cover?

This generation of the Audi A6 was sold from 2012 to 2018.

Is the Audi A6 C7 safe?

Our safety score for the Audi A6 C7 is 9.5/10 (95/100), which means it is genuinely safe by current data. IIHS rates the crash protection good. NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.

Is the Audi A6 C7 a good first car?

Not according to our criteria. Good first cars need a safety score 7.5+, insurance under $2,200/yr for a 25-year-old male, repairability score 7.0+, low rollover risk, and compact dimensions. The Audi A6 C7 misses on at least one of these.

← All vehicles

Audi A6 C7

12-18 · Audi A6

62out of 100

The Audi A6 C7 is a spacious executive sedan with an aluminum-intensive body, available supercharged V6, and deep depreciation to accessible price points.

Scores last updated: January 1, 2025

Score breakdown

45/ 100Reliability×2.5 51/ 100True Annual Cost×1.5 95/ 100Safety×2.5 65/ 100Practicality×2.0 40/ 100Repairability×1.5

84/ 100Long-Distance Comfort

68/ 100Enthusiast Appeal

Strong comfort and safety. High cost of LED headlights and complex electronics drag repairability. Annual cost is executive-class.

Our take

What it really is

A full-size executive sedan built on Audi's Aluminum Space Frame. Available with a supercharged 3.0T V6. Interior quality was among the best in its class when new.

Why it's on this list

C7 A6s are $14,000-22,000 for clean 60-90k examples. More space than the A4, comparable ownership cost, serious executive feel.

The honest trade-offs

High LED headlight replacement costs. Sunroof drain clogs cause water intrusion. Complex air suspension if equipped. Throttle body carbon buildup on 2.0T.

What to buy and what to avoid

3.0T Supercharged quattro for the drivetrain. 2015-2018 for revised suspension tuning. Premium Plus trim for driver assists. Avoid air suspension.

Annual cost of ownership

Premium fuel. Supercharger belt service and suspension items add to cost.

Fuel (12k mi)

$3,120 (USD)^[5]

Maintenance

$1,400 (USD)^[1]

Tires (prorated)

$950 (USD)

Insurance (25yr male)

$1,680 (USD)^[8]

Insurance (40yr female)

$1,400 (USD)^[8]

Total (25yr male)

$4,084 (USD)

Total (40yr female)

$3,804 (USD)

Key specs

MPG combined

23^[5]

MPG city / hwy

20 / 29^[5]

Tank

18.5 gal^[5]

Engine

2.0L TFSI Turbo I4 / 3.0L TFSI Supercharged V6

Horsepower

310 hp

Torque

325 lb-ft

Seats

Cargo (behind 2nd row)

14.1 cu ft

Cargo max

14.1 cu ft

Tow capacity

4,400 lbs

Ground clearance

5.5"

Stock tires

245/45R18

Body

Sedan (trunk)

Rear seats

40/20/40 split

Also available in wagon. The score reflects the primary body style listed above.

Safety

NHTSA overall

5/5 ★^[2]

Rollover risk

16.2%^[2]

IIHS rating

Good^[4]

ESC standard

Yes

Driver assists

Optional pre-sense, adaptive cruise, lane assist on S-line/Premium Plus

Rust vulnerability

Overall severity

Low

Frame rust risk

Minimal

Salt belt impact

Moderate

Aluminum-intensive ASF body is rust-resistant. Suspension arms and subframe bolts worth inspection at 100k.

Known issues by mileage

60,000-100,000 Miles (97,000-161,000 KM)

Supercharger belt and tensionerModerate$500 (USD)

3.0T engines; replace at 80k or per condition

60,000-100,000 Miles (97,000-161,000 KM)

Sunroof drain clog causing headliner water damageModerate$800 (USD)

Clean drains annually in wet climates

60,000-100,000 Miles (97,000-161,000 KM)

Carbon buildup on 2.0T intake valvesModerate$600 (USD)

Direct injection issue; walnut blast at 60k+

Best and worst years

Best years

2015Post-facelift; best tech package; 3.0T proven
2016Revised MMI; pre-emission compliance weight gain

Years to avoid

2012First year; MMI glitches; some early 3.0T supercharger belt issues

Reliability data

RepairPal annual cost

$1,286 (USD)^[1]

Industry avg annual cost

$652 (USD)^[1]

RepairPal rating

2.5/5^[1]

Unscheduled visits/yr

0.9^[1]

Severe issue probability

14%^[1]

250k-mile survival

26%^[7]

Repairability

Headlight type

Led Assembly

DIY replacement cost

$0 (USD)

At major retailer

Headlight benchmark

4/10

Parts available but costly. Supercharged V6 requires careful oil maintenance. Carbon buildup on 2.0T models.

References

Sources used to research and score this vehicle. Superscript numbers in the sections above link here.

[1]dataset
RepairPal
Annual maintenance cost, reliability rating, unscheduled visit frequency, severe issue probability
[2]government
NHTSA Crash Test Ratings
Overall crash test stars, rollover risk %, rollover stars, frontal and side ratings
[3]government
NHTSA Technical Service Bulletins
Manufacturer-acknowledged technical issues and dealer fixes
[4]dataset
IIHS Safety Ratings
Small overlap, side impact, overall safety rating, Top Safety Pick status
[5]government
EPA Fuel Economy Guide
MPG city/highway/combined, fuel grade required, tank size
[6]forum thread
CarComplaints
Most complained-about model years, common failure patterns by year and mileage band
[7]dataset
iSeeCars Long-Term Reliability
250k-mile survival rate, depreciation curve, best age to buy used
[8]publication
Bankrate / Insurify Insurance Estimates
Insurance cost estimates by vehicle class and driver profile

Before you buy

Looking to buy a Audi A6?

Start with our fully customized pre-purchase inspection checklist for you or your mechanic. Three versions: one for buyers who are not mechanics, one for enthusiasts with tools, one for handing off to a professional. Print or save as PDF.

Get the checklist